Grandmother Brings 6 Live Chickens to School as Fees Amid Nigeria’s Economic Hardship

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a poignant display of resilience amid Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis, a grandmother in Benue State reportedly brought six live chickens 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 chickens, hoping to offset the outstanding fees. One account noted that a chicken 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—local rice rose by 153% and beans by 282% compared to October 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. 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 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

In Nigeria, the average price of a mature broiler chicken ranges from ₦10,000 to ₦15,000, while smaller old-layer chickens cost ₦5,000 to ₦6,000, making the grandmother’s offering a significant sacrifice. With school fees often running into tens of thousands of naira, such barter attempts reflect the dire choices families face.

Social media reactions on X have been heartfelt, with users like @ElYass_Okene expressing prayers for the grandmother’s resilience and others, like @truthritgak, praising her humanity. The story has also prompted calls for government intervention, with some urging scholarships or relief programs for struggling families.