World Day Against Child Labour 2023 - National Walk Against Child Labour in Nigeria
The walk was led by the Permanent Secretary of the FML&E Daju Kachollom, Vanessa Phala the Country Director of the ILO, and members of the children's parliament, adding the voices of the young to the campaign against child labour.
The national walk against child labour commenced at the premises of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FML&E), signalling the government's commitment to combat child labour. The walk was led by the Permanent Secretary of the FML&E Daju Kachollom, Vanessa Phala the Country Director of the ILO, and members of the children's parliament, adding the voices of the young to the campaign against child labour. Participants at the walk are members of the National Steering Committee on the elimination of child labour, and several NGO/CBO actors working towards the elimination of child labour in Nigeria.
Ms. Daju professed the commitment of the Federal Government to contributing to the global fight against child labour. This is symbolized by several achievements like the successful adoption and ratification of the ILO conventions no 138 and No 182; the validation of the 2nd phase of the National Policy on Child Labour and the National Action Plan on the elimination of child labour, among others.
However, Ms. Daju opined that the high number of children involved in child labour as reported by the 2016/2017 MICS survey reflects “the degree of urgency required by various actors working on child labour to proffer solutions to the reduction and possible elimination of child labour in Nigeria and global”. She called for “support to grassroots organisations and implement initiatives dedicated to combating child labour, rehabilitation and empowerment of child labour victims and vulnerable households.”
The ILO Country Office (CO) Director, Ms. Vanessa Phala stated that the ILO is engaging stakeholders to ensure that young people are educated and able to make meaningful contributions to the economy of Nigeria. Additionally, the ILO has also partnered with the National Bureau of Statistics to enable data-driven decision-making by policymakers, actors, advocates, and the government on issues regarding child labour in the different states of the country.
At the National Commission for human rights(NHRC), the Director of the Women and Children Department representing the Executive Secretary mentioned that the responsibility of the agency goes beyond the day, and she mentioned that the agency will work with other collaborators to ensure that legislation that protects children is enacted. She further stated that “despite considerable progress in recent years, an alarming number of children in Nigeria and across Africa still toll in hazardous conditions and are denied the opportunity to grow, learn and thrive. This commemoration provides us with an opportunity to confront these statistics head-on and devise comprehensive strategies that protect the rights of our children and secure a better future for generations to come.”
The President of the Children’s Parliament in Nigeria, Miss Rohama Waziri Ijonada, on behalf of the parliament called on the government to enact relevant legislations that will effectively address the plights of children in the country.
The 2023 World Day Against Child Labour in Nigeria was a powerful demonstration of the country's commitment to eradicating child labour and promoting social justice for all children.
Ms. Daju professed the commitment of the Federal Government to contributing to the global fight against child labour. This is symbolized by several achievements like the successful adoption and ratification of the ILO conventions no 138 and No 182; the validation of the 2nd phase of the National Policy on Child Labour and the National Action Plan on the elimination of child labour, among others.
However, Ms. Daju opined that the high number of children involved in child labour as reported by the 2016/2017 MICS survey reflects “the degree of urgency required by various actors working on child labour to proffer solutions to the reduction and possible elimination of child labour in Nigeria and global”. She called for “support to grassroots organisations and implement initiatives dedicated to combating child labour, rehabilitation and empowerment of child labour victims and vulnerable households.”
The ILO Country Office (CO) Director, Ms. Vanessa Phala stated that the ILO is engaging stakeholders to ensure that young people are educated and able to make meaningful contributions to the economy of Nigeria. Additionally, the ILO has also partnered with the National Bureau of Statistics to enable data-driven decision-making by policymakers, actors, advocates, and the government on issues regarding child labour in the different states of the country.
At the National Commission for human rights(NHRC), the Director of the Women and Children Department representing the Executive Secretary mentioned that the responsibility of the agency goes beyond the day, and she mentioned that the agency will work with other collaborators to ensure that legislation that protects children is enacted. She further stated that “despite considerable progress in recent years, an alarming number of children in Nigeria and across Africa still toll in hazardous conditions and are denied the opportunity to grow, learn and thrive. This commemoration provides us with an opportunity to confront these statistics head-on and devise comprehensive strategies that protect the rights of our children and secure a better future for generations to come.”
The President of the Children’s Parliament in Nigeria, Miss Rohama Waziri Ijonada, on behalf of the parliament called on the government to enact relevant legislations that will effectively address the plights of children in the country.
The 2023 World Day Against Child Labour in Nigeria was a powerful demonstration of the country's commitment to eradicating child labour and promoting social justice for all children.