Peter Obi has decried the high rate of Nigerian children engaged in child labour against the Child Rights Act and international conventions.
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Obi said Nigerians children deserve education and moral support to achieve their full potential for the benefit of Nigeria’s future.
Obi said this in reaction to National Bureau of Statistics report published on child labour, in marking the 2024 Children’s Day, on Monday, May 27.
He said the Children’s Day celebration “presents us the opportunity to focus on our children – the future leaders of our nation, and also reminds us of the need to invest in their growth; and support and nurture their dreams.”
He emphasized that every “Nigerian child deserves access to quality education, healthcare, and a safe and secure environment to live and thrive. We must, therefore invest in these key areas of development for their sake and the future of our society.
“Sadly, the challenges of child labour persists in our Nigerian society today. A National Bureau of Statistics report states that 39.2 percent of our children are in child labour and 22.9 percent of children are involved in hazardous work.
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“The reports further assert that four out of every ten children in Nigeria are trapped in child labour, therefore, putting the children and the future of society at risk.”
To tackle the child labour crisis militating against the Nigerian child, the former governor of Anambra State, Obi, said poverty ravaging families must be addressed to save children from child labour. He said parents and guardians must be encouraged and empowered to train and empower their children.
Obi called on children to embrace education and moral virtues. He called on the federal and state governments to put measures in place to ensure safety of the Nigerian child at school. He further condemned the mass abduction of students in schools.
“In tackling the challenges of child labour, we must focus on pulling more Nigerians out of poverty and ensuring the respect of the rights of every Nigerian child.
“While encouraging the parents, guardians, teachers and benefactors who see to the training of our children, I urge them to continue to give their best to raise responsible citizens in our nation.
“To the children, I encourage them to take seriously their moral and educational formation. We restate our commitment to building a safe, secure and productive nation for our children to live in, fully and freely explore their potentials,” Obi said.
