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Girl-child Hawking: The sad stories of girls overcoming adversities
Story from, Muhammad Kukuri, Maryam Sulaiman, Faiza Aliyu, Sakinat Musa, Fatima Adamu, and Maryam Umar
Every day, a quiet battle takes place among young girls, just on the cusp of their teenage years.
Neptune Prime delves into the challenges confronted by individuals in these circumstances.
The usually crowded highway spontaneously morphs into a marketplace for these young girls. Braving constant traffic and bustling vehicles, these underage girls navigate peril with courage to sustain their livelihoods.
Fatima’s Journey from Zamfara to Abuja
Fatima, originally from Zamfara state’s Tsafe local government, now resides in Kuje local government in Abuja, where she operates a business selling awara. Her relocation to Abuja was prompted by a harrowing incident involving kidnapping and robbery in Zamfara.
Accompanied by her mother and four younger brothers, they moved to Abuja after her father succumbed to gunshot wounds inflicted by bandits.
The Grit of Hadiza Sani, 13, Navigating the “Dan Wake” Business in Abuja
Thirteen-year-old Hadiza Sani spends her days selling the native delicacy “Dan wake” at Garki Market in Abuja. Despite her hard work, she confronts issues like customers eating and leaving without paying, leading to misunderstandings with her mom.
Hadiza shares a poignant story of never being able to attend school due to financial constraints, growing up with eight siblings after losing her father at one year old.
Hadiza and Hafsat: Orphans’ Resilience in the City
Orphaned by a tragic accident, sisters Hadiza and Hafsat Sani found themselves in the world of uncertainty in Garki, Abuja. Despite the loss of their parents, they persevered through the daily struggles of street hawking, finding sustenance and resilience in their unique plastic rubber packaging filled with rice and beans and “Kunu” drinks.
Jessica: A Silent Warrior
Living with her aunt in Maraba, Nasarawa State. Jessica’s dreams were overshadowed by the burden of hawking “Apu,” a local delicacy. Her relentless cycle of hawking became a silent fight for education as she balanced her workload with the weight of books in her hand, embodying the strength of determination against the odds.
Raliya Adamu’s Struggle: Hawking to Sustain Family Amidst Educational Uncertainties
Raliya Adamu from Doma local government, Nasarawa State, Indigene of Bauchi state shares the reasons behind her street vending, citing the financial necessity to support her family.
READ ALSO: Lawan makes case for educational empowerment of girl child
Despite her aspirations for education, Raliya faced barriers after Junior Secondary School, and uncertainties linger about her academic future. The family relies on meager earnings to send younger siblings to school, maintaining hope for improved circumstances.
Raliya emphasizes the absence of support from relatives, expressing self-reliance in the face of challenging circumstances.
Fatima Binta’s Heart-Wrenching Testimony
The realities of Fatima Binta’s life in Dakwa, Niger State are sobering, where young girls turn to hawking as a survival strategy. The dangers they face on a daily basis, from harassment by drug addicts to the looming threat of assault and even rape, underscore the vulnerability of these girls.
Learning that education is a distant luxury for these girls, despite government efforts to provide free schooling, was particularly impactful. Barred from accessing education by their families due to dire financial situations and lack of parental support, it is a harsh reality for Fatima Binta and many others in similar situations all across the country.
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