The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has defended his record on education and support for vulnerable children following criticism over the continued sight of children begging on Nigerian streets.

Atiku responded on Friday after an X user shared a photograph of children carrying begging bowls and questioned what he had done about the problem during his eight years as Vice-President.

The former Vice-President said the situation should concern every Nigerian, while highlighting initiatives associated with the American University of Nigeria, which he established in Yola, Adamawa State.

He said locating the university in Yola, rather than commercially stronger cities such as Abuja or Lagos, reflected his desire to contribute to education and development in the North-East.

Atiku also said the institution should not be regarded as his personal or family property, noting that he had signed a deed of gift transferring ownership to the community.

He cited AUN’s Feed and Read programme, which he said provides vulnerable Almajiri children with daily meals while teaching them literacy and numeracy.

The ADC candidate further said the university’s Technology-Enhanced Learning for All initiative had helped more than 20,000 internally displaced children learn to read through educational radio programmes.

He also recalled AUN’s response to the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, saying scholarships were provided to girls who escaped Boko Haram captivity.

Atiku said his approach to addressing the plight of vulnerable children had consistently centred on education, insisting that children should be in classrooms rather than on the streets.

His response comes amid renewed political debate over poverty, education and the welfare of children across Nigeria.

The former Vice-President has also recently criticised the country’s economic hardship, warning that rising living costs are placing vulnerable Nigerians under increasing pressure.