By Prosper Okoye
A Nigerian literacy advocate has warned that the growing number of children roaming streets across the country is putting Nigeria’s future at risk, calling for urgent action from government, communities and parents. Sandra Nujeta, Director of LaVie Learns and convener of Book Hangout, said many children are being left without guidance, education and the right environment to develop properly.
Speaking during the BOOK HANGOUT 2026 event in Abuja, she linked the rising presence of street and out-of-school children to failures in parenting, community responsibility and governance. “Every child that is with you is the future. If we fail to protect them, we are destroying our own tomorrow,” she said. She said children are not necessarily losing interest in reading, but are being deprived of access to engaging books and early exposure to learning. According to her, reading culture begins at home, long before children enter school.
“If you want children to read, you must show them that you read,” she said, urging parents to lead by example and reduce overexposure of children to smartphones.
Nujeta also called for stronger community involvement in child upbringing, warning that neglecting children on the streets today could have long-term consequences for society. The event, organised by LaVie Readers Hub, Gem Hub Initiative and Reconcilers Children Academy, brought together children from different backgrounds to promote reading culture and identity formation.
A participating student, Nwankwo Chinazom, said the programme had helped her develop a stronger interest in reading. “I came to celebrate Children’s Day with Book Hangout to learn how to read and discover a new world through books,” she said. She described herself as a reader, saying she prefers books to movies because they allow her to imagine different worlds. When asked about technology, she said she would choose a smartphone “with books inside,” adding that the event had been “fun and interesting” because of group activities. Chinazom said she had not finished reading any book at the event but mentioned Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Half of a Yellow Sun as books she was interested in. She said she hopes to become a medical doctor and later a health economist, adding that reading will help her academically. A participating parent, Walshak Myalshak, said he attended the event to support his children and encourage reading. He said reading culture in Nigeria has weakened compared to the past, when libraries and structured reading days were common in schools.
“The reading culture has been eroded,” he said. He blamed increased use of smartphones and reduced emphasis on libraries in schools for the decline. He also said both parents and institutions share responsibility for the problem, adding that children today are exposed more to social media than books. Myalshak praised the organisers for creating a programme that makes children enjoy reading rather than forcing it on them. “This kind of programme helps children develop creativity and even writing skills,” he said.