The Child and Youth Protection Foundation, CYPF, has warned that child labour is trapping many Nigerian families in a cycle of poverty while denying children access to education and opportunities needed for a better future.
The warning was given on Saturday during a community outreach held at the Chief’s Palace in Kuchigoro Community, Abuja, to mark the World Day Against Child Labour.
Speaking during the event, National Coordinator of CYPF, Kolawele Olatosimi, linked the persistence of child labour to poverty and worsening economic conditions, saying the practice does not solve financial challenges but instead perpetuates them across generations.
He said: “Child labour has been before this particular government. Child labour has been in existence for a long time in Nigeria.
“But this particular economy is pushing a lot of families into involving their children because they want to increase the income that comes into the home.
“So because of that, poverty is causing a lot of kids to be involved in child labour. But this is the irony: a poverty-driven family that also gets involved in child labour is simply recycling poverty. Child labour does not address poverty. Child labour promotes poverty.”
Olatosimi also highlighted domestic servitude as one of the worst forms of child labour and called for stronger community ownership in tackling the problem.
According to him, CYPF selected Kuchigoro because of its long standing relationship with the community and the need to address child labour challenges affecting children in farming communities.
He said the organisation has worked in the community for more than eight years through various interventions, including menstrual hygiene programmes and the establishment of a girls club.
He explained that research conducted by the organisation showed that some children in the community engage in farm work, particularly during farming seasons when many are absent from school.
Olatosimi noted that more than 100 children participated in the programme and played leading roles in delivering messages against child labour.
He said the awareness campaign was designed to ensure that children themselves become advocates for change within their families and communities.
The CYPF coordinator disclosed that the girls club, which has been active for about three months, would be expanded to neighbouring communities, with plans to establish similar groups in five to eight communities before the end of the year.
He added that the organisation intends to groom young girls as champions who can represent Nigeria at international platforms on issues affecting children.
He noted that awareness campaigns, community by-laws and continuous engagement with traditional leaders will help sustain efforts to eliminate child labour.
The Chief of Kuchigoro Community, Ibrahim Wambi, commended the initiative and pledged the community’s support towards ending child labour.
Wambi acknowledged that economic hardship has increased pressure on families but stressed that education remains the best pathway for children to achieve a better future.
He described the outreach as a programme capable of changing the lives of children in the community and helping them grow into responsible adults.
Also speaking at the event, the Assistant National Secretary of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, NACTAL, Modupe Adelanwa, represented by the Media Officer of ShieldThem Support Organisation, Sarah Opara, said child labour continues to threaten the future of millions of Nigerian children.
She explained that child labour includes any work that deprives children of their education, dignity, health and overall development.
According to her, many children across Nigeria are engaged in street hawking, domestic servitude, agricultural labour, mining, construction work and other hazardous activities.
Opara identified poverty, lack of access to quality education, family instability, cultural practices, conflict and weak awareness of child protection laws as major drivers of child labour.
She noted that children involved in labour often drop out of school, suffer injuries and health complications, experience emotional trauma and become vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.
She said the Federal Government has continued to implement interventions aimed at eliminating child labour through the National Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labour, strengthened child protection systems, public awareness campaigns and partnerships with civil society organisations and development partners.
Opara urged community members to enrol children in school, report cases of child labour and exploitation, support vulnerable families and promote awareness of children’s rights.
The outreach, themed “Say No to Child Labour: A Theatre for Community Awareness,” brought together children, parents, traditional leaders, civil society organisations and community members. The event featured drama, poetry, dance performances and awareness campaigns led by girls from the community to educate residents on the dangers of child labour and the need to protect children’s rights.
