IBADAN JOURNAL OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS Journal of the Department of Early Childhood and Educational Foundations, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, March 2024 Volume 5 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY IJCDEF Ibadan Journal of Child D evelo pm ent and Educational Foundations (IJ C D E F ) is a D epartm enta l Journal that serves as a m edium for the publication of articles of interest to researchers in the field o f the early childhood and educational foundations, T h e journal also provides a forum for discussion of m ajor issues and ideas in the field of education in genera l through these publications. It is anticipated that the journal will provoke thought that will prom ote professional growth and contribute to the body of know ledge in the field. Chief Editor Dr. I.A. Salami Administrative Editor Dr. I.A. Salami Editorial Team Prof. Esther Oduolowu Prof. S.A. Babarinde Prof. B.O . Lawal Dr. M .D . Amosun Dr. S.l. Meroyi Dr. Omolola Kayode-Olawoyin Dr. Oluyemisi I. Majebi M.T. Oni L. Ogunniyi Editorial Advisers Prof. I. Ukeje Prof. Kofi Mario Prof. U. Uyoata Dr. Hannah Ajayi Published by: Departm ent of Early Childhood and Educational Foundations, University of Ibadan ISSN: 2756-6293 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY Content Influence of Home Environment and School Practices on Pupils' Attitude Towards Schooling in Ondo West Local Government Area Deborah Omolade Akinnusotu, Moses Dele Amosun and Lawrence 1 Ogunniyi Improved Cognitive Skills in Lower Primary Mathematics: The Contributions of Socio-constructive and Stakeholders' Collaborative Strategy | Oduolowu E., Ogunsanwo T., Salami I. A. and Owolabi, F. T. Preschool Teachers Perception on Learning Centers in Developing Social and Cognitive Skills among Children Iyabo Mosubusola Adebanjo and Esther Oduolowu 2 Science Process Skills of Pre-primary Pupils in Oyo State: Effects of Indoor and Outdoor Experiential Learning Salami Ishola A. and Omotoso Glory C. 36 Pedagogical Practices o f the ECCE Lecturers and the Stimulation Skills of the Pre-service Teachers on the Use of Instructional Resources Lewis, Felicia Oluwatoyin and Salami, Ishola Akindele Multidimensional Analyses of Streetism Based on Recent Evidence from Urban Cities in Southwestern Nigeria: Key Indicators, Causes and Perceived Age-long Interventions Timilehin Olayinka Omoniyi 66 Emerging Philosophies for Educational Programmes and Adult Learning in Nigeria Christopher. O. Omoregie and Christiana R. Ojo 82 Teachers' Level of Preparedness and Attitude Towards Inclusive Classroom in Lagos Mainland, Lagos State Komolafe, Adefunke Titilayo and Mustapha, Shaakirah Oluwakemi 92 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY Effect of Written Fantasy Storytelling on Pupils’ English Language Vocabulary Achievement in Private Primary Schools in Ondo State, Nigeria Funmi Kikelomo Olajide-Williams and Abel Olusegun Egunjobi Impact of Teacher-pupil Project Collaboration and Hands-on Activities on Basic Science Process Skills Olagbaju, A. Bosede and Salami, I. Akindele The Challenges and Obstacles of ICT Based Home Teaching and Learning During the Covid-19 Pandemic Shutdown: The Perceptions of Nigerian Parents Adepeju Olaide Aderogba-Oti, Omowumi Femi-Akinlosotu, Olufunke Olufunsho Adegoke and Paul Oluwasogo Omoniyi The Moderating Roles of Ethnic Background and Exposure to Folklores On Early Childhood Education Student-teachers' Attitude to Core Societal Values in a Culturally-responsive Teaching Peter K. Olowe Impact of Two Modes of Hands-on/Mind-on Activities on the Cognitive Skill of Pre-primary School Children in Oyo State, Nigeria Omone L. Egiethua, Esther Oduolowu and Ishola Akindele Salami 117 134 101 Artificial Intelligence in Teacher Education: SWOT ANALYSIS, Use Cases and Impacts on Assessments Taofeek Oyebade Akinola and Kola Babarinde 178 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY 66 MULTIDIMENSIONAL ANALYSES OF STREETISM BASED ON RECENT EVIDENCE FROM URBAN CITIES IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA: KEY INDICATORS, CAUSES AND PERCEIVED AGE-LONG INTERVENTIONS Timilehin Olayinka Omoniyi Department of Arts &Social Sciences Education Faculty of Education University of Ibadan, Ibadan Phone:+2348060214398, E-mail: timmvlavinka@gmai 1 .com Abstract Streetism is a phenomenon where children, typically under the age o f 18, live and, or work on the streets, often without adult supervision or guardianship. This study, through multidimensional approach (OUAN, qual and document analysis), streetism based on recent evidence from urban cities in southwestern Nigeria. The study assessed key indicators, causes and perceived age-long interventions to streetism. Document analysis examined were from veritable sources such as Google scholar, Scopus, and African Journals Online (AJOL). The population comprised all stakeholders across various divides such as religion, occupation, community, law enforcement agencies, marketplaces, basic schools, and families. Purposive technique was used to select 530participants from six capital cities in southwestern Nigeria. Data were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings revealed top three indicators o f streetism to include negative past experiences, abandonment/neglect and rural-urban migration were rated as critical causes o f streetism. Also, top three rated perceived age-long intervention were allocation o f specific funds, social worker roles and adoption ofvulnerable children. Qualitative result showed that several street children in the region have limited or no access to form al schooling, with barriers such as lack ofdocumentation, schoolfees, and transportation costs hindering their enrollment and attendance. The implications o f the findings were also discussed. It is recommended that concerted efforts must be made to improve access to education, social services, fam ily support, and economic opportunities, as well as initiatives to combat poverty, promote child welfare, and strengthen childprotection systems. Keywords: Streetism, Children, Key Indicators, Age-long interventions. Introduction Streetism depicts children who live and work on the streets due to a lack of family ties or worse still, stuck in manipulative relationships, where their guardians (or in certain cases parents) use them to support the household financially, through various activities on the streets. Streetism is a significant social issue in Nigeria. The global UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY phenomena of street children are alarming with a concomitant effect of a large scale (Abate, et ah, 2022). According to Cavazzoni, Fiorini and Veronese (2023), streetism is a concept that explains children who live and work on the streets due to broken family ties and being stuck in manipulative relationships whereby their guardians use them to support the household financially through various activities on the street. It also refers to the phenomenon where children, typically under the age of 18, live and/or work on the streets, often without adult supervision or guardianship (Bayissa, 2021). By implication, it explains the life situations of street children who usually live in the streets and engage in menial income (Mulu, et al., 2022). Streetism is also colloquially referred to street-involved children, street children, children on the street, vulnerable children with continuous migration to or on the streets. They are homeless, abandoned, or runaways, and they survive by engaging in various activities such as begging, scavenging, selling goods, or performing menial tasks. Studies like Sofiya and Galata (2019), Verma, et al., (2020) and UNICEF (2020) have explained that these children in developed and developing countries face difficulties on the streets due to the absence of several facilities and children supporting programmes. By implication, most of these children experience homelessness and they live on the streets of towns, cities, villages. To contextualise, street children in African setting is categorised into two namely street children of the streets have no contact with their families and street children on the streets those that sleep at home but are based on the streets during the day. There are children who work on the street and the other group which is referred to as children o f the street because they do not only work on the street but live, sleep and have food on it (Cavazzoni, et al.,2023). African street children have been characterised as predominantly male and disproportionately from Sub-Saharan Africa (UNICEF, 2020). According to Afek, et al., (2021), the world population of various categories of street children can be estimated to around 200 million. It is estimated that 100 million children between the ages of 5 and 18 are homeless in less developed world countries. It is discovered that millions of children worldwide are subjected to poverty, abuse, and neglect, yet only a minority choose to abandon their homes in search of a supposedly better life on the street (Berhanu, et at., 2019). This is also traced to the fact that several of these children do not have steadfast support system, and they must deal with their problems on their own. The reliance on estimation of the population of street children has been due to fluidity and unpredictable lifestyle of the street children that make it difficult to have accurate figures (Maepa, 2021). The population of these street children in Africa was estimated by Sofiya and Galata (2019) to be 16 million. This is because in Africa, street children's phenomena, is associated with the advent of market economy. Specifically, in Nigeria, Verma, et al., (2020) remarked that Nigeria has 7 million of children on the street. It is also ranked third after India and Russia (Kaiser and Sinanan, 2019). Unlike Africa, the western world too has its fair share of streetism. For instance, several decades ago, the state of New York used to send orphans out on railway and cars to various towns to be contracted out as long-term day labourers to strangers Ibadan Journal o f Child Development and Educational Foundations Vol 5 (66-81) 67 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY (Ugwuadu, 2017). This was a savage way to solve this problem of preventing street children in the early civilisation. People, including street children, considered mentally infirm were kept, warehoused in large institutions indefinitely, so that they would not be out on the streets (Taiwo, et al., 2021). This approach suddenly changed about the era of President J.F. Kennedy. Various studies have tried to unravel indicators of child streetism so that necessary measures can be put in place to correct the anomaly. It is believed that recognising these indicators is crucial for identifying and addressing the needs of street-involved children, providing them with the necessary support, protection, and opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration into society (Daba, et al., 2020). In the same vein, identifying these indicators early on can help in providing appropriate interventions and support to address the root causes of child streetism and improve the well-being of affected children (UN-CRC 2019). Streetism is a complex issue influenced by factors such as poverty, family dysfunction, urbanisation, conflict, and lack of access to education and social services. They are highly vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, violence, substance abuse, and involvement in criminal activities (Daba, et al., 2020). In the same vein, scholars like Mulu, et al., (2022) have attributed this socio­ economic challenge to personal and contextual reasons which must be abolished. The exact number o f street children in Nigeria is challenging to determine due to the transient nature o f their lives and the lack of comprehensive data collection. Estimates vary widely, with figures ranging from hundreds o f thousands to several million (Cavazzoni, et al., 2023). Specifically, some reports suggest that there are between 7 million to 15 million street children in Nigeria, although these numbers can be challenging to verify due to the transient nature of street life. Street children are more prevalent in urban areas, particularly in major cities like Lagos, Kano, Osogbo, Port Harcourt, Akure, Ibadan and Abuja (UNICEF. 2020). By implication, over 70% of street children are found in urban areas, with cities like Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Abuja, and other capital cities having significant populations of street children (Taiwo, et al., 2021). Street children in Nigeria can range in age from as young as 5 years old to late teens, with a significant portion falling between the ages o f 10 and 14. Street children in Nigeria face significant risks, including exploitation, abuse, malnutrition, exposure to violence, and limited access to education and healthcare (UNICEF, 2020). While both boys and girls are affected by streetism, boys are often overrepresented among street children. However, girls may be less visible due to engaging in activities like domestic work or commercial sex work, which may occur indoors (Aransiola, 2013). In the same vein, while boys are more visible among street children, girls face unique vulnerabilities, including sexual exploitation, early marriage, and domestic servitude. Faloore and Asamu (2010) stated that approximately 60% of street children in Nigeria have never attended school, while the remaining 40% may have dropped out due to various factors such as poverty, family issues, or lack of access to quality education. Thus, they are left with various forms of economic activities to survive, including begging, street vending, Timilehin Olayinka OMONIYI 68 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY scavenging, petty trading, and sometimes involvement in criminal activities (Fawole, et al., 2004). These statistics highlight the complex and challenging circumstances faced by street children in Nigeria and underscore the importance of comprehensive interventions to address their needs and protect their rights. No doubt, major urban centres in southwestern Nigeria, such as Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Osogbo. have significant populations o f street children due to factors such as rural-urban migration, economic opportunities, and family displacement (UNICEF. 2020). As Nigeria's largest city and economic hub, Lagos has a particularly high concentration of street children (Ikechebelu, et al., 2008). Thus, reports suggest that tens of thousands of children live and work on the streets of Lagos, engaging in activities such as begging, scavenging, and informal labour (FMOH .2015). In southwestern Nigeria, access to education for street children remains a significant challenge. In southwestern Nigeria, several street children in the region have limited or no access to formal schooling, with barriers such as lack of documentation, school fees, and transportation costs hindering their enrollment and attendance. In terms of gender dynamics, while boys are more visible, girls also face significant challenges as they involved in activities such as domestic work, street vending, or commercial sex work, often facing heightened risks of exploitation and abuse. These children, like their counterparts in other regions, often lack access to essential healthcare services. Malnutrition, untreated illnesses, and exposure to infectious diseases are common among street children in the region. In the same vein, they often face significant barriers to accessing daily necessities such as food, shelter, healthcare, and education. No doubt, streetism has a variety of effects on both children in the street and the society in which they find themselves. These effects can be detrimental to their families, communities, and the nation at large. Various government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based initiatives operate in southwestern Nigeria to address the needs of street children. These interventions include shelter programmes, education and skills training initiatives, healthcare services, and efforts to reunify children with their families where possible (Olaleye and Oladeji, 2011). However, the absence of support and secure conditions contradict the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Murray, 2019). The aim of this study is to arrive at an accurate and thoughtful insight of the experiences o f participants on the assessment of key indicators, perceived age­ long interventions, and plausible solutions to streetism in Nigeria. By implication, this study, sought to trace the pathways of streetism within the Nigeria space. Globally, the street children's phenomena have grown disproportionately in Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. Various studies such as Setiawatia and Syafarib (2020) have examined the factors that drive children to the streets, rehabilitation; however, little attention has been accorded to multidimensional analysis of streetism based on recent evidence from urban cities in southwestern Nigeria. It is discovered that no study has adopted a multidimensional approach of quantitative, qualitative and document analysis to examine the critical problem, policies and programmes associated with streetism. Ibadan Journal o f Child Development and Educational Foundations Vol. 5 (66-81) 69 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY Thus, addressing child streetism requires a multi-faceted approach that involves tackling underlying issues such as poverty, improving access to education and social services, addressing family dynamics, and providing alternative support structures for at-risk children. Addressing child streetism requires comprehensive strategies that address the root causes of the issue, provide support and protection to street- involved children, and work towards their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. It is said that this may involve efforts to improve access to education, social services, family support, and economic opportunities, as well as initiatives to combat poverty, promote child welfare, and strengthen child protection systems. Sofiya and Galata (2019) remarked that while interventions to combat child streetism have shown promise in addressing the immediate and underlying factors contributing to the issue, sustained efforts and investments are needed to achieve lasting impact and ensure the well-being and rights of street-involved children. Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are essential for assessing the effectiveness of interventions, identifying areas for improvement, and scaling up successful approaches. While interventions to combat child streetism face numerous challenges and limitations, ongoing efforts guided by evidence-based approaches, community participation, and a commitment to children's rights have the potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives o f street-involved children and their communities (Yusuf and Tsagem, 2022) . Trading blame for streetism cannot be attributed to a single entity or individual, as it is a complex issue influenced by various factors and systemic failures. However, there are several stakeholders who bear responsibility for addressing the root causes and consequences of child streetism. This is because while assigning blame may be tempting, it is more constructive to focus on collaboration, accountability, and collective action to address the systemic issues that contribute to child streetism and ensure the well-being and rights o f all children (Aransiola, 2013). By working together, stakeholders can implement comprehensive strategies that prevent children from ending up on the streets and provide support and opportunities for those already affected by streetism. The Nigerian government has made several past efforts to address the issue of child streetism and improve the welfare of vulnerable children. In 2003, Nigeria adopted the Child Rights Act, which is aimed at protecting the rights of children and promoting their welfare. The Act provides for measures to prevent child abuse, exploitation, and neglect, as well as provisions for the rehabilitation and reintegration o f vulnerable children, including street children (Faloore and Asamu 2010). The Nigerian government has established agencies and departments responsible for the welfare of children, such as the National Agency for the Prohibition o f Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI). These agencies work to address issues such as child trafficking, exploitation, and displacement, which contribute to child streetism. The Nigerian government has implemented various education initiatives aimed at increasing access to education for vulnerable Timilehin Olayinka OMONIYI 70 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY children, including street children (Abubakar-Abdullateef, et al., 2017). These initiatives may include the provision of free or subsidised education, school feeding programmes, and efforts to eliminate barriers to education such as school fees and uniform costs. The government has implemented social welfare programmes targeting vulnerable populations, including street children and their families. These programmes may provide cash transfers, food assistance, healthcare services, and other forms of support to alleviate poverty and improve the well-being of vulnerable children (Obimakinde, 2023). The government has supported the establishment o f rehabilitation centres and shelters for street children, where they can access necessities, education, vocational training, counseling, and other support services. These centers aim to reintegrate street children into society and prevent them from returning to the streets (UN-CRC 2019). Despite these efforts, challenges persist in effectively addressing child streetism in Nigeria, including limited resources, gaps in implementation, and the complex nature of the issue. It is said that continued collaboration between government agencies, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders is essential to tackle the root causes of child streetism and improve the lives of vulnerable children in Nigeria (Ugwuadu 2017). added that various stakeholders play crucial roles in curbing child streetism. Thus, by engaging these additional stakeholders and fostering multi-sectoral collaboration, it is possible to develop comprehensive and sustainable strategies to curb child streetism and ensure the well-being and rights of street-involved children (UNICEF, 2013). Firstly, it is said that governments are responsible for formulating and implementing policies and programmes aimed at addressing child streetism (Ayenew, Kabeta & Woldemichael, 2020). This includes developing child protection laws, allocating resources for social welfare programmes, providing access to education and healthcare, and enforcing regulations to prevent child exploitation and abuse. Hence, the body saddled with the responsibility of formulating policies and programme that will change the narrative (Taiwo, et al., 2021). In the same vein, Ugwuadu (2017) explained that government may not solely be responsible for addressing this issue. However, non-government agencies (NGOs) play a vital role in providing direct services to street-involved children, including outreach, shelter, education, healthcare, and rehabilitation (Taiwo, et al., 2021). This is because they can advocate for policy reforms, raise awareness, mobilize resources, and collaborate with other stakeholders to address the root causes of child streetism. Cavazzoni, et al., (2023) added that the society to which the children found themselves is also a factor. By implication, community leaders and local authorities can play a critical role in mobilising communities to support street- involved children, raising awareness about their rights and needs, and providing a supportive environment for their reintegration. They can also facilitate collaboration among stakeholders and ensure the effective implementation of interventions at the grassroots level (Olaleye an Oladeji, 2011). It is given that families and caregivers are the primary protectors of children and play a crucial role in preventing child streetism (Owoo, 2018). Thus, providing support to vulnerable families, strengthening parenting skills, promoting family Ibadan Journal o f Child Development and Educational Foundations Vol. 5 (66-81) 7/ UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY reunification, and addressing issues such as poverty, substance abuse, and domestic violence can help prevent family breakdown and child abandonment (UN-CRC 2019). In addition, Obimakinde (2023) explained that schools and educational institutions play a vital role in providing access to education and opportunities for street-involved children to learn and develop essential skills. They can also identify at-risk children, provide support services, and create inclusive environments that cater to the diverse needs of all children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Hence, there is need for more study on a multidimensional approach to assessing streetism in Nigeria. This could provide a more comprehensive picture and deep insights into investigating this complex issue which is anchored in real-life situations. The multidimensional analysis of streetism based on recent evidence from urban cities in southwestern Nigeria will help to galvanise the engagement while also assessing key indicators, risk factors and perceived age-long interventions. Objectives of the study Generally, the study assessed street from three key dimensions namely qualitative, quantitative as well as document analysis from reputable sources. Specifically, the study seeks to address critically the following five objectives; i. To ascertain key indicators of child streetism. ii. To find out critical causes of child streetism in southwestern Nigeria. iii. To assess interventions, policies and programmes deployed to mitigate streetism in recent time. iv. To ascertain the level o f interventions, policies, and programmes effectiveness. v. To find plausible solutions to ameliorate this challenge. Research questions From the stated objectives, the five research questions were raised for the study i. What are the key indicators of child streetism? ii. What are the causes o f child streetism? iii. What is the perceived age-long interventions of streetism? iv. How effective are the age-long interventions for addressing streetism? v. What are plausible solutions to streetism? Method and Materials The study adopted the multidimensional approach, which is a mixture of the mixed methods design (QUAN + qual), and secondary data were retrieved retrieve journal articles, news items and other electronic materials written on the complexities of streetism with a view to teasing out the key indicators, causes and interventions through analysis document analysis of veritable sources such as Google scholar, Scopus, and African Journals Online (AJOL). The quantitative data were collected from 530 stakeholders in six capital cities of southwestern Nigeria. The selection of stakeholders was initially purposive as guided by the street shop owners who were familiar with the parental figure and thereafter by snowball technique in each of the Timilehin Olayinka OMONIYI 72 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY capital city. A semi-structured in-depth interview were conducted with twelve key leaders representing the divide. Result and Discussion Research Question 1: What are the Key Indicators of Child Streetism? The qualitative analysis carried out among participants revealed the following as critical indicators o f child streetism; engagement in criminal activities, health issues, emotional and psychological distress, drug or substance abuse, social isolation, lack of education, visible presence on the streets, lack of stable housing, begging or hawking, dirty or unkempt appearance, lack of access to basic needs, exploitative relationships, limited or absent parental supervision, presence of siblings or peers, disengagement from formal systems, aimless migration, visible signs of abuse or neglect. The excerpts from the interview conducted are; “whenyou see a society with number o f hawkers or wandering kids. You can easily identify that these people are street children. They beg fo r fo o d and money on the street. Here in Osogbo, not only the Hausas that are begging, even, indigenes are also begging and sleeping on the street ” (ParticipantA_64_F). “ These children are easy to identify. They are beggars with turn dresses aimlessly w’alking about. Some o f them pretend to be scavengers to steal from innocent people. Some help in carry load to get paid. Some are seated begging with bowls in their hands (Participant B_51_M). “ What order indicators do you expect. They are loitering around the streets and corners. They are jobless. When you see an underage who is supposed to be in school during the schooling hour and he or she is outside doing nothing is street children “Many o f them are homeless. They lack meaningful trace and record” (Participant C_63_M). “Without doubt, lack o f stable housing, begging or hawking” (Participant D_57_M). “They are limited to or absent from parental supervision, there is no presence of siblings or peers, also they are usually and previously disengaged from formal activities like schooling etc” (Participant F_59_F). Research Question 2: What are the Causes of Child Streetism? Ibadan Journal o f Child Development and Educational Foundations Vol. 5 (66-81) 73 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY Timilehin Olayinka OMONIYI 74 Table 1: Mean Responses and Rank Order of the Causes of Child Streetism Sn Items Very Major Major Minor Very Minor Not At All X Std Remark 1 Economic issues/ Abject poverty 36 6 . 8 155 29.2 218 41.1 8 6 16.2 35 6 . 6 3.1340 .98715 14th 2 Abandonment/neglect 73 13.8 180 34.0 175 33.0 51 9.6 51 9.6 3.3264 1.12585 ond 3 Rural-urban migration 62 11.7 2 0 2 38.1 143 27.0 92 17.4 31 5.8 3.3245 1.07399 3 rd 4 Products of street living/parenting 56 1 0 . 6 188 35.5 179 33.8 78 14.7 29 5.5 3.3094 1.02451 4 * 5 T ruancy/personality traits 62 11.7 193 36.4 135 25.5 8 8 16.6 52 9.8 3.2358 1.15649 1 0 th 6 Discrimination within family 27 5.1 128 24.2 228 43.0 75 14.2 72 13.6 2.9302 1.06181 2 1 st 7 Polygamous homes/ relationship 37 7.0 205 38.7 193 36.4 67 1 2 . 6 28 5.3 3.2943 .95858 6 th 8 Parents/ guardian’s death 40 7.5 156 29.4 160 30.2 85 16.0 89 16.8 2.9491 1.19516 2 0 th 9 Parent/guardian alcoholic behaviour 48 9.1 208 39.2 167 31.5 70 13.2 37 7.0 3.3019 1.03775 5th 1 0 Domestic violence, others) 2 2 4.2 251 47.4 133 25.1 62 11.7 62 11.7 3.2057 1.08833 1 2 th 1 1 Parental/ guardian’s divorce/separation 23 4.3 177 33.4 246 46.4 6 6 12.5 18 3.4 3.2283 .84685 1 1 th 1 2 Escaping abusive (Physical, Sexual and Emotional). 2 2 4.2 158 29.8 247 46.6 62 11.7 41 7.7 3.1094 .93822 16th 13 Children psychological predisposition 37 7.0 158 29.8 204 38.5 95 17.9 36 6 . 8 3.1226 1.00756 15th 14 Vulnerability of children 69 13.0 144 27.2 213 40.2 54 1 0 . 2 50 9.4 3.2415 1.10257 9 th 15 Resilience to achieve 60 11.3 170 32.1 124 23.4 139 26.2 37 7.0 3.1453 1.13861 13th 16 Parental/ guardian discipline/punishment mechanism 54 1 0 . 2 172 32.5 194 36.6 90 17.0 2 0 3.8 3.2830 .98720 yth 17 Academic/Skill performance pressure 59 1 1 .1 170 32.1 123 23.2 92 17.4 8 6 16.2 3.0453 1.26080 17th 18 Attention Issues/Listening gap 27 5.1 143 27.0 218 41.1 61 11.5 81 15.3 .9509 1.09538 19th 19 Gap in resource provision 34 6.4 188 35.5 2 2 1 41.7 62 11.7 25 4.7 3.2717 .91911 8 th 2 0 Parents/ guardian’s job crises 38 7.2 125 23.6 199 37.5 8 6 16.2 82 15.5 2.9075 1.13916 2 2 nd 2 1 Negative past experiences 47 8.9 203 38.3 199 37.5 53 1 0 . 0 28 5.3 3.3547 .96176 ist 2 2 Inability to connect to 19 214 125 72 1 0 0 2.9623 1.19959 18th Weighted average: 3.165 Threshold: 3.0 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY Ibadan Journal o f Child Development and Educational Foundations Vol. 5 (66-81) 75 The key causes o f streetism in N igeria. “N egative past experiences” , “Abandonment/neglect” and “rural-urban migration” were ranked top three prominent causes o f streetism in Nigeria. Research Question 3: What is the perceived age-long interventions of streetism? Table 2: Mean Responses and Rank Order of the Perceived Age-Long Interventions of Streetism Sn Items Very Major Major Very Minor Minor Not At All X Std Remark i Access to infrastructural facilities 0 0 136 25.7 95 17.9 144 27.2 155 29.2 2.4000 1.15786 1 0 "’ 2 Free and qualitative education 25 4.7 261 49.2 65 12.3 75 14.2 104 19.6 3.0528 1.26799 5"’ 3 Family bond 25 4.7 1 0 1 19.1 149 28.1 124 23.4 131 24.7 2.5566 1.18657 8 th 4 Allocation of specific funds 8 6 16.2 268 50.6 127 24.0 29 5.5 2 0 3.8 3.7000 .93382 1st 5 Creation of ministry of social welfare 34 6.4 160 30.2 159 30.0 78 14.7 99 18.7 2.9094 1.20306 6 "' 6 NGOs’ interventions 11 2 . 1 118 22.3 141 26.6 129 24.3 131 24.7 2.5264 1.14714 9 th 7 Media Education 1 2 2.3 155 29.2 140 26.4 91 17.2 132 24.9 2.6679 1.20141 yth 8 Counselling services by concerned stakeholders 37 7.0 158 29.8 204 38.5 95 17.9 36 6 . 8 3.1226 1.00756 4 th 9 Social worker roles 69 13.0 144 27.2 213 40.2 54 1 0 . 2 50 9.4 3.2415 1.10257 2 nd 1 0 Adoption of vulnerable children 60 11.3 170 32.1 124 23.4 139 26.2 37 7.0 3.1453 1.13861 3 rd Weighted average: 2.93 Threshold: 2.50 From the table above, the table revealed the perceived age-long interventions of streetism. “Allocation of specific funds”, “Social worker roles”, “Adoption of vulnerable children”, were ranked top three interventions which have been deployed overtime. Research Question 4: How effective are the age-Long Interventions for addressing streetism? Thematic Analysis of the Effectiveness of the Age-long Interventions for addressing streetism UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY Timilehin Olayinka OMONIYI 76 The qualitative analysis carried out revealed that the interventions are not effective. The excerpts from the interviews conducted are as follows; “The approaches are faulty as some do not address a battered life while some do not reintegrate a child back into his or her fam ily setting ” (Participant F_59_F). “Streetism starts with the fam ily and not the street. You cannot continue to send them away from the street and think that that will correct the anomalies ” (Participant C_63_M). "I do not see any effectiveness in some o f these policies and programme. For instance, school feeding programme was a mess. You remember during the covid era where no one was in school, the system still claims that they were feeding pupils. This is purely a charade ” (Participant D_57_M). "For instance, after counselling, what next. Many o f them are abandoned after taking pictures with them fo r financial gains from foreign donors. It is not effective. Go to the north and see how these children are roaming the street” (Participant A_64_F). It is questionable. Funds are allocated for ministries, departments, parastatals, and agencies in charge o f some issues like this, they are used up or lootedfor personal gains (Participant B_51_M). It can be concluded that the strategies identified in addressing streetism in southwestern Nigeria are ineffective and needs to be rejigged. Research Question 5: What are plausible solutions to streetism? Thematic Analysis of the Plausible Solutions The following themes emerged from the data: families should be strengthened to prevent streetism, sound peer support can prevent streetism, schools can be used to prevent streetism, having access to social services can prevent streetism, churches can prevent streetism, a supportive community can prevent streetism and access to government services can prevent streetism. The excerpts of the interview conducted are as follow; “taking them o ff the street, free education, encouraging them to learn skills and son (Participant A_64_F). “I remember in the past when catholic churches were building schools, hospital and workplaces to help people. The same can be replicated by government and non-governmental agencies to help proffer solution to the problem ” (Participant B 51 _M). (Participant C_63_M). “There is needfor government to make legislations on how to reduce this nefarious act. There is need fo r prosecuting parent who cannot control their children ” (Participant D_57_M). “Everybody has role to play to ensure that streetism is ameliorated. Build school, educate parents, provide basic amenities o f life as government. Also, create technical schools to help reduce the problem by fixing the child for meaningful activities” (Participant F_59_F). It can be deduced from the finding that streetism can be reduced i f schools are built, education are made free, technical centres are created, parents are educated on parenting and family planning as well as other concerns taken care of. Discussion of Findings Critical Indicators of Streetism The findings o f the study revealed that several indicators o f streetism includes UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY tattered dressing, aimless migration, under-age begging for food, absence of parental guidance, among others. The findings of the study is in line with the works of Yusuf and Tsagem (2022), Setiawatia and Syafarib (2020) as well as that o f Olaleye and Oladej i (2011), but at variance with the submission of Obimakinde and Shabir (2023) who affirmed that beyond physical appearance, streetism could be identified through mental and deficiency in healthcare issues of children on the street. Critical Causes of Streetism Table 2 revealed the key causes of streetism in Nigeria. “Negative past experiences”, “Abandonment/neglect” and “rural-urban migration” were ranked top three prominent causes of streetism in southwestern Nigeria. The finding of the study is in line with the works o f Bah (2018); Corcoran (2016) and Derivois, et ah, (2019) but at incongruence with the studies of Mekonen, Adhena, et al., (2020). It is said that streetism rife when there is parental disconnect in the life o f a child. The study by Nasir and Siddiqui (2017) affirmed this assertion that child abandonment is one of the major indicators of streetism. Effectiveness of the Age-long Interventions for Addressing Streetism The weak effectiveness o f the age-long interventions for addressing streetism was affirmed by the empirical findings from Berhanu, et al., (2019); Daba, et al., (2020); Evans, et al., (2018) and Kaiser and Sinanan (2019). While negotiating the reasons for non-effectiveness of the strategies. The submission of Bah (2018) added that the effectiveness o f interventions to combat child streetism can vary depending on various factors such as the context, the implementation strategy, resources available, and the extent o f collaboration among stakeholders. Some interventions have shown promising results, while others may face challenges or limitations. This study by Cavazzoni, et al., (2023) has bridged some critical gaps in literature as it is in line with the findings o f this study. This is because the effectiveness o f these strategies is in the ability to monitor the growth of the children after taking them off the street especially, for the intervention from government and non-governmental agencies and not the parents who could abandon or allow them to return to the street. Plausible Solutions to Streetism The findings o f the study agree with the submission of Taiwo, et al., (2021) and Ugwuadu (2017). However, it is not in tandem with the submission of Bayissa (2021) whose study explained that modern mechanism should be put in place to address streetism in southwestern Nigeria. It is suggested that such should include a functional legal framework, quality education, non-governmental agencies' role, community outreach and awareness, family support programs, shelter, and rehabilitation centre, education and skills training among others and associated intervention. These and several others will help to address the issue at hand. Conclusion The global phenomenon of streetism is on the increase. This issue explains the Ibadan Journal o f Child Development and Educational Foundations Vol. 5 (66-81) 77 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY situations o f street children who usually live on the streets and engage in menial income. African street children have been characterized as predominantly male and disproportionately from Sub-Saharan Africa. The population of these street children in Africa is alarmingly great. The socio-economic challenge has been attributed to personal and contextual reasons in which stakeholders have called for its amelioration. In Nigeria, street children face significant risks, including exploitation, abuse, malnutrition, exposure to violence, and limited access to education and healthcare. These statistics highlight the complex and challenging circumstances faced by street children in Nigeria and underscore the importance o f comprehensive interventions to address their needs and protect their rights. In southwestern Nigeria, several street children in the region have limited or no access to formal schooling, with barriers such as lack o f documentation, school fees, and transportation costs hindering their enrollment and attendance. Several factors have been identified as key indicators and causes o f streetism in southwestern Nigeria. In the same vein, efforts must be made to improve access to education, social services, family support, and economic opportunities, as well as initiatives to combat poverty, promote child welfare, and strengthen child protection systems. Recommendations The following recommendations were made; 1. There is need for policy engagement to drive higher enrolment rate in school at all levels o f education. 2. Effective community outreach and awareness programmes can help mobilise support and resources for street-involved children. 3. The provision o f support to at-risk families can help prevent children from ending up on the streets. 4. There is need for outreach programmes for providing immediate assistance and linking them to appropriate services. 5. There is need to empower street-involved children to participate in decision­ making processes, and community initiatives can enhance their self-esteem, agency, and resilience. 6. Community-based rehabilitation programmes would also help to promote social inclusion and acceptance of street-involved children within their communities. 7. Collaborative partnerships among government agencies, NGOs, civil society organisations, and communities can leverage resources, expertise, and networks to maximize impact. References Abate, D., Eyeberu, A., Adare, D., Negash, B., Alemu, A., Beshir, T., and Dessie, Y. 2022. Health status o f street children and reasons for being forced to live on the streets in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia. Using mixed methods. Plos one, 17(3) , e0265601. https://d0i.0rg/l 0.1371 /journal.pone.0265601 Abubakar-Abdullateef A, Adedokun B. and Omigbodun O. 2017. A comparative Timilehin Olayinka OMONIYI 78 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY https://d0i.0rg/l_0.1371_/journal.pone.0265601 study o f the prevalence and correlates of psychiatric disorders in almajiris and public primary school pupils in Zaria, Northwest Nigeria. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry Merit Health. 11.1:1-12.10.1186/sl 3034-017-0166-3 Afek, A., Ben-Avraham, R., Davidov, A., Berezin. C. N., Ben Yehuda, A., Gilboa, Y., and Nahum, M. 2021. Psychological resilience, mental health, and inhibitory control among youth and young adults under stress. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11,608588. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsvt.2020.608588 Aransiola J.O 2013. Providing sustainable supports for street children in Nigeria: stakeholders challenges and the policy options available. AdvAppl Sociol. 3 .3 :172-177 .10.4236/aasoci.2013.33023. Ayenew, M., Kabeta, T. and Woldemichael, K. 2020. Prevalence, and factors associated with substance use among street children in Jimma town, Oromiya national regional state, Ethiopia: a community-based cross- sectional study. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy, 15.61: https://doi.ora/10,1186/sl 3011- 020-00304-3. Bah, Y. 2018. Drug abuse among street children. Biomedical Journal o f Scientific & T e c h n i c a l R e s e a r c h , 1 0 . 4 : B i o m e d . https://doi.org/10.26717/BJSTR.201 8.10.001982 Bayissa, K. L. 2021. Street children: reasons for becoming, challenges and coping mechanisms; a study on street children in Nekemte Town. Arts and Social Sciences Journal, 12,55. Berhanu, N., Dinaol, U., and Getachew, A. 2019. Psychosocial conditions and resilience status of street children in Jimma Town. Ethiopian Journal o f Health Science, 29.2: 361-368. https://d0i.0rg/l 0,4314/eihs.v29i2.8. Cavazzoni, F., Fiorini, A. and Veronese, G. 2023. When agency turns into a risk factor: a literature review of the negative consequences of children's agentic behaviours on their physical and psychological well-being. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, 24.2:1095-1105. https://d0i.0rg/l 0.1177/15248380211048450 Cenata, J. M., Derivoisb, D., Heberta, M., Amedeea, L. M. and Karray, A. 2018. M ultip le traum as and resilience am ong street ch ild ren in Haiti . Psychopathology O f Survival C hild A buse and N eg lec t, 79: 85 -97 . https://cloi.Org/10.1016/i.chiabu.2018.01.024 Daba, D. B, Shaweno T, Belete K. T. and Workicho A. 2020. Magnitude of under nutrition and associated factors among adolescent street children at Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia. Derivois, D. Cenat J. M., Karray, A. and Charpillat-Richard, E. 2019. Determinants o f resilience in Haitian street children four years after the January 2010 earthquake. Journal o f Loss and Trauma, 25.1:34-46. Derivois, D., Hebert, M., Amedee, L., and Karray, A. 2018. Multiple traumas and resilience among street children. Canada Psychopathology of Survival. vvvvvv.elsevier.com/loca.te/chiabuneg Dladla, J. Ogina, T. A. 2018. Teachers' perceptions of learners who are street children: A South African case study. South African Journal o f Education, 38.1: Embleton, L., Shah, P., Gayapersad, A., Kiptui, R., Ayuku, D., and Braitstein, P. Ibadan Journal o f Child Development and Educational Foundations Vol. 5 (66-81) 79 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsvt.2020.608588 https://doi.ora/10,1186/sl_3011- https://d0i.0rg/l_0,4314/eihs.v29i2.8 https://d0i.0rg/l_0.1177/15248380211048450 https://cloi.Org/10.1016/i.chiabu.2018.01.024 2020. Characterizing street-connected children and youths' social and health inequities in Kenya: A qualitative study. International Journal for Equity in Health, 19.1:147. https://doi.org/10.1186/s 12939-020-01255-8 Evans, C., Graves, K., and Antonopoulos, G. 2018. Trauma among children and legal i m p l i c a t i o n s . C o g e n t S o c i a l S c i e n c e s , 4 . 1 : 1 5 4 6 7 9 1 . https://doi.Org/l 0.1080/23311886.2018.1546791 Faloore, O. and Asamu, F. 2010. Social networks and livelihood o f street children in Ibadan, Nigeria. JIn tSoc Res.3.10:487-494. [Google Scholar], Fawole, O, Ajuwon, Aand Osungbade, K. 2004. Violence and HIV/AIDS prevention among female out-of-school youths in southwestern Nigeria: Lessons learnt from interventions targeted at hawkers and apprentices. Afr J Med Med Sci. 33.4: 347-353. FMOH 2015. State o f Nigerian children; children left behind in Nigeria [homepage o n t h e I n t e r n e t ] . A v a i l a b l e f r o m : https://nigeria.savethechildren.net/sites/nigeria.savethechildren.net/files/library /State o f Nigerian children report.pdf Hui, Mun Dong 2018. "Forced labor prescribed for North Korea's malnourished street children". Daily NK. Retrieved 14th January 2023. Ikechebelu, J. I., Udigwe, G.O., Ezechukwu, C. and Joe-ikechebelu, N. N. 2008. Sexual abuse among juvenile female street hawkers in Anambra State, Nigeria .A frJReprod Health, 12.2:111-119. Jalagat, R. C., and Said Al-Habsi, N. A. 2017. Evaluating the Impacts of IT Usage on Organizational Performance. European Academic Research, 5.9: 5111-5164. Julien, G. 2022. Traits o f street children. Educational Research & Reviews, 17.5: 160-167. https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2022.4245 Kaiser, E. and Sinanan, A. N. 2019. Survival and Resilience of Female Street Children Experiencing Sexual Violence in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study. Journal o f Child S e x u a l A b u s e , 2 9 . 5 : 5 5 0 - 5 6 9 . https://doi.Org/10.1080/10538712.2019.1685615 Maepa, M. P. 2021. Self-Esteem and Resilience Differences Among Street Children Compared to Non-street Children in Limpopo Province o f South Africa: A Baseline S t u d y . F r o n t P u b l i c H e a l t h , 9 , 5 4 2 7 7 8 . https://doi.org/l 0.3389/fpubh.2021.542778 Mekonen, S., Adhena, G., Araya, N.A, and Hiwot, H.G. 2020. Psychosocial Distress among adolescent Street Children in Tigray, Ethiopia: A Community- Based, Mixed-Method S t udy . J o u r n a l o f D e p r e s s A n x i e t y , 9 . 5: 3 76. https://doi.org/10.35248/2167-1044.20,9.376 Mulu, N., Mohammed, B., Woldie, H. and Shitu, K. 2022. Determinants of stunting and wasting in street children in Northwest Ethiopia: A community-based study. Nutrition, 94. https://cloi.org/10.1016/i.nut.2021.111532 Murray, J. 2019. Hearing young children's voices. International Journal o f Early Years Education, 27.1:1-5. Obimakinde, A. M. and Shabir, M. 2023. Physical, mental and healthcare issues of children on the street of Ibadan, Nigeria. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. 15.1: a3 819. https://doi.Org/10.4102/pherm.v 15i 1.3819 Timilehin Olayinka OMONIYI SO UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY https://doi.org/10.1186/s_12939-020-01255-8 https://doi.Org/l_0.1080/23311886.2018.1546791 https://nigeria.savethechildren.net/sites/nigeria.savethechildren.net/files/library https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2022.4245 https://doi.Org/10.1080/10538712.2019.1685615 https://doi.org/10.35248/2167-1044.20,9.376 https://cloi.org/10.1016/i.nut.2021.111532 https://doi.Org/10.4102/pherm.v_15i_1.3819 Olaleye, Y. and Oladeji, D. 2011. Single parenthood impact on street children in Ibadan M e t r o p o l i s , N i g e r i a . A fr R e s R e v . , 4 . 2 : 1 8 5 - 1 9 6 . 10.4314/afrrev.v4i2.58302 Owoo, N. S. 2018. Food insecurity and family structure in Nigeria. SSM Popul Health, 4:117-125.10.1016/j.ssmph.2017.12.004 Savarkar, T., and Das, S. 2019 Mental health problems among street children: the case of India. Current Research Journal o f Social Sciences, 2.1: 39—46. https://doi.org/l 0.12944/CRJSSH.2.1.05 Setiawatia, T, and Syafarib, A. 2020. The policy for handling street children based on organisational implementation in Serang City, Banten Province. International Journal o f Innovation, Creativity and Change, 12.6: Sisay, A. 2017. The status of child labour exploitation in South West Ethiopia, Jimma Town: The case of Bocho Bore Kebele. Transcience, 8.2: 59-73. Retrieved on 22/01/2024. https://wvvvv2.hu-berlin.de/transcience/Vol8_No2 59 73.pdf Sofiya, E., and Galata, S. 2019. Causes and consequences o f streetism among street children in Harar City, Ethiopia. International Journal o f Education & Literacy Studies, 7.2:94. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.iiels.v.7n.2p.94 Taiwo, A. O, Badiora, A. I. and Adebara, T. M. 2021. Public spaces and concentrations o f child labourers in Ibadan municipality, Nigeria. J AsianAfr Stud. 56.7:1708— 1 723 . 1 0.1 1 7 7 / 0 0 2 1 9 0 9 6 2 0 9 8 8 7 4 7 [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] UNICEF. 2020. Adolescent mental health matters: a landscape analysis of UNICEF's response and agenda for action, adolescent mental health m a t t e r s , 3. Retrieved on 20/01 /2024 Ugwuadu, M. E 2017. Experiences of street children in Iwo road of Ibadan. Nigeria. Accra: University of Ghana; 2017. UN-CRC, 2019. Convention on the rights of the child committee on the rights of the child consideration in Nigeria [homepage on the Internet], Vol. 40066. 2008. [ c i t e d 2 0 1 9 M a r 2 1 ] . A v a i l a b l e f r o m : https://vvvvvv.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1286089/470 127428 i 179 g 1040066.pdf UNICEF Nigeria-Bar Human Rights Committee 2013. The child rights manual N i g e r i a [ h o m e p a g e o n t h e I n t e r n e t ] . A v a i l a b l e f r o m : http://wwvv.barhumanrights.org.iik/vvp-content/uploads/2013/12/The-Child-Rights- Manual Nigeria-29.10.13.pdf Yusuf, M. and Tsagem, S. 2022. Empowering street children in Nigeria: Non-formal education and counselling potentials population. SER., 21.1:1-12. Verma V, Mishra AK, Dhawan A 2020. Diversity in substance use behaviour among street children of Delhi under Bayesian paradigm. BMC Medical Research Methodology 20:291. Ibadan Journal o f Child Development and Educational Foundations Vol. 5 (66-81) 81 UNIV ERSIT Y O F IB ADAN L IB RARY https://doi.org/l_0.12944/CRJSSH.2.1.05 https://wvvvv2.hu-berlin.de/transcience/Vol8_No2_59_73.pdf https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.iiels.v.7n.2p.94 https://vvvvvv.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1286089/470_127428_i_179_g_1040066.pdf http://wwvv.barhumanrights.org.iik/vvp-content/uploads/2013/12/The-Child-Rights-Manual_Nigeria-29.10.13.pdf http://wwvv.barhumanrights.org.iik/vvp-content/uploads/2013/12/The-Child-Rights-Manual_Nigeria-29.10.13.pdf