A typical day for 13-year-old Abdulrahman Ismail, a resident of Samaru Zaria, starts at 5 a.m. After the Muslim morning prayers, Abdulrahman sets out for his daily menial job at the gate of the main campus of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. There, he, alongside other young boys, engages in helping students and staff of the institution carry their luggage to their hostels or homes for a fee.
The young stewards are popularly called ‘Yaro boys’ in the institution.
Abdulrahman He said that the job is organized – any new entrant must fill a form and wear a uniform approved by the school authorities.
“I was introduced to this job by one Ubandaba, who gave me this uniform I am wearing,” . “Though I have not filled the registration form provided by the ABU school authorities, with this uniform, any Yaro boy can enter and move around the university premises without harassment by the university security.”
Abdulrahman is a Junior class 3 student of Government Secondary School, Basawa. He said he does the Yaro boy job in the morning during holidays. But when his school is in session, he resumes after school hours at 2 p.m.
“We normally convey students’ luggage from the university’s main gate to their respective hostels and we are paid N20, N30 or N50, depending on weight of the load.”
The youngster said he does the job to help his poor parents.
“In fact, the day I disclosed to them that I want to start this job, they prayed for me. I make up to N500 per day from the job. I use the money for transport fare to school, books and feeding; while my father who cultivates farm land for people, struggles for my school fees.”
Source: PremiumT
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