By JKNewsMedia
WEST AFRICA continues to grapple with the prevalence of child labour, particularly in agriculture, where children endure hazardous working conditions.
Nigeria’s Federal Government expressed grave concern over this growing crisis, which denies children access to education, health, and a safe childhood.
Speaking at the first Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) child labour experts’ annual review meeting in Abuja, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Nkeiruka Onyejeocha underscored the urgent need for collective regional action.
She blamed poverty, limited access to quality education, socio-economic instability, and weak enforcement of labour laws for the surge in child labour.
“The Nigerian government has ratified key ILO conventions and established structures to fight child labour and forced labour.
We are committed to creating an enabling environment for the elimination of this menace,” Onyejeocha said.
She also praised ECOWAS, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the Action Against Child Labour in Agriculture in West Africa (ACLAWA) Project for their collaborative efforts.
Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and liaison office for ECOWAS, painted a dire picture of the global child labour crisis.
“Despite progress, 160 million children globally remain trapped in child labour. Sub-Saharan Africa, home to many ECOWAS member states, bears a disproportionate burden of this crisis,” she stated.
Dr Alieu Omar Touray, representative of the ECOWAS Commission President, also highlighted the importance of regional partnerships.
He commended the ILO and the ACLAWA Project for supporting the review meeting, emphasising the need for urgent collective action to reverse the trend.
The meeting provided a platform to evaluate progress and design strategies aimed at tackling the root causes of child labour in West Africa.
Participants reiterated their commitment to protecting children’s rights and achieving the goals of ECOWAS and the ILO in addressing child labour and forced labour.
The Nigerian government reaffirmed its dedication to poverty alleviation and education as critical tools in combating child labour.
These efforts are part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s broader strategy to improve labour standards and secure a brighter future for the nation’s children.
