12-Year-Old Boy Seeks Education Support, Family Accommodation in Ekiti

A 12-year-old boy, Omogbolahan Bello, made an emotional appeal for help in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday. The young boy was seen holding a cardboard with the message: “Nigerians, please, help me, I need to go back to school. I am tired of sitting at home.” His appeal for education assistance came after he had to leave school due to financial hardships faced by his family.

Bello, who was in JSS 2 before he stopped attending school, explained that his father is from Ibadan in Oyo State, and the family had moved to Ekiti from Ondo State after being defrauded by some fraudsters. According to him, the family’s financial situation collapsed after they were duped, leaving them unable to support their basic needs, including education.

The young boy shared that he currently should be in SS 1, but he had to drop out due to the lack of funds. He revealed that his family has been living in a village near Ido Ekiti, with temporary accommodation provided by a kind soul. Bello, who traveled to Ado-Ekiti on his own that morning, was seeking help to return to school using money his mother had given him for other errands.

Speaking further, he explained, “We were once living in Akure, Ondo State, but when we lost everything after being defrauded, we had to move here.” He added that his family consists of five people: his parents, an elder brother, a younger sister, and himself. Bello emphasized his love for education and pleaded for assistance, not just for himself, but for his family’s housing as well.

Bello’s plea was directed towards the government and kind-hearted Nigerians to help him return to school and assist his family with accommodation.