Mariam is a 5 year old girl who helps her mum sell cotton buds and shaving sticks under Oshodi bridge.

Bayo made a photograph of her, during a photowalk in July, Not only was she the youngest of over 13 faces he shot, but her image stood out

She seemed too innocent for the looping madness under Oshodi bridge. From bloodshot eyes plugged into faces with Deep cut scars to smiles surrounded by Wrinkles that told only stories of their hustle on the street, from the risks of fast moving rickety buses to the grime left behind by heavy downpours.

During #Photopoetry which is an instagram collaboration between a few Writers/poets, Mariam’s Picture got some attention of interested buyers. He went back to Oshodi to find her, hoping to get her mum to sign a release form, and then help her make some money off the sales of her daughter’s image. There, he met Mrs Balqees Babatunde, Mariam’s mum who made him realise how difficult it had been for her to raise her daughter’s school fees.

To cut the long story short, Bayo has now dedicated limited edition prints of 2 Images to the #shot2school initiative: Proceeds from one artwork pays for one term, Mariam is in Primary one now, she therefore has 36 terms all through secondary School.

@yales_initiative an NGO focussed specifically on proper education for the young, has taken it upon themselves to ensure proper administration of the whole process.

Starting one child at a time, Bayo hopes that children like Mariam have no reason to hawk on the unkind streets of Lagos.

Credits

Writers: @uyiose @graceokogwu

Video:  @toheebpfg

Contact Bayo at @BayoOwosina