Nomadic livestock farming is a traditional livestock farming system in Northern Nigeria where herders move with their animals to different grazing areas in search of pasture......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Nomadic livestock farming in Northern Nigeria transcends generations and is predominantly practised by the Fulani tribe. Common animal species that are herded include cattle, camels, goats, and sheep.
Although nomadic livestock farming accounts for a significant amount of animal protein consumed in Nigeria, the impact on children within this system is a serious concern for anyone advocating for sustainable agriculture, child development, and social advancement.
Education is a fundamental right for children. Preventing young boys and girls from acquiring essential basic education due to their engagement in nomadic livestock farming as a family tradition and occupation infringes upon their right to education.
Unfortunately, this practice continues, jeopardising their future prospects. This situation persists because parents desire their children to follow the same path they did, sustaining the family’s nomadic livestock farming, and because some parents do not value Western education or fully understand its importance.
Lack of education hampers children’s ability to communicate and express themselves in broader society, limiting their access to national and global opportunities.
Many of these children may possess talents and potential that remain undiscovered without educational opportunities.
A young cattle herder could become a surgeon, a tech guru, an innovator, a teacher, an inventor, or a researcher if given access to education.
However, such talents may never surface if parents do not prioritise education and do not send their children to school.
Engaging children in nomadic livestock farming often constitutes child labour due to the hazardous conditions they face.
Children are exposed to physical dangers such as extreme weather, animal attacks, and accidents involving tools.
Moreover, their involvement exposes them to health risks stemming from inadequate nutrition, sanitation, zoonotic diseases, vectors, and poor living conditions.
On the contrary, education could empower these children to return to improve the family’s nomadic livestock farming practices, but the systemic challenges persist.
However, this plight does not affect only the children and their families; it impacts society and the nation at large. Today, the nomadic livestock farming system grapples with challenges such as soil degradation, insufficient pasture, livestock diseases, climate change, conflicts, and anti-open grazing policies.
These factors have made the farming system burdensome, increasing the likelihood of young livestock herders being drawn into criminal activities such as kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, and theft. This instability affects the peace, development, and stability of communities in Northern Nigeria and across the country.
The education sector aims to impart knowledge to produce individuals who contribute meaningfully to themselves and the nation across various sectors such as agriculture, health, banking, tourism, science, and engineering.
However, if parents do not prioritise education, children will be absent from school, impacting both the education sector and society as a whole.
This situation further fuels the perception of Nigeria as a poverty-stricken nation because children should be in school.
We cannot continue to ignore the issue of children’s engagement in nomadic livestock farming, nor can we neglect their communities. We cannot conclude that these unique indigenous people are resistant to change.
Civil society organisations and religious institutions, such as mosques and churches, must raise awareness about the importance of education until there is a cultural shift prioritiisng children’s education.
Social impact projects, including free medical outreach, food initiatives, credit schemes, and agricultural extension programmes, can be valuable tools for educating nomadic Fulani communities about the importance of sending their children to school.
Federal and state governments have a significant role in developing and enforcing free and compulsory education in Northern Nigeria, with the necessary infrastructure and security measures in place to protect children.
Nomadic Fulani communities must comply with and benefit from these interventions. Their acceptance must be assessed, and follow-up strategies developed until no child is left herding animals in the bush when they should be learning and leading in the classroom.
Scholarship initiatives aimed at children of nomadic herders who excel academically or possess special abilities will demonstrate to parents and nomadic communities that education is a worthwhile investment now and in the future.
Engaging children in nomadic livestock farming perpetuates a cycle of poverty and deprives them of opportunities for a better future, with negative repercussions for society at large.
We can reduce the number of out-of-school children in nomadic households and communities to zero if we all play our part. Agriculture is sustainabile. Let’s farm for the future and not farm away the futures of our youngsters.