In a troubling turn of events in Kwara State, reports have emerged that underage children , some still in school uniforms , are now frequenting hotels and brothels across parts of Ilorin, allegedly engaging in illicit activities. What should be school hours are, for some of these minors, being spent in environments meant strictly for adults , a development that has alarmed stakeholders across the board.
Academics, healthcare professionals, religious leaders, and lawmakers have all expressed deep concern over this growing trend, warning that it threatens not only the moral fabric of society but also the future of the state’s youth.
In a development that has sparked outrage, the Kwara State House of Assembly recently revealed the disturbing trend during plenary, warning that secondary school students , many still in uniform were being granted unrestricted access to hotels in parts of Ilorin metropolis.
Following a heated debate on the disturbing development, the Kwara State House of Assembly passed a series of resolutions, directing hotel owners to strictly adhere to existing laws that prohibit underage persons from accessing their facilities. Lawmakers also called on the state government to ensure strict enforcement of these regulations.
Meanwhile, concerned stakeholders , including educationists, medical experts, and religious leaders have urged the government to act swiftly and decisively to halt the trend, warning that continued inaction could further endanger the future of the state’s youth
A senior lecturer in the Department of Public Health at Kwara State University, Malete, Prof. Oluwasogo Olalubi,
raised serious concerns about the growing trend of underage and secondary school students patronising hotels and guest houses in Ilorin.
According to him, this development is deeply eroding the city’s dignity, aesthetic values, moral fabric, and overall development, with grave social and educational consequences.
On the social implications of the development, Olalubi said that moral decline and exposure to such vices in the environment is promoting illicit lifestyles and behaviours such as alcohol, drug abuse and sexual activities.
“This is fast accelerating moral decadence and shamelessness. This is becoming debilitating, risky behaviours, juvenile delinquency and a loss of societal values among our youths,” he said.
Warning that hotels should be regulated to monitor age limits, the don noted that
if the ugly trend continues, it may become an avenue for child exploitation, gross abuse, human trafficking, insecurity and peer influence toward criminal behaviour.
He explained that the development, if left unchecked, could lead to family and community breakdown, adding that the lack of contentment among ladies reflects a growing lacuna and gap in parental responsibility, supervision, community responsibility and societal control mechanisms meant to protect adolescents.
He stressed that the ugly development could lead to a decline in academic performance. “Time spent in hotels during school hours or at night clubs often replaces study time and school attendance, leading to poor academic outcomes or dropout.
“When students become distracted by adult lifestyles, they lose sight of their academic goals and future aspirations.
“Schools known to have students involved in such behaviours risk being stigmatised, which can affect student morale and overall school discipline,” he added.
On addressing the issue, Prof. Olalubi emphasised, “This trend demands urgent multi-sectoral action including legislation, sanctions, lawful penalties, and strict enforcement. There is also a critical need for increased parental responsibility and stronger school-community collaboration. Revamping and strengthening the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at both secondary and university levels is essential to protect the future of young people and safeguard educational development in Ilorin and beyond.
He called on the government and wealthy Nigerians to shift attention from quick, ephemeral and opaque ventures to a more dignifying, moral values promoting activities that would engage youths so as to build a holistic nation worthy of emulation.
“Most importantly, there should be more drive, yearnings and thirst for innovations, entrepreneurial soft and hard skills of the 21st Century, chain supply, financial boost as start-up seed for the youth, supervisory management at both micro and macro levels across the metropolis,” he recommended.
The chief medical director of Sabo-Oke Medical Centre, Ilorin, Dr Ola Abideen said that the underage could contract sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) from unprotected sexual relationships in the hotels.
He said the contract of STDs by underage persons could lead to serious health problems, if not treated on time.
For his part, the chief Imam of Issa Elelu Central Mosque, Ilorin and the spokesman of Ansarul Islam Society, Ilorin branch, Alh Abubakar Aliy-Kamal, described the development as worrisome.
“The increasing patronage of hotels by underage and secondary school students in Ilorin or anywhere has far-reaching social, educational and religious implications,” he said.
He noted that hotels are often associated with adult activities and unsupervised access by minors might expose them to immoral activities such as drug use, prostitution and indecent behaviours.
“It reflects a breakdown in family monitoring and supervision, suggesting weak home training or parental negligence. Young people may fall into bad company, criminal gangs or become victims of exploitation and abuse in such environments.
“Time spent in hotels instead of studying or attending school activities will lead to poor academic performance.
“The habits picked up in such places can destroy the future of students, making them irresponsible or unemployable in the long run. It also tarnishes the image of schools and undermines the efforts of teachers and education authorities,” he added.
Aliy-Kamal said that from Islamic standpoint, “This act is highly condemnable and haram (forbidden) for many reasons.”
He quoted relevant verses from the Qur’an where God forbids fornication, adding that, “Hotels, when used for immoral acts, become a direct violation of this command.
The cleric noted that the ugly trend reflects a deep social crisis that requires urgent attention from parents, schools, religious leaders, community elders and lawmakers.
He recommended that hoteliers should be held accountable for admitting underage persons, adding that, “Islamic teachings strongly encourage modesty, discipline and moral upbringing, and this issue contradicts all of these principles.”
In his reaction, the Anglican Bishop of Kwara Diocese and chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kwara State chapter, Bishop Timothy Adewole said, “The trend of underage children and school students patronising hotels in Ilorin is not only worrisome, but also a clear indication of the moral decay in our society.
This unfortunate reality points to a collective failure — from religious institutions, religious leaders and even the practice of religion itself — in addressing and curbing these behaviours.
“Several reasons may be attributed to this disturbing development; economic hardship, lack of parental guidance, and other societal factors. However, I must state sincerely that if religious teachings had remained focused on moral values and upright living, we would not be facing this situation today.
“The government also shares in the blame. The removal of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) and Islamic Religious Studies (Arabic) from the school curriculum has left a vacuum. These subjects were critical in instilling moral values and discipline in students. Their absence is a clear case of governmental negligence.
“Parents and society at large also have a role to play. It is clear that a holistic and collective response is needed to address this moral crisis. There should be a complete overhaul of the school curriculum to reintroduce and prioritise religious education, both Christian and Islamic, so that children and young people can grow with the right values and teachings.
“ Yes, economic hardship may be a contributing factor. But even in the face of adversity, if proper religious and moral values were instilled, young people would know that they must still hold on to hope and righteousness. No religion condones fornication or adultery. It is clearly wrong.
This trend is dangerous and, if left unchecked, threatens the future of our society.
In his reaction, Venerable Oluwole Sunday said, “This is one of the signs of the end time. According to 2 Tim 3:1-7, this is a perilous time. The church needs to stand up against this by telling the parents to watch their children closely.
A member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Omotosho Rasaq, had on Tuesday moved a motion on the need to address what he called “The unchecked patronage and usage of hotels and pubs by underage persons in Ilorin metropolis.”
The motion was seconded by Hon Medinat Abdulraheem.
In leading the debate, Hon Omotosho Rasaq noted that Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, was fast growing into a cosmopolitan city with an increase in the number of hospitality establishments, including hotels, pubs, brothels, lounges and recreational centers.
He lamented that many of the hospitality facilities have become “frequent go-to-places by underage persons,” particularly during weekends and school holidays, since there was no any age verification or restriction mechanisms in place in such establishments.
Rasaq expressed worry that “this trend is rapidly gaining ground in areas such as Adewole, Tanke, Fate, Unity Road, Pipeline, Sango and GRA where children, some still in secondary school uniforms, are frequently seen gaining access to these establishments without any restriction.”
He expressed concern that the unchecked access to such facilities exposes minors to immoral, unhealthy and dangerous behaviours such as alcohol consumption, drug abuse and other forms of social vices that could negatively influence their development and wellbeing.
He argued that “despite existing laws, the inaction of regulatory bodies such as the Kwara State Hotel and Tourism Board, the lack of coordinated enforcement by security agencies and poor parental guidance, has emboldened the perpetuity of such practices with many hotel owners and pub operators neglecting their legal and moral responsibilities in the pursuit of profit at the detriment of our social values.”
On their part, Hon Lawal Salihu, Hon Rukayat Shittu, Hon Ganiyu Salahu (Omupo), and Hon Owolabi Rasak also contributed to the motion.
In its resolution, the House of Assembly urged the state governor to direct the Ministry of Social Development and the State Hotel and Tourism Board to immediately carry out a comprehensive audit and regulatory inspection of all hotels, lounges, pub and related establishments in Ilorin.
This, the legislature said, was necessary to ensure compliance with age restriction laws and to develop a code of conduct and compliance framework for hospitality business in the state in order to rise up to emerging challenges in the industry.
It also urged the governor to direct the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development to collaborate in sensitising parents, schools, and the public on the dangers of allowing minors access to hotels and pubs.
The Assembly called on heads of all law enforcement agencies in the state to conduct regular checks and surveillance on hospitality establishments to enforce age restrictions and penalise violators accordingly.
The House also directed its Committee on Information, Youth and Sports to interface with the umbrella bodies of hotels and pubs owners with a view to fashion out ways by which the Child Rights Act and other relevant extant regulations will be strictly complied with for the good of all.
However, a hotel manager, Musbau Bello said that the hoteliers were not allowing any girl less than 18 years to enter into the premises, “except if she comes with her parents, sister or brother.
“Meanwhile, some underage children do come for excursion and mostly led by their teachers to see the pool and other things that may be interesting to them in the hotel.
“There is no general penalty for defaulters but we always advise ourselves against it as a matter of morality,” he said.
