Fatima Yusuf, a beggar from Minna, Niger State, was desperate when her son, Hussaini, injured his lip and the wound refused to heal. Unable to afford medical care, she resorted to traditional remedies.
A Mother's Hope:
Fatima Yusuf was in her room which she shared with her husband and five children and was getting ready to go to Kpakungu Junction in Minna, Niger State, where she begs for alms, when her children rushed into the room, crying and shouting. They informed her that her son, Hussaini Yusuf, had fallen from a tree and injured his lip. Fatima quickly rushed out of the room, her mind racing with worry. Having lost two of her seven children in the past, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing another. When Fatima met her son outside, his clothes were soaked in blood, and a sharp millet stem had pierced through his lip. She removed the stem and rushed him home, but due to financial constraints, she couldn’t take him to the clinic. Instead, she applied charcoal and local herbs to the wound, which marked the beginning of her nightmares. The wound refused to heal, even after a year, and Fatima and her husband’s financial situation remained dire; their income from begging barely covered food and rent, and seeking medical attention seemed like an unaffordable luxury.
My husband and I are beggars, and we were unable to afford medical care for our son when he fell and injured his lip. I was worried when the wound failed to heal even after a year” Fatima Yusuf's voice filled with concern as she narrated.
Help Arrives
In November 2024, Fatima was excited when she learned that the Niger State At-Risk Children Program, led by Aisha Umar Tafida, was visiting her neighborhood of Barkin Sale, Minna, Niger. The program, an initiative under the Niger State Ministry of Budget and Planning, aimed to rescue vulnerable children from the streets and provide them with free medical care, education and skills. Seizing the opportunity, she rushed Hussaini to the Barkin Sale Primary School, Minna, where the enrollment was taking place. Since then, Hussaini has received access to free medical care,
“I heard rumors that a team would be visiting our neighborhood to register vulnerable children, providing not only education but also free medical care and skills training. I was skeptical, having heard empty promises before from many organizations. That morning, we made our way to Barkin Sale Primary School, and to my surprise, Hussaini was registered, and his treatment began immediately” Fatima Yusuf’s face lit up with a smile as she recalled.
Hussaini Yusuf, accompanied by his mother Fatima Yusuf, and siblings, on their way to visit the Primary Health Care Center in Kpakungu.
Primary Health Care Center Kpakungu, Minna Niger state.
Hussaini Yusuf, 7 years old, a beneficiary of the ARC-P, His Mother, Fatima Yusuf, and his siblings waiting for a nurse to attend to him at the Primary Health Care Center Kpakungu
Hussaini Yusuf’s treatment record book
“I heard rumors that a team would be visiting our neighborhood to register vulnerable children, providing not only education but also free medical care and skills training. I was skeptical, having heard empty promises before from many organizations. That morning, we made our way to Barkin Sale Primary School, and to my surprise, Hussaini was registered, and his treatment began immediately” Fatima Yusuf’s face lit up with a smile as she recalled.
Hussaini Yusuf, 7 years old, a beneficiary of the ARC-P, receiving care from Nurse Fatima Dokochi, a staff of Primary Health Care Center Kpakungu, Minna Niger state.
Hussaini Yusuf, 7 years old, a beneficiary of the ARC-P, receiving care from Nurse Fatima Dokochi, a staff of Primary Health Care Center Kpakungu, Minna Niger state.
Before ARC-P’s intervention, Hussaini Yusuf endured pain, which made eating challenging. Even the slightest irritation, such as a speck of pepper entering the wound, would intensify his agony.
“I used to feel pain and struggle to eat, but since I started treatment, I'm feeling much better," Hussaini shared with a smile.
HelpMopping Up Streets,
Bringing Children Into School
and Learning Hubs
A 2023 UNICEF report revealed that about 42% of female children and 39% of male children in Niger State are out of school. This is an indication that there are tens of thousands of children missing out on education and may be potential recruits for street gangs within the Minna metropolis involved in crime and violence. The Niger State At-Risk Children Program adopted an inclusive strategy, partnering with key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that are key to the implementation of the ARC program, this includes the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Ministry of Agriculture and its sister agencies, Ministry for Religious Affairs, Ministry of Sport, SUBEB, FOMWAN, CAN, community and traditional leaders, and the CSO were able to register more than a thousand at-risk children in 3 pilot Local Government areas: Paikoro, Bosso and Chanchaga. After an intensive trauma and psychosocial evaluation, these children are enrolled in school and various learning hubs created by ARC-P providing free access to education. In the coming months, learning activities will commence at the hubs with focus on basic literacy and numeracy, home gardening, climate change awareness, health and nutrition, sports and wellness as well as guidance and counseling.
When I resumed office in 2024, we trained 20 facilitators across our 11 hubs in our 3 pilot LGAs in areas like basic literacy and numeracy, digital skills, home gardening and climate change, Health and nutrition, sports, and guidance and counseling. To identify vulnerable children
we got data on vulnerable households from the State Operating and Coordination Unit (SOCU), we did pre-intervention visits to communities in Paikoro, Bosso, and Chanchaga LGAs, and also through our youth facilitators who are from the communities. Through advocacy visits and community awareness campaigns, we have engaged with stakeholders and the results are huge. One of it is that we were able to get 1081 vulnerable children covered freely under the Niger State Contributory Health Agency Program (Nicare). By the second quarter of 2025, it is our hope to expand the number of hubs as well as the facilitators as we enroll more beneficiaries InshaAllah” Aisha Umar Tafida, the Niger State ARC-P coordinator and team lead explained.
Aisha Umar Tafida, the Niger State ARC-P coordinator
Grace Okpabi, Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, poses with staff from Niger State’s ARC-P team and 20 trained ARC-P Facilitators during the launch of the youth facilitator training program in Minna, Niger state.
Empowering
At-Risk Children's Parents
Through Incentivization
Aisha Umar Tafida, Coordinator of the Niger State At-Risk Children Program (ARC-P), identifies economic vulnerability and poverty as the root causes of children’s vulnerability. To address this, ARC-P has implemented an incentivization program to empower parents of at-risk children.
We recognize that the vulnerability of parents is a contributor to the vulnerability of their children,” Aisha Umar Tafida explained. “Through incentivization, we aim to provide parents with a means of survival and economic stability. Our program focuses on sustainable initiatives such as animal husbandry and home gardening.
This corner of the room serves as the sleeping space of Fatima Yusuf, her husband, and her children.
Some Items in Fatima Yusuf’s room.
In February Hussini is expected to start school at the Barkin Sale Primary School, just a short walk from his home. With education, he may break free from the cycle of poverty and begging that has defined his parent’s lives.
Some Items in Fatima Yusuf’s room.
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Comments
Adamu Husseina Rahmat
This is indeed a good initiative. Kudos! to all those involved in the progress of this work. May Allah make it easy for them and us all. Jazakumullahu khair
Comfort onyebuchi
This piece is beautiful.. am grateful hussaini got help.
TiNti
Thank you for sharing this stori 💗
Mustapha Niimatullahi Muhammed
MashaAllah I was happy reading his story may Allah heal him soonest in sha Allahu nd to the team may Allah reward dem.
Azeez Odunjo
May Allah bless those behind this beautiful initiative and grant Hussaini Quick And Balanced Shifaa
Aliyu Umar Muhammad
This is a great massage to the wound he had suffered. Hussaini Yusuf, i believe one day will look up to grow bigger than his dreams. This is heart touching and kudos to the ARC-P TEAM.
Mustapha
THis has to be the best body of work I have ever come across. Thank u sadiq Mustapha for this amazing work
Maryam ABDULKADIR
This is heavy and deep🥺
I pray allah CONTINUE to bless those behind this innitiave and aid, and i pray he makes it more easier for them. May we continue to see more positive outCome out of it all.
Our Sadeeq mustapha! more grease to your elbow🙌🏽
You’re doing well.