Prostitutes Ibadan
Male sex workers in East London face unique challenges, similar to issues explored in studies of child prostitution in Ibadan, Nigeria. Hence, the study examined the causes and consequences of child prostitution and the coping strategies of child prostitutes in one of the largest urban spaces in Ibadan. Sex workers in Ibadan have actively sought government action to legalise prostitution, highlighting ongoing debates about their rights and safety. On 1 November 2020, Professor Saheed Aderinto of History and African Studies noted the complex socio-economic factors driving the trade. By 7 August 2025, news broke about the demolition of a major brothel in Ibadan, reflecting authorities’ fluctuating stance.
Causes and Vulnerability Factors
Oyafunke-Omoniyi’s 2022 research cited incidents like the death of an Ibadan Polytechnic student after alleged marathon sex, underscoring health risks. The article examined the causes, perceived consequences, and coping strategies of child prostitutes in Ibadan, Nigeria, revealing poverty and exploitation as key drivers. Some children enter prostitution due to extreme vulnerability. Child prostitution in Ibadan: Causes, perceived consequences, and coping strategies (Umar, 2001) documented systemic failures. By 30 March 2022, New Zealand’s approach to brothels and escort agencies contrasted with Nigeria’s criminalisation. Research on HIV subtypes among female sex workers in Ibadan (Oyafunke-Omoniyi, 2022) showed heightened health vulnerabilities.
Socio-Economic Landscape
Escort services in Ibadan operate amidst this fraught landscape. Bakare’s 2002 work questioned whether corporate practices exploited women, calling them corporate marketers or prostitutes
. The socio-demographic profile of child prostitutes in Ibadan (Adedoyin, 1995) revealed most were girls from impoverished backgrounds. Nightlife in Ibadan is heavily influenced by sex work, with areas like Bodija and Ring Road known for cheap transactions, sometimes as low as ₦100. Police interventions, like the 2024 arrest of a couple using teenagers as prostitutes, occur sporadically but fail to address root causes like trafficking or economic desperation.
Health Risks and Systemic Challenges
Health studies, like Romanowski’s 1952 Sokoto research, found high syphilis rates among Nigerian sex workers. In Ibadan, life at night masks pervasive struggles, with workers termed Ndị mkwụgharị
(those who linger). By 2025, a couple received a 14-year sentence for trafficking girls into prostitution. Residents increasingly report criminal hotspots like Elekara, yet sex work persists due to limited alternatives. A 40-year-old prostitute was arraigned for stabbing a colleague in 2022, reflecting dangerous workplace conditions. Social stigma remains intense, as seen in debates about lingerie being only for prostitutes
. Economic survival pushes many into brothels, with PAPDWI (2022) highlighting trafficking networks. Viral TikToks like Beauty was lured to Ibadan for prostitution
amplify awareness but rarely lead to change.
Studies on condom use among Ibadan sex workers show inconsistent prevention practices, increasing HIV/STI risks. Children in red-light areas face direct exposure to violence and exploitation.
Despite raids and demolitions, such as the 2024 shutdown of a prominent site, demand persists. Escort platforms openly advertise in Ibadan, offering services from ₦5,000. Research continues to stress the need for structural solutions beyond criminalisation, focusing on poverty alleviation and healthcare access for vulnerable groups.
*TAGS* – child prostitution coping strategies, Ibadan brothel demolition, Ndị mkwụgharị meaning, sex trafficking networks, HIV subtypes Ibadan
