Nigeria, Aug. 13 -- Ten-year-old Abubakar Gaddafi moved through the Sokoto central market with a bucket full of sachet water, unperturbed by the noise of vehicular movement. It was noon on a Tuesday in early June, when most other children were in schools around the metropolis.

Abubakar told this reporter that he stayed out of school some days of the week to earn a living.

"My mother buys the sachet water for me to sell, and she uses the money to buy what we eat," the Primary Four pupil of Gwaza Primary School said.

He explained that he makes about N1,500 from selling three full buckets.

Abubakar could not see the point of Western education. He said his dream is to become a "mallam" (an Islamic teacher) and to support his mother.

Thou...