BY SOLA OGUNTOYE

Stakeholders have stressed the need for total elimination of child labour across Nigeria by year 2025

This was the decision reached at a sensitisation programme organized by Accelerating Action for the Elimination of Child Labour, ACCEL, Africa and the International Labour organization, ILO, in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity held in Akure, the state capital.

Child labour has been established as engaging a child in any act that could undermine his future as well as impact negatively on such child psychologically educationally or health wise.

According to reports from International labour Organisation and UNICEF, Seventy two percent of all child labour cases worldwide take place within the family circle thereby constituting a major threat to the future of millions of children globally.

This is  just as Idanre and Ileoluji in Ondo State had been identified as the hub of child labour related activities as a result of the thriving cocoa business in this areas.

Addressing participants at the workshop, the country Director of International labour organization, ILO, Vanessa Phala, represented by an official, Mrs Agatha Olumide submitted that the program was meant to provide the right message that could be used by stakeholders particularly the media to combat and eliminate the scourge of child labour in Nigeria.

 

”Child labour has assumed a frightening dimension globally hence the need to campaign vigorously to tame its negative effects by all stakeholders across board.”

”We cannot afford to fold our hands looking at the rampaging damage child labour is inflicting on its victims across the global community. The time has come to confront the challenge frontally by our parents, media and the concerned agencies.”

Mrs Olumide submitted that the fight against child labour must be all inclusive.

In their separate submissions during the event, chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalist, NUJ, Ondo state Council, Mr Tona Aderoboye and Controller, Federal ministry of labour, Mr Olushola Folayan were of the opinion that efforts must be geared towards reversing the bad trend of child labour which had become a threat to the future of the nation.

Two participants at the programme, Mr James Showole and Mrs Olumide Adebukola said the workshop had broadened their knowledge about the concept of child labour.

The sensitization programme attracted Forty five participants drawn from NUJ, NOA, ILO and Federal ministry of Labour and Productivity.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *