ILO's GALAB project launches community of practice to address child labour in Nigeria's cocoa sector

ABUJA (ILO News) – Child labour remain persistent global challenges, especially in the agricultural sector, where economic vulnerabilities often compel families to rely on exploitative practices. According to the 2022 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Nigeria Child Labour Survey, of the 62,900,479 children in Nigeria aged 5-17 years, a staggering 24,673,485 are engaged in child labour, with 19,390,353 involved in hazardous work. In Nigeria’s Ondo State, a hub of cocoa production, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is addressing these challenges through the Global Accelerator Lab (GALAB), funded by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL).

From 25–30 November 2024, three batches of a two-day workshop convened over 100 participants to establish a "Community of Practice" aimed at combating child labour. The workshop facilitated discussions on effective strategies for protecting children and enhancing social protection. The training featured sessions on national child labour laws, strategies for community monitoring, and the role of cooperative societies in eliminating exploitative practices. Discussions highlighted challenges and opportunities, culminating in actionable steps for creating a network of support across the 10 participating local government areas.

The workshop also aimed to create a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices among stakeholders. The Community of Practice, comprising trade unions, cooperative societies, NGOs, government agencies, and industry experts, will serve as a platform for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and advocacy. This seminar is part of a broader strategy to enhance collaboration, build capacity, and implement sustainable solutions in the cocoa farming communities of Ondo State.

This initiative is a crucial step towards creating a more just and equitable future for workers in the cocoa sector, by empowering local communities, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of countless workers and their families.

Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

The expected results of this activity include increased awareness and commitment to child labour elimination, improved capacity of cooperative societies, enhanced collaboration among stakeholders, and the development of effective strategies for elimination. Ultimately, the goal is to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their families, reducing their reliance on child labour.

This platform will empower us to work together more effectively to protect our children and improve our livelihoods. We are now better equipped to advocate for change and protect our children’s futures.

Participant from the Cocoa Farmers Association (CFAN)

By fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, the GALAB project aims to significantly reduce reliance on child labour in cocoa-producing communities while improving overall livelihoods for farmers and their families.

About GALAB Project

The Global Accelerator Lab (GALAB) project, funded by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) with a total budget of $13.4 million, is a major component of the International Labour Organization's (ILO) 8.7 Accelerator Lab initiative. It addresses the critical issue of child labour, a key barrier to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7 on decent work and economic growth.

The GALAB project operates on a global scale, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing across regions. Through targeted interventions in several countries (Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nigeria and Somalia) and regions (Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean), the project also delivers impactful results at the global, regional and national levels.