Grandmother brings 6 live fowls to school as fees for granddaughter in Benue

Principal of the school inspecting the birds

In a real show of love for education, a grandmother in Benue State reportedly brought six live fowls to Adiedo Mixed Secondary School to settle her granddaughter’s unpaid school fees after the girl was sent home.

The incident, which has sparked widespread sympathy and debate, underscores the severe financial strain gripping families as inflation and hardship bite harder in 2025.

According to posts circulating on X, the grandmother arrived at the school with her granddaughter and the fowls, hoping to offset the outstanding fees. One account noted that a fowl even laid an egg during the visit, capturing the desperation and determination of the moment.

The school’s principal was reportedly seen inspecting the birds, though it remains unclear whether the chickens were accepted as payment.

Nigeria is grappling with acute economic challenges, with food insecurity projected to affect 33.1 million people in 2025, driven by record-high inflation, currency devaluation, and the lingering effects of fuel subsidy removal.

The price of basic commodities, including food, has skyrocketed. For many families, paying school fees has become an insurmountable burden.

The grandmother’s act echoes a similar incident in Homa Bay, Kenya, where a woman offered six chickens to cover KSh 245,000 in school fees arrears for her grandchildren. That story, which gained attention after comedian Eric Omondi launched a search to support the family, highlights the shared struggles across African communities facing economic distress.

The story has also prompted calls for government intervention, with some urging scholarships or relief programmes for struggling families.