Law Enforcement Assists 15-Year-Old Behind Viral Olumo Rock Photos in Resuming Education

A 15-year-old boy, Ridwan Bolaji, who had been working as a roadside photographer at Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State, is now set to resume his education thanks to the intervention of the Ogun State Police Command and the Police Community Relations Committee.

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Ridwan had dropped out of school for over three years after completing his primary education in July 2023 due to financial constraints, and was born on November 3, 2010, after completing his primary education at Ijaye Community Nursery and Primary School, Gbangba, Abeokuta.

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He had attempted to learn barbering but could not complete the training, eventually taking up photography at Olumo Rock to support himself, a situation that changed during the 2026 Annual Week of the PCRC in Ogun State, tagged “Olumo 2026”, when he volunteered to take photographs of participants.

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His photography skills caught the attention of Oluseyi Babaseyi, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, who was representing the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, at the event, and subsequently learnt that Ridwan was not in school due to his family's financial difficulties.

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Babaseyi pledged to support Ridwan's return to school, an intervention that quickly gained the support of the PCRC leadership and other stakeholders, with the police spokesman moved by the young boy's circumstances and impressed by his determination to survive.

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Ridwan's mother broke down in tears of joy upon learning that her son would be returning to school, expressing profound appreciation to the Nigeria Police Force, PCRC leadership, and members for their assistance, which represents more than financial support for the family.

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The intervention has given Ridwan an opportunity to continue his education after more than three years away from school, with the National Safe School Club Project, under the leadership of Ambassador Prince S.O. Akintoye, donating N200,000 towards his education.

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The Chief of Staff to the PCRC National Chairman, Taiwo Akinlabi, on behalf of the Special Advisers to the National Chairman, contributed N100,000, while the PCRC South-West, led by Prince Sunny Yemi Adenowo, donated N50,000.

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The PCRC Zone 2 Chairman, Ven. Arch. Samson Popoola, contributed N100,000, the Ogun State PCRC, led by Abdullahi Lawal, donated N50,000, and the Ogun State Coordinator of the PCRC Safe School Club Project, Pastor Olanrewaju Joshua, and his Central Unit contributed N25,000.

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The total amount donated by these institutions is N525,000, excluding additional individual contributions from PCRC members, with the PCRC National Chairman, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan, also pledging to personally pay Ridwan's school fees for his second term.

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The development has been described as an example of community policing, where the police and PCRC members identified a vulnerable child and responded to his circumstances beyond conventional law enforcement duties.

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The incident highlights that effective policing extends beyond crime prevention and law enforcement to include protecting vulnerable citizens, identifying social challenges, and supporting young people, with Ridwan's story showcasing the plight of children forced out of school due to poverty.

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Ridwan had developed an interest in photography and content creation while taking pictures of visitors for money at Olumo Rock, and the intervention will now allow him to return to school while continuing to develop his photographic talent.

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The development has been termed “a new beginning” for the teenager, whose journey had taken him from being unable to afford secondary education to receiving support from the police and community stakeholders, giving him renewed hope of returning to school and building a meaningful future.

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Additional support is expected from individual PCRC donations, while the second-term school-fee sponsorship has been pledged by the PCRC National Chairman, with the institutional contributions announced so far totaling N525,000.