The International Labour Organisation has urged journalists to create awareness to combat the menace of child labour in Nigeria.

Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone, said this at a three-day Communication Training Workshop for Media Practitioners on Friday in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

The training was organised by ILO, funded by the U.S. Department of Labour, through the Action against Child Labour in Agriculture in West Africa (ACLAWA) project and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Ms Phala, represented by Agatha Kolawole, project coordinator of ILO’s ACLAWA, said child labour had cast a long shadow across Nigerian communities, particularly within the agricultural sector.

She said this is driven by poverty, as families often rely on children to contribute to their well-being and survival.

“Children often have to work under hazardous conditions, sacrificing their education, health and childhood for meagre wages,” said Ms Phala. 

She added, “This not only violates their fundamental rights but also hinders their potential and perpetuates cycles of vulnerability.”

Ms Phala said the 2021 Global Child Labour report released by ILO and UNICEF indicated a global increase of child labour prevalence by 8.4 million to reach a staggering 160 million.

She said globally, the agriculture sector accounts for 70 per cent of child labourers.

According to her, nearly 28 per cent of children aged five to 11 years and 35 per cent aged 12 to 14 years in child labour are out of school.

Ms Phala said the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) launched the Nigeria Child Labour survey report conducted in 2022, which corroborates the global trend.

She said the media plays a pivotal role in combating child labour by raising awareness and mobilising public opinion against this pervasive issue.

“By bringing these stories to the forefront, the media educates the public and policymakers about the scale and severity of child labour, thereby creating a sense of urgency and a call to action, “she said.

She said media coverage can pressure governments and corporations to implement and enforce stricter laws and policies to protect children from exploitation

Ms Phala added that in addition to raising awareness, the media serves as a platform for advocacy and education, empowering communities to take a stand against child labour.

Tessy Odoh, Head, Child Labour, Forced Labour, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Unit, Inspectorate Department, Ministry of Labour and Employment, said the training was apt.

Ms Odoh said the federal government had implemented some policies to mitigate the menace of child labour.

She said Nigeria had ratified and domesticated the ILO conventions 182, 138, 29, among others.

Journalists who participated in the workshop pledged their continued commitment to doing reports on child labour.

(NAN)