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European Journal of Social Impact and Circular Economy - ISSN: 2704-9906  
DOI: 10.13135/2704-9906/5593 Published by University of Turin http://www.ojs.unito.it/index.php/ejsice/index 
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15 

Changing the orientation of youths 
towards street hawking in Ibadan, 
Nigeria 
Ahmed Olaitan Adebisi1 and Joseph Omoniyi Basorun2 

1 Federal University of Technology, Department of Urban and Regional Planning 
  Akure, Nigeria. 
  E-mail: adebisiurp120385@futa.edu.ng 
 
2 Federal University of Technology, Department of Urban and Regional Planning 
  Akure, Nigeria. 
  E-mail: jobasorun@futa.edu.ng 
 
 
Received: 08/02/2021 
Accepted for publication: 03/11/2021 
Published: 12/11/2021 

Abstract 

Despite the vital role of street hawking in the livelihoods of youths in a recessed economy, its adverse implications on urban 
space and social well-being of the youths are too critical to overlook. This study, therefore, examines the implication of street 
hawking and its causal factors among youths in Sango-Ojoo axis of Ibadan. The study was a descriptive survey among 37 
youths who were randomly sampled at potential hawking terminals. Data was collected through the use of multiple-choice 
questionnaires, and interview guide, while chi-square test was used in data analysis. Findings revealed a preponderance of 
female youth hawkers and poor education was the major causal factor of hawking amongst the youths. The study further 
established a relationship between street hawking and vulnerability to shocks. The paper recommends sustainable policy 
through quality and affordable education to the poor, empowerment programme and habitual campaign on the dangers of street 
hawking. 

 

Keywords: Street hawking; Social impact; Youth, Ibadan; Nigeria 

 

1. Introduction 

In most parts of the world, youths constitute the largest visible group of the unemployed; a clear illustration of their 
disadvantaged position in the labour market. Unemployment rate in the developing countries is generally high and this is the 
main reason why many people start their working lives in the informal sector. Globally, three out of four employed youths are 
in informal employment, compared to three in five for adults. This ratio is as high as 19 out of 20 for young women and men 
in developing countries (ILO, 2017). In this study, a youth is any person between the ages of 15 and 24 years as defined by 
United Nations (UN), United Nation Children’s International Emergency Fund (UNICEF), International Labour Organization 
(ILO) and World Bank, without prejudice to other definitions by Member States. (UN, 2014).  

In a bid to escape poverty, many youths migrate to cities to look for better opportunities. Such movement from rural to urban 
area is inevitable and even desirable as a way to improve their quality of lives, though with wide socio-economic implications 
(Alarima, 2019). It intensifies the strain for jobs without necessarily improving the job conditions of those who are left in rural 



 
 

European Journal of Social Impact and Circular Economy - ISSN: 2704-9906  
DOI: 10.13135/2704-9906/5593 Published by University of Turin http://www.ojs.unito.it/index.php/ejsice/index 
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16 

areas; impacts provision of public goods, education, utilities, housing, and infrastructure; and affects demographic and skills 
composition in both rural and urban areas (Nweke, 2019).  Nigeria is the most populous African country with rapid urbanization 
where greater proportion of the youths below the age of 25 years encounter alarming unemployment while those with low 
education chose hawking activities for survival.  Amoo et al. (2016) opined that in the face of economic recession in Nigeria, 
street hawking plays vital roles in the lives of many frustrated youths whose hope of better employment in the city have been 
dashed. 

Street hawking is a form of street trading. The distinct features are the predominantly non-sedentary nature, and perpetual 
movements which may occur within the established market places or outside them along major thoroughfares and the 
intersection of major roads (Ayodele et al., 2014). Kulkarni (1984) divides hawker into two broad categories on the basis of 
their operations. They include the “principal –hawker”, who is solely responsible for his own capital, the management of his 
business and profits and losses; and the “agent-hawker”, who is employed by the owners of business or kiosks, and later paid 
commission for his effort. In the latter category are the wards or children of business owners who take no commission for their 
efforts (Adepoju & Femi, 1987). 

In Ibadan, vast majority of the youths are immigrants from the countryside, and street trading for them represents a desperate 
means of survival when the hopes of ready employment have been thwarted. Families who cannot afford the high cost of house 
rent are forced to live in urban slums which expose them to various health and environmental hazards. These low-income 
parents often engage their children in street hawking and petty trading to supplement aggregate family income (Ogundele & 
Ojo, 2007 ; Ayodele & Olubayo-Fatiregun, 2014). The need to continually provide for the family in the midst of unfriendly 
conditions has led youths and children to engage in street hawking activities (Ekpenyong & Nkereuwuem, 2011; Magaji & 
Sarka, 2020). This study, therefore, attempts to appraise the situation among youths along Sango-ojoo road Ibadan for possible 
change of orientation to a more impactful venture. The objectives of study are to; (i) examine the socio-economic characteristics 
of the youths hawking in the area; (ii) investigate the reasons for engaging in the act; (iii) assess the socio-economic implications 
of street hawking on their livelihoods; and (iv) suggest sustainable measures that can minimize the trend in Ibadan. 

The contribution of street hawking to economic growth and development can not be denied. Unfortunately, the hazards 
attached to it outweigh its beneficial socio-economic implications. Such hazards like motor accident, rape, kidnapping, 
extortion, sexual molestation, robbery and anti-social behaviours are too extreme to ignore (Basorun, 2011; Nduka & Duru, 
2014). Different socio-economic factors and implications are cardinal to street hawking. Studies have revealed some of these 
socio-demographic factors to be; poverty, lack of formal employment in the city and, regional socio-economic differences 
(Basorun, 2011). Put succinctly, the implications range from health, sexual, academic performance and attainment, behavioral 
to physical hazard (Nduka & Duru, 2014). 

Street hawking, no doubt, exposes people to risk especially at the city centre which is the business hub associated with heavy 
traffic. As espoused by Amoo et al. (2012) ; Sam, Akansor and Agyemang (2019), street hawkers sustain an intense risk of 
physical injuries as they carry their goods on head or hands and run after moving vehicles in an attempt to ensure they complete 
their daily sales. Undoubtedly, unemployment, poverty, inflation, poor school performance, unstable families, peer group 
influence, large family size and parental care have been ascribed to the incidence of street hawking in Nigeria (Fawole, 2003). 
Ogundele and Ojo, (2007) had argued that economic status, household size, parental upbringing and single parenthood 
significantly contribute to street hawking in Ibadan. The hazards posed by street hawking in Ibadan, include nature and 
harassment by government officials (Toyin, 2013). All these problems have attracted attention for actions that will ameliorate 
the lives of the youths for a better future in Ibadan, being a highly urbanized city in Nigeria. 

The menace of street hawking in Nigeria is socially, economically, politically and spatially oriented. It accounted for about 
one third of the 50 million labour force out of 123.9 million people in 1999 (Adeyinka, 2006). The failure of the formal sector 
to manage the demand for jobs, goods and services presents the informal economy as the highest employer of urban poor 
(Tripple, 2005 ; Sakarombe, 2020). Various efforts have been made by the three tiers of government and non-governmental 
agencies to stem the tide of street hawking in Nigeria, through capacity building, establishment of free education foundation 
for the poor (for instance, Rochas Okorocha Foundation in Ibadan, Port harcourt and Imo state), the enactment of the 2005 
child’s right bill by the National assembly to curb juvenile hawking, forceful evacuation and inducement of fine on vulnerable 
hawkers by some state governments and total eradication (introduced in Lagos in 2015). The vocational skill acquisition centres 
established by Oyo State (along Oke-Ado) and other state house representatives in their respective Local Government Areas 
and wards, are not unconnected with these efforts. In spite of all these, street hawking remains a menace in Nigeria. 



 
 

European Journal of Social Impact and Circular Economy - ISSN: 2704-9906  
DOI: 10.13135/2704-9906/5593 Published by University of Turin http://www.ojs.unito.it/index.php/ejsice/index 
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17 

There is paucity of literature on street hawking among youths in Ibadan, this study, therefore, attempts to bridge the literature 
gap with respect to youth involvement in hawking in the city. Sango and Ojoo were specifically targeted for the study because 
the locations are commercial hubs that have evolved on account of the presence of strategic landmarks and facilities like the 
Polytechnic Ibadan, the University of Ibadan, Sango park, Ojoo vehicular park, Sango market, Ojoo market among others. 
These facilities act as urban magnet pulling youths regardless of sex to carry out mainly informal activities for socio-economic 
benefits.   

 

2. Literature review 

 
Up till now, the incident of high unemployment rate in the country and Ibadan in particular, is why vast majority of the youth 

dominates cities carrying out mainly informal activities (Momoh  & Adejumobi, 1995; Mitullah, 2004; Skinner, 2008; Owusu 
et al., 2013; Uko, Akpanoyoro & Ekpe, 2020). Street hawking plays some beneficial roles as it keeps the youths with anti-
social tendencies busy with informal employment. This in a way reduces city crime and other juvenile deliquencies like rape 
and theft, and also helps to cushion the effect of high unemployment by generating daily income. No doubt, this daily income 
acts as a means of livelihood to the hawkers (Adeyinka et al., 2006; Uko et al., 2020). The roles of street hawking in the 
distribution network to the final consumers is equally significant as it reduces benefits like; low transport cost to market, cost 
effectiveness compare to sellers in shops and promotes the distribution of emerging products that are yet to gain prominence. 

Sam et al. (2020) observed that hawkers encounter the risk of being knocked down by vehicles in the process of chasing 
buyers on motion in an attempt to sell their goods. The nature of Nigeria roads increases the vulnerability, helplessness and 
endanger the lives of many of these youths hawking for a living (Odeleye, 2000; Basorun 2011). Other socio-physical hazards 
like motor accident, kidnapping, ritual killings, rape, mobbing, exposure to antisocial activities such as smoking, and drug 
abuse, among others are too critical to ignore (Nduka & Duru, 2014). The activity itself defaces human environment in the way 
hawkers and buyers dispose refuse indiscriminately. 

Poor education background of majority of the hawkers notwithstanding, their livelihood capacity in the city can still be 
optimized for self-sufficiency. Livelihood incorporates skills, assets (both material and social) and activities essential for 
survival (Carney, 1998). It becomes sustainable when the capacity to respond, cope and recover from dangers and stresses, 
maintain skills and assets without compromising the natural resource base (Carney, 1998; in Adaawen & Jorgensen, 2012). 
Sustainable livelihood focuses on how to sustainably enhance the social, physical and economic resources and assets on which 
the street hawkers draw their quest for survival. The argument is that in looking at livelihoods there is the need to understand 
the poverty situation from the perspective of the poor (Ellis, 2000). It highlights how policies and institutions can minimize the 
vulnerability of the street hawkers as they try to make a living. Such policies include; employment opportunities, empowerment 
scheme, quality and free or affordable education, reaching out to the poor and provision of basic infrastructures. It is a known 
fact that the rural areas lack sustainable infrastructures and job opportunities, just as cities also lack sustainable development 
to manage existing infrastructures, services and employment to keep pace with the teeming population. The provision of basic 
infrastructure and employment opportunities in the rural areas will indirectly minimize youths’ migrating to the cities for socio-
economic advantages. In the same vein, the supply of sustainable infrastructure and employment in the city would curtail 
people’s engagement in street hawking activities. 

3. Methodology 

 
This study is conducted along Sango-Ojoo axis of Ibadan. Sango-Ojoo area comprises of Akinyele and Ibadan North LGAs 

linked by a distributor road. Ibadan-North Local Government where Sango is geographically located lies within latitude 7º 231 
N to 3º 331 E and on a Longitude 7º 281 N to 3º 531 E. It shares boundaries with Akinyele local government in the North; 
Lagelu and Egbeda LGA in the South; Ibadan-North West LGA in the West; and Ibadan-North-East LGA in the South. It 
occupies a total land area of 145.58 square kilometers (Figure 1). Akinyele local government where Ojoo situates is 
geographically located on Latitudes 7º 201 N to 3º 521 E and a Longitude 7º 241 N to 3º 521 E. The LGAs that bound it are 
Afijio, in the North; Lagelu, in the East, Ido, in the West, and Ibadan North, in the South. The total land coverage is 464.892 



 
 

European Journal of Social Impact and Circular Economy - ISSN: 2704-9906  
DOI: 10.13135/2704-9906/5593 Published by University of Turin http://www.ojs.unito.it/index.php/ejsice/index 
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18 

square kilometers (Figure 1). This study is limited to street hawkers between the ages of 15-24 years who are regarded as youths 
by the United Nation (UN), International Labour Organization (ILO), and World Bank.  

The paucity of records about these hawkers in the study area led to the conduct of a 6-days periodic counting of hawkers at 
potential hawking locations along Sango-Ojoo route (Figure 2). From the estimated average total of 66 street hawkers daily 
(regardless of age and sex), 37 youth hawkers were randomly selected for this study, representing 59.1% sample size.  
Close-ended questionnaires, interview guides and field observation were research instruments employed in this study. The 
questionnaire sought for information on socio-demographic attributes of the youth hawkers, reasons for hawking, factors 
motivating them to hawk and the implications of street hawking business. This was supported by physical observation, random 
sampling of 37 buyers and formal interviews of Directors in the Ministries of Education, Science and Technology, Lands, 
Housing and Urban development and Women Affairs as well as programmes and policies meant to empower youths and reduce 
street hawking in Ibadan. Simple chi-square was used to test the significance of relationship between two categorical variables 
using SPSS Version 17.  
 
Figure 1. Map of study area 

 
Source: Google Earth 7.1.7.2606; Authors’ Digitization with ArcGIS 10.3.1, 2020 
 
Figure 2. Google imagery showing Sango-Ojoo road 



 
 

European Journal of Social Impact and Circular Economy - ISSN: 2704-9906  
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19 

 
Source: Google Earth 7.1.7.2606; Authors’ Digitization with ArcGIS 10.3.1, 2020 
 

4. Results and discussion 

 
There was preponderance of female youths (59.5%) than males (40.5%) hawking along Sango-Ojoo road. It is a common 

knowledge that informal activities like street hawking and trading are gender based. While men have high affinity for 
professional activities (Artisanship) like crop farming, poultry and animal husbandry, fishing and logging, carpentry, wood 
work (carving), blacksmithing, shoe making e.tc. more often than not, products of these activities are sold by their wives or 
children in the market (Dada, 2013). 

More than half (56.8%) of the youth hawkers were single, while 43.2% were married. This explains the reason for hawking 
as many need to be self-sufficient to cater for matrimonial demands. High family size is usually not unconnected with polygamy 
and poverty. Although this fact is relative as it depends on culture and other socio-demographic indicators like level of education 
and religion. Large family size characterized by poverty and poor educational background of the children in the face of recessed 
economy opt for informal employment like hawking and trading (Omokhodion et al. 2006). This justifies why large percentage 
(59.5%) of the hawkers had a fairly large household size of 5 to 8. However, the proportion (29.7%) of those with lower 
household size (1 to 4) reveals their quest for monogamy or a lower number of children. The low proportion (10.8%) with very 
large household size (9 to 12 and 12 & above) indicates that the present economic adversity in the country has made many 
Nigerians to limit their number of births (Dada, 2013). The fact remains that a significant relationship between household size 
and street hawking activities exists, because people with high household size have large number of children to cater for and 
street hawking is an option for them when their hopes for better employments in cities have been frustrated (Fawole, 2003; 
Omokhodion, 2006; Owusu et al., 2013; Magaji & Sarka, 2020). This claim was statistically significant at 5% significance 
level with a calculated chi squared value greater than tabulated value as presented in Table 1. 
 
Table 1. Statistical Computation of Respondents’ Household size 

Household 
size 

Observed Expected Residual 

1-4 11 12.3 -1.3 

5-8 22 12.3 9.7 

9-12 4 12.3 -8.3 



 
 

European Journal of Social Impact and Circular Economy - ISSN: 2704-9906  
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20 

Total 37   

Source: Author’s Computation, 2020 
 
x2  (3, N=37) = 13.351, P <0.001 
x2 Tab = 5.991, P = 0.05 
Df=2 
 

Findings revealed that 27.0 % of the hawkers were self-employed and own their goods, 18.9% were employed by their 
mothers, 2.7% by father, 13.5% by guardian, and 37.8% by either a company or master. The high percentage of the hawkers 
that lived alone explains the high rate of self-employment. The influence of mother may not be unconnected with the “strong 
tie that exists between mothers and child than fathers” (Basorun, 2011). The significantly high percentage employed by boss 
or a company attests to parents’ low financial status as hawkers receive reasonable commission to relief the family in 
anticipation of future pursuit. Table 2 below confirms a significant relationship between the occupation of hawkers’ employer 
and street hawking. For instance, a large percentage (67.6%) of the hawkers had their employers (most of whom were their 
parents or guardian/relatives they resided with) as traders or hawkers. This is reflected in the high chi squared value of 70.189 
which is statically significant at P<0.001. Unequivocally, it can be said here that most of the hawkers are employed by parents 
that are into either trading or hawking business which perhaps fosters their involvement in hawking.  

 
 
 
 

Table 2. Statistical Analysis of Occupation of Hawkers’ Employer 
Occupation Observed N Expected N Residual 
Artisan 3 6.2 -3.2 

Trading/hawking 25 6.2 18.8 

Food vendor 3 6.2 -3.2 

Farming 4 6.2 -2.2 

Transport 
operators 

1 6.2 -5.2 

None 1 6.2 -5.2 

Total 37   

𝑥!  (5, N=37) = 70.189, P = 0.001 
𝑥! Tab = 11.070, P = 0.05 
Df =5 
Source: Author’s Computation, 2020 
 

Surprisingly, majority of the hawkers (67.6%) had attained secondary education, 8.1% had tertiary education, 10.8 junior 
secondary education, 5.4% primary education while only 8.1% had no formal education. With this analysis, it could be 
speculated that the aspiration for higher education may be the cause of their involvement in hawking to acquire some income. 
Higher education guarantees a better livelihood. An educated person is better positioned in a society that illiterate (Dada, 2013). 
The tendency for a better educated person to get good employment is high. There are limited better employment opportunities 
for people with low level of education in a developing economy. The need for them to make a living against all odds results in 
informal employment like street hawking and trading (Nduka & Duru, 2014). The chi squared result of 52.525 which is 
statistically significant at P < 0.001 shows that poor educational background is one of the causal factors precluding youth from 
securing a well-paid job, hence, the need to engage in hawking for survival (Table 3). 
 
Table 3. Educational attainment of Hawkers 



 
 

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Level of 
occupation 

Observed N Expected N Residual 

No formal 
education 

3 7.4 -4.4 

Primary 2 7.4 -5.4 

Junior Secondary 4 7.4 -3.4 

Senior 
Secondary 

25 7.4 17.6 

Tertiary 3 7.4 -4.4 

Total 37   

𝑥!  (4, N=37) = 52.595, P <  0.001 
𝑥! Tab = 9.488, P = 0.05 
Df =5 
Source: Author’s Computation, 2020 
 

On hawking items, about 41.0% of the respondents hawked either water or soft drinks; snacks, bread and or food were 
hawked by 34.4%; clothing and or shoe materials by 6.6% and fruits by 14.8%. The items hawked are complimentary in nature. 
For instance, water or drinks and snacks, bread or food are sold together, because the same people patronizing hawkers selling 
snacks or food also demand water and drinks. The complementarity of these items justifies the reason why hawkers congregate 
“at the same location and move together with traffic pattern” (Nduka  & Duru, 2014). The study found that (59.5%) of the 
hawkers earned average daily income of #1,001 to #2,000 ($2.62 - 5.24), while 24.3% earned #2,001 to #3,000 ($5.25 – 7.86), 
8.1% earned less than #1,000 ($2.62) and above #3,000 ($7.86). Some factors that determine income of the hawkers include; 
season, weather and period of the day. Generally, there are more sales during festive periods and peak hours of the day, just as 
there are more demands for cold water and drinks in a hot weather than cold. Another factor that determines income is location. 
A hawker selling drinks usually in a traffic hold-up is likely to realize more income than on a road side of free-moving traffic. 
The analysis in Table 4, however, affirms with a statistical significance of hawking activities to the accruing relatively high 
daily income which attracts the youths. Conversely, there exists an indirect relationship between the income and expenditure 
of the hawkers as majority of them (88.5%) spent below #500 ($1.31) daily despite the associated dangers and stress.  
 
Table 4. Statistical Estimate of Respondents’ income from hawking per day 

Income Observed N Expected N Residual 
Less than #1,000 3 9.3 -6.3 

#1,001 - 2,000 22 9.3 12.8 

#2,001 - 3,000 9 9.3 -.3 

Above #3,000 3 9.3 -6.3 

Total 37   

𝑥!  (3, N=37) = 26.027, P <  0.001 
𝑥! Tab = 7.815, P = 0.05 
Df =5 
Source: Author’s Computation, 2020 
 

High percentage of the hawkers (39.6%) worked to supplement family income. This is expected in a developing economy, 
where poverty is marked by relatively high family size. With poverty and large family to cater for, parents send their children 
to the street to work and earn daily income to sustain the family (Ogundele & Ojo, 2007; Omokhodion et al., 2006). About 
27.0% of the hawkers gave low level of education as reason for their engagement in hawking. This justifies the significant 
correlation between low-income level and level of education as opined by Nduka & Duru, (2014). As revealed by the Ministry 
of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, most of the markets in Ibadan are insufficient for the traders and unaffordable as 



 
 

European Journal of Social Impact and Circular Economy - ISSN: 2704-9906  
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22 

corroborated by some (19.8%) of the hawkers. Nearly 25.9% were doing this to enlarge their businesses while 7.5% only 
desired to have means of buying drugs for the treatment of their aged parents’ health challenges. 

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Women Affairs revealed that there were scholarship 
grants and empowerment scheme set up by the Oyo State Government for the less privileged. Unfortunately, there was low 
awareness about these opportunities as claimed by about 70.3% of the street hawkers. Only 29.7% were aware, while about 
8.1% were beneficiaries of the programmes. It is, therefore, imperative for the government to increase publicity of the 
programmes and seek for more financial assistance from local and international organizations to fund the scheme. 
Analysis of findings indicated that 32.4% of them had been either sexually molested or physically assaulted; 25.0% had one 
form of accident, 24.3% experienced stress and fatigue and 18.2% had attempts of robbery or kidnapping (Table 5). Information 
further revealed that at times the females faced molestations by the garage boys (customers) and police also physically molested 
them when escorting bullion van conveying cash to banks. Apparently, the female hawkers face more dangers than the males 
such as sexual molestation and physical assault, stress and fatigue while the male hawkers are more vulnerable to accidents. 
High level of accidents of male hawkers may be due to their physical resilience and ability to withstand and run along moving 
vehicles to sell their goods.  
 
Table 5a. Analysis of hawking hazard on Gender basis 

Hazard Gender 
Male Female Total 

Accidents 10 (27.0%) 8 (21.6%) 18 (48,6%) 

Sexual 
molestation/Physical 
assault 

1 (2.7%) 6 (16.2%) 7 (18.9%) 

Robbery/Kidnapping 2 (5.4%) 3 (8.1%) 5 (13.5%) 

Stress and Fatigue 2 (5.4%) 5 (13.5%) 7 (18.9%) 

Total 15 (40.5%) 22 (59.5%) 37 (100%) 

Source: Authors’ Field Work, 2020 
 
Table 5b. Statistical Analysis of hawking hazards 

Hazard Observed N Expected N Residual 
Accidents 18 9.3 8.8 

Sexual 
molestation/Physical 
assault 

7 9.3 -2.3 

Robbery/Kidnapping 5 9.3 -4.3 

Stress and Fatigue 7 9.3 -2.3 

Total 37   

𝑥!  (3, N=37) = 11.324, P = 0.010 
𝑥! Tab = 11.070, P = 0.05 
Df =3 
Source: Author’s Computation, 2020 
 

Majority of the buyers (40.6%) claimed that street hawking exposed hawkers to accident. Urban degeneration (gradual loss 
of city aesthetic) was given by 13.5%, 21.6% believed it created filthy environment, while 24.3% argued that it created 
congestion of pedestrian and vehicles in the street. Field observation revealed that most of the food vendors exposed their foods 
to pollutants that may be noxious to consumers’ health. In summary, the dangers of hawking can be classified into three namely- 
impacts on hawking environment, impacts on the buyers and impacts on the hawkers themselves. 



 
 

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23 

Reactions from the hawkers indicated that 41.0% anticipated to stop hawking and go back to school, 37.7% wished to start a 
business and 16.4% desired to acquire a particular technical skill. The fact remains that majority of them were not happy with 
hawking, they only opted for it to gather money for better opportunities. They were willing to stop hawking and go for better 
jobs because of the inherent dangers 
 

5. Conclusion and Recommendations  

Street hawking in Nigeria is an easy business for anybody because of its free entrance and exit unlike other informal 
employments. Here, hawkers are assured of daily income needed to cater for self and family needs. Vulnerability of hawkers 
to dangers is gender-based as females were more susceptible to dangers and stress than males. They were also exposed to higher 
risks of skin, respiratory, injury, eye and even rape by men who pretend to be their customers. In Nigeria, high cases of sexual 
molestation have been reported which contravenes the provisions of the Child Right Act. Yet, little is heard about punishment 
in accordance with the provisions of the law against child abuse. Accident is another rampant danger. Sango-Ojoo road is a 
busy road of commercial activities and discharges traffic to higher order road like Oyo Express road. Male hawkers are more 
prone to this hazard as they often run after moving vehicles to sell their items 

From the field data analyses and observations, there were some basic socio-economic factors motivating youths to hawk in 
Ibadan. These include; household size, level of education, residency of hawkers, occupation of employers and income. 
However, the dangers/hazards of hawking overweigh its benefits. Employment, education finance, family support and savings 
for better enterprise are some of the beneficial implications while accident, physical and sexual molestations and robbery are 
critical dangers hawkers were susceptible to. There is need to invest in the lives of these youths to secure their future and the 
development of the country as a whole. 

Poverty and poor education are, no doubt, part of the major causes of street hawking in Nigeria. Vast majority of Nigerians 
are denied of well-paid and better employment opportunities on account of low level of education. Education plays a significant 
role in the economy of a nation as it determines the future of children. The 4th goal of the Sustainable Development Goals 
(SDGs) is ‘Quality Education’ which is “to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning 
opportunities for all”. In Nigeria, education systems have been commercialized and hawkers are excluded from the systems 
because their parents could not render the necessary financial support to school. The State Government should, therefore, 
sustain its free education programs as well as the Universal Basic Education program by the Federal Government in 
collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education for the hawkers to utilize the window to improve on their formal education.  

Skill acquisition centres are also systems that could improve livelihood potentials of the marginalized and impact 
professional skills, knowledge, social ethics and norms in the lives of the youths. Since some of the hawkers possess a particular 
potential that can be enhanced, the government in collaboration with concerned agencies like UNICEF, ILO and the World 
Bank should, therefore, establish sufficient and standard skill acquisition centres in the LGAs to develop innovative skills of 
the youths. Empowerment programmes should also be introduced to complement this with utmost sincerity and frequent public 
awareness. It is obvious that majority of the youths lack financial capacity to rent stalls in the market. On this note, the Oyo 
State Government needs to seek the assistance of local and international organizations on the construction of accessible and 
affordable markets at subsidized rates to the users. 

It is imperative for the government in alliance with the Ministry of Women Affairs to sensitize the public regularly through 
the social media on the social and health implications of street hawking. This should be extended to all neighbouring primary 
and secondary schools. Major cause of street hawking is high birth rate beyond financial capacity of the people. In this regard, 
regular awareness campaign against uncontrolled births and benefits of family planning is essentials to reduce the prevalence 
of street hawking in Ibadan metropolis. Challenges encountered during the study were but not limited to:  

• Dearth of data on the numbers of street hawkers in the city; 
• Many of the hawkers requested for patronage before responding to the enumerators; 
• The garage boys also obstructed data collection process.  
Despite these limitations, the study was successful and all set-out objectives achieved. Furthermore, the following areas need 

attention to further the extent of this study:  
• The integration of Geographic Information System (GIS) to track major hawking spots in the city; 



 
 

European Journal of Social Impact and Circular Economy - ISSN: 2704-9906  
DOI: 10.13135/2704-9906/5593 Published by University of Turin http://www.ojs.unito.it/index.php/ejsice/index 
EJSICE content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License   

24 

• Future researchers should adopt Geostatistics to measure the vulnerability of hawkers disaggregated by hawking 
terminals. 

 

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