When I first arrived in Kaduna, I observed it was mainly fathers who walked their children to school.
I thought it was cute because in many other places I had lived in Nigeria, it was mainly mothers.
Growing up, whenever my parents could not do school runs, I took the long strolls alone when my younger brother and I were in different schools, and we took the strolls together when we were in the same school.
One day, I shared my observation on Fathers walking their children with a friend, and she laughed at my naivety. She told me the reason fathers were the ones I saw was because of the state of insecurity.
It was less likely that a child would be attacked or kidnapped if they were walking with a man compared to a woman.
The sweet sight immediately turned sour.
It makes me wonder how many beautiful things in the world have an ugly backstory.
Still, I am happy for the children who have at least one parent that make the time to take the walk with them. Whatever the reason, it will be a beautiful memory for them.
– Osasu Oviawe