•15-year-old Ridwan Bolaji, and Ogun Police Public Relation Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi
A 15-year-old boy who had been working as a roadside photographer at Olumo Rock, Abeokuta, Ogun State, is set to return to school following an intervention by the Ogun State Police Command and members of the Police Community Relations Committee.
The teenager, Ridwan Bolaji, had been out of school for more than three years after completing his primary education in July 2023 due to financial difficulties, reports The PUNCH.
Ridwan, born on November 3, 2010, completed his primary education at Ijaye Community Nursery and Primary School, Gbangba, Abeokuta.
Unable to afford secondary education, he reportedly began learning barbering but could not complete the training before eventually taking up photography at Olumo Rock to support himself.
This was disclosed in a development shared with our correspondent by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, stating that the situation changed during the 2026 Annual Week of the PCRC in Ogun State, tagged “Olumo 2026”, when he volunteered to take photographs of participants at the tourist attraction.
His confidence and ability with the camera reportedly caught the attention of Babaseyi, who was representing the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, at the event.
The police spokesman subsequently learnt that the teenager was not in school because his family could not afford his education and pledged to support his return to the classroom.
The intervention attracted the support of the PCRC leadership and other stakeholders.
The statement said the intervention began after the young photographer’s circumstances came to the attention of the police spokesman during the PCRC event.
“Moved by the young boy’s circumstances and impressed by his determination to survive, DSP Babaseyi pledged to personally take responsibility for his schooling and ensure that Ridwan returns to the classroom,” the statement said.
It added that what started as a personal commitment by Babaseyi “quickly developed into a collective intervention.”
Ridwan’s mother reportedly broke down in tears of joy after learning that her son would be returning to school.
The statement said she expressed “profound appreciation” to the Nigeria Police Force, PCRC leadership and members for coming to the family’s assistance.
For the family, the intervention represents more than financial support, as it gives Ridwan an opportunity to continue his education after more than three years away from school.
According to the statement shared by Pastor Olanrewaju Joshua, with the support of Abdulhameed Oladapo, the National Safe School Club Project, under the leadership of Ambassador Prince S.O. Akintoye, donated N200,000 towards Ridwan’s education.
The Chief of Staff to the PCRC National Chairman, Taiwo Akinlabi, on behalf of the Special Advisers to the National Chairman, contributed N100,000.
The PCRC South-West, led by Prince Sunny Yemi Adenowo, donated N50,000, while the PCRC Zone 2 Chairman, Ven. Arch. Samson Popoola, contributed N100,000.
The Ogun State PCRC, led by Abdullahi Lawal, donated N50,000, while the Ogun State Coordinator of the PCRC Safe School Club Project, Pastor Olanrewaju Joshua, and his Central Unit contributed N25,000.
The listed institutional donations amounted to N525,000, excluding additional individual contributions from PCRC members.
The PCRC National Chairman, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan, also pledged to personally pay Ridwan’s school fees for his second term.
The development was also described as an example of community policing, with the police and PCRC members identifying a vulnerable child and responding to his circumstances beyond conventional law enforcement duties.
The statement said the incident showed that effective policing “extends beyond crime prevention and law enforcement” to include protecting vulnerable citizens, identifying social challenges and supporting young people.
Ridwan’s story also highlights the plight of children who are forced out of school because of poverty and subsequently turn to street-based work to survive.
At Olumo Rock, the teenager had developed an interest in photography and content creation while taking pictures of visitors for money.
The intervention will now allow him to return to school while continuing to develop his photographic talent.
The statement described the development as “a new beginning” for the teenager, whose journey had taken him from being unable to afford secondary education to receiving support from the police and community stakeholders.
It said, “The young boy who once stood outside the classroom because of poverty now has renewed hope of returning to school, developing his photographic talent and building a meaningful future.”
Additional support is expected from individual PCRC donations, while the second-term school-fee sponsorship has been pledged by the PCRC National Chairman. The institutional contributions announced so far total N525,000.
