I chose to be cobbler rather than beggar, says eight-year-old boy

As the number of homeless children roaming around the streets, begging for alms and depending on remnant of food for survival, eight-year-old Ismail Uzairu said he rather work as a cobbler to earn a living than begging for leftovers within Kaduna metropolis.

Besides, with the recession at it peak and the difficulty an average Nigerian is facing to survive this period, Uzairu strives to build a nest for himself with the little token he gets from shoe polishing and repairs.

Despite his decision not to beg, undertaking such job at his age is contrary to the Child Right Act of the United Nations (UN) Convention adopted in1959, which states: “The child shall be protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation. He … shall not be admitted to employment before an appropriate minimum age; he shall in no case be caused or permitted to engage in any occupation or employment, which would prejudice his health or education or interfere with his physical, mental or moral development.”

Asking where he learnt of the business, Uzairu said: “I don’t like begging, so I learnt the job from one of my brothers and I own all the tools I use for the polishing and repairs.” 

On whether he goes to school, he replied: “I go to Dan Manni Government School and I am in Primary Two. “In the morning, I go to school and once I am back, I switch to my cobbler business.”

Regarding his parents’ whereabouts and their occupation, he said: “My father sells herbs and my mother does nothing.”Uzairu further disclosed that he would like to further his studies and go abroad, adding: “My intention is to finish my studies and to go abroad, because I have a vision of owning a big company that make shoes.”