NGO, stakeholders partner on capacity building for street hawkers

Respite may have come the way of street hawker in Lagos state, as a not-for-profit organization, Gadal unveiled plans to partner with various stakeholders on capacity building for the group.

Gadal is a not-for-profit organization seeking to bring about a socially secure future for all Nigerians by economically empowering youths, and harnessing the potential of the informal sector of the economy.

The organisation explained that the decision was due to its desire to proffer solution to what it described as a ’menace’ not only in Lagos State, but also most cities in Nigeria.

According to Gadal, in its maiden survey which was conducted in eight “hotspots” around Lagos State with 250 respondents (hawkers) showed that the problem of hawking needed urgent attention by both the public private sector operators and developmental agencies.

Street hawking has been roundly condemned as being unsafe, while children who hawk in the street have become bold and assertive that they tend to disrupt free flow of traffic on major roads at the same time, endangering their lives.

The executive Secretary Gadal, Kelechi Ekeghe explained that a total sample of 250 hawkers responded and were selected from different parts of the city.

According to him, the points covered by the questionnaire included, personal details (Name, Sex, Phone Number, Age, State of Origin), Level of Education, family background, type of goods sold, daily income, hazards faced (Task force harassment, accidents), What kind of help/Skills required, what helps them learn faster.