Nigeria's Street Children

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the lives, challenges, and aspirations of street children across different regions of Nigeria. Drawing on insights from a range of disciplines and research methods, including extensive fieldwork and interviews as well as quantitative analysis, the book assesses the socio-economic, cultural, and structural factors that contribute to the prevalence of street children in Nigerian cities. The book considers themes such as categorization, socio-economic and health challenges, substance abuse, public perceptions, and the roles of government and community interventions. It assesses the effectiveness of current policies and interventions, before proposing innovative solutions for rehabilitating and reintegrating street children into society. This book's comprehensive, yet localized, account of Nigeria's street children across different regions and urban contexts will be of interest to researchers across the fields of sociology, urban studies, public health, social work, development, and policy studies, as well as practitioners and policy-makers looking for actionable recommendations.

David V. Ogunkan is Associate Professor of Urban Social Planning, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Nigeria.

Part One: Understanding the Phenomenon 1: Introduction David Victor Ogunkan 2: Contextualizing Street Children in Nigeria: Historical and Cultural Perspectives Abiodun Akeem Oladiti 3: Defining Street Children: Categorization and Typologies Malachi Igwilo, David Victor Ogunkan and Olufemi Fawole 4: Socio-demographic Characteristics of Street Children Aina T. Adeboyejo, Kehinde A. Oyewole and David V. Ogunkan 5: Inter-Urban Concentration of Street Children Aina T. Adeboyejo, Lanre Sulyman, David V. Ogunkan, and Folashade Odekunle 6: Spatial Hotspots and Intra-Urban Geography of Street Children Aina T. Adeboyejo,. Adebambo SOMUNYIWA, David V. Ogunkan, and Godwin O. Ode Part Two: Lives and Experiences of Street Children 7: Children in Informality: The Experiences of Street Vending Children Alli Arazem Abdulahi, Femi Fawole, David V. Ogunkan, Peter O. Akinpelu 8: Survival Strategies of Street Children: The Reality of Child Waste Pickers Amos O. Taiwo, Olanrewaju T. Dada, Adetola S. Ayoola and Gbemiga B. Faniran 9: Education and Skills Acquisition among Street Children Adebiyi A. Adelakun, Stella K. Ogunkan, Temitope A. Oyelakun 10: Health Challenges and Health Seeking Behaviour of Street Children Abimbola Margaret Obimakinde 11: Drug and Substance Use among Street Children David Victor Ogunkan, Olusegun Peter Akinpelu and Femi Fawole 12: Street-Bound Ties: Social Networks of Street Children Olutola Oluyinka Olajire 13: Dreams Beyond the Pavement: Aspirations of Street Children in Nigeria Augustine I. Omoruan, Malachi Igwilo and Kehinde A. Oyewole 14: Age and Gender Dimensions of Child Streetism Vesta Udoo, David Victor Ogunkan and Bode Oyedele 15: Chapter Apprenticed to the Streets: The Evolution of Igba Boi and the Rise of Streetism Chinedu I. Abazu, Godwin Sagésse, and Oluwabusiwa T. Akinlolu Part 3: Socio-Economic and Structural Drivers 16: Poverty and Economic Insecurity Samson O. Olanrewaju 17: Education System and Policy Ademola Agiri and Opeyemi Faramade 18: Religio-Cultural Norms: The Almajiri System Abel Omoniyi Afon and Amos Oluwole Taiwo 19: Public Perceptions of Street Children David Victor Ogunkan and Funsho Simon 20: Urbanization and Spatial Inequality Musibau Jelili, David V. Ogunkan and Ifeoluwa Akande 21: Juvenile Justice Administration and the Plight of Street Children Patrick Okwuchukwu Ajekwe Part 4: Interventions, Recommendation and Conclusion 22: Community, Government, and NGO Interventions Ademola L. Adeagbo 23: Rehabilitation and Reintegration Programs Oyewale I. Oyeleye, Funsho Simon and Oluwabusiwa T. Akinlolu 24: Recommendations: Innovations, Policy, and Practice for Sustainable Change David V. ogunkan 25: Conclusion: Reclaiming the Futures of Street Children in Nigeria David V. Ogunkan