Born to Beg! The Challenge of Alms-transaction in Northern Nigeria

Book excerpt: Born to Beg! The Challenge of Alms-transaction in Northern Nigeria By: Dr. ‘Tunji Adewuyi Born to Beg! The Challenge of Alms-transaction in Northern Nigeria is a narration of street begging which has become pandemic in Nigeria. Begging comes in two broad forms. The first is linked to poverty as a cause and consequence, is a feature of all societies and responds to poverty-alleviating measures. The second which is the focus of this book is cultural and “expressed in terms of legal rights or of established customs which have the essential binding characteristics of law”. Beginning from childhood and continuing into adulthood, beggars of this category are a huge demographic category and considerable social problem in Nigeria. This book has explored this problem and come up with suggestions that may halt new entrants into begging and bring street beggars to respectability.