GIRLS IN OKOBABA 6 YEARS AFTER by funke fayemi published on 2024-01-08T09:07:16Z Inequality is a deep issue in the society that affects all, but with special effects on the female gender. One area looked into on this edition of Women and Development on Voice of Nigeria is the way the girls living in the Okobaba Destitute Camp Ebute Meta lives. Six years ago, I visited the camp and this is a follow-up to the visit paid to understand the livelihood of girls living in the community. Findings remain same, education and health are huge gaps that affects young females residing in the camp. Built over 30 years ago by the then Lagos state governor, Rtd General Buba Marwa, Okobaba destitute camp was meant to accommodate about 300 beggars on some streets of Ebute meta, Lagos state, South west Nigeria, however, over 10, 000 destitute co-habits in the camp. The girls living in the Okobaba Destitute Camp needs interventions in the inequality experienced in the community. They are groomed to be beggars as their parents which is not in support of the SDG 5. Thanks to the Africa Centre for Development Journalism (ACDJ) who supported this as part of its 2023 Inequalities Reporting Fellowship.
