BENIN CITY, Nigeria – A new documentary examining the lives of young men living on the streets of Benin City has ignited widespread public discussion in Nigeria about abandonment, survival and the social labels attached to vulnerable youth.
The film, O.Y.O (On Your Own), produced by 3WM Productions in partnership with StoryMi Academy, and supported by Chude Jideonwo Presents, premiered this week and has since drawn strong reactions from viewers online.
The documentary focuses on young men in Benin City who are commonly described as “Elema,” a term often used locally to denote street-connected boys and young men.
Through first-person testimonies, the film explores how the label has come to obscure deeper realities of family breakdown, poverty and long-term displacement.
Life on the Streets
In the documentary, participants describe street life as a condition shaped by loss rather than choice.
One young man says, “The street has to be experienced. Those who aren’t on the streets don’t understand it, but they think they understand.”
Another explains that “Elema” refers to someone without a home or family support, adding that many have lived outside “for days, weeks, months and years.”
The film traces how deaths of caregivers, imprisonment of parents and prolonged neglect leave children navigating survival alone.
Several interviewees describe growing up without stable housing or adult protection, while questioning why hardship appears unevenly distributed among people of similar backgrounds.
Audience Response
Since its release, O.Y.O has prompted a surge of responses on social media, with viewers describing the film as emotionally confronting.
One comment shared online said the documentary changed how the viewer perceived young people encountered daily on the streets, noting that it revealed lives previously ignored or misunderstood.
The reactions suggest that the film has resonated beyond documentary audiences, drawing attention to experiences that are often normalised or dismissed in urban Nigeria.
A Broader National Context
The release of O.Y.O comes amid ongoing national concern about youth unemployment, insecurity and social inequality.
While the documentary does not propose policy solutions, it situates the lives of street-connected youth within wider structural pressures affecting families and communities.
By centring the voices of those labelled “Elema,” the filmmakers aim to challenge assumptions and shift public attention toward the circumstances that lead children into long-term street survival.
According to the producers, the film is intended to serve as a record of lived experience rather than an advocacy manifesto, presenting testimony and observation as a basis for public reflection.
A trailer for O.Y.O (On Your Own) has been released online, with the full documentary continuing to circulate across digital platforms as conversations around its themes grow.
You may watch the trailer below:
View this post on Instagram
