{
  "id": 5566689,
  "title": "Children begging on our streets should trouble every Nigerian, Atiku defends record",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/children-begging-on-our-streets-should-trouble-every-nigerian-atiku-5566689",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T13:48:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/children-begging-on-our-streets-should-trouble-every-nigerian-atiku-defends-record/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has defended his record on education and assistance for vulnerable children following criticism from a social media user over street begging in Nigeria. The user, @Oluwabunmi63697, shared a photo of children carrying begging bowls and questioned what Atiku did to address the issue during his eight years as Vice-President. In response, Atiku emphasized that the sight of children begging should trouble every Nigerian and highlighted initiatives undertaken by the American University of Nigeria (AUN), which he established in Yola, Adamawa State. Atiku explained that he chose Yola over larger cities like Abuja or Lagos to bring quality education and opportunities to the North-East region. He also highlighted the university's Feed and Read program and Technology-Enhanced Learning for All initiative, which have provided meals and education to vulnerable children and displaced individuals. Atiku further mentioned that AUN supported Chibok schoolgirls who escaped Boko Haram, offering scholarships for their return to education.",
  "summary": "Atiku Abubakar defends his education initiatives, including AUN and programs for vulnerable children, after being questioned on street begging during his V Read More: https://punchng.com/children-begging-on-our-streets-should-trouble-every-nigerian-atiku-defends-record/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Children begging on our streets should trouble every Nigerian, Atiku defends record",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/children-begging-on-our-streets-should-trouble-every-nigerian-atiku",
        "published": "2026-09-04T13:40:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}