Expert decries rising child labour issues in Nigeria, seeks quick intervention
By Segun Sowunmi
An expert, Mr Marcus Williams has decried rise in child labour issues in Nigeria, particularly Oyo State, urging government and stakeholders to intervene before the issues get out of hands.
Williams, while speaking during the commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour in Oyo State lamented that child labour such as sexual exploitation, hawking and begging for arms should be checkmated before it get out of hand.
The Secretary of the State Steering Committee on the Elimination of Child Labour in Oyo state maintained that social protection program is the only way to curb child labour in Nigeria.
The event which was held at the Conference Room of the Federal Secretariat, Ikolaba Ibadan had in attendance stakeholders from different schools across the state.
Williams noted that this years World Day Against Child Labour theme: “Universal Social Protection to End Child Labour” was held to create more awareness and put an end to child labour in the state and Nigeria at large.
The expert however said that the programme was not just to create awareness but to also raised vanguards among students against child labour.
One of the participants at the program, Mrs Tayo Adebayo said the initiative would assist students to stayed in their respective schools.
“My organisation Haven Initiative started a school feeding programme last year and till date we feed 50 children daily and also paid for after school lessons. The children have been consistent in school since then and have never missed lesson nor school. I am glad this programme is coming to Oyo State and please note it requires lots of monitoring.”
The state controller, Federal Ministry of Labour, Festus Igbinosun in his address maintained that the International Labour Organisation, (ILO) has been taking necessary steps in ensuring that child labour is fully eradicated by year 2025, adding that the only aspect on child labour affecting Oyo state is street hawking.
The programme is a symposium for students from various schools within the state to showcase their knowledge about child labour and also urge those guilty of the offence to desist from the act.
The schools also partakes in competitions where they all spoke on the dangers of child labour in form of debate, short playlets, miming in order to pass a clear message across to perpetrators of this act.
Schools in attendance at the event include Royal College, Emmanuel College, Abadina College, University of Ibadan, Queens School, Apata, Methodist Grammer School,Bodija, St. Patricks School, Bashorun, Oba Akinbiyi Model College School 2, Mokola, Ikolaba High School and Government College Ibadan among others.
