By Cleopatra Eki
Concerned about the menace of child labour, a coalition of religious leaders, NGOs, and government agencies have pledged to join forces to tackle the problem through advocacy, education, and law enforcement.
The groups known as The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) and Dominicans for Justice and Peace, in partnership with NGOs and government agencies, said they are committed to addressing child labour, domestic servitude, and early marriage in Lagos.
Fr. Aniedi Okure, Convener and Justice Promoter, described the trafficking of children from rural Nigeria and Benin Republic into Lagos households as alarming.
“These children are uprooted and mistreated by those meant to protect them,” he said. The event with the theme, “Ending Domestic Servitude and Child Labour” held at the Church Hall, Yaba.
Participants included parishioners from St. Dominic’s, St. Jude’s, St. Mary’s, and the University of Lagos Chaplaincy, alongside organisations like the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
Fr. Okure emphasised that domestic servitude is a form of human trafficking, adding that children lured with false promises are forced into exploitative labour.
“There are mentorship programmes to support trained individuals in identifying abuse cases, establishing safe reporting channels, and linking victims to legal, health, and educational resources.
“In addition, community engagement clusters and participants were divided into six local groups to discuss child labour trends in their areas and formulate targeted advocacy strategies,” he explained.
Also, Fr. Frederick Obananya stressed the need for consistent grassroots advocacy.
“Perpetrators exist across all sectors. We are training parish groups to become frontline defenders of children’s rights,” he said. Chidera Okonkwo-Samuel, a student from UNILAG, expressed concern about how widespread the recruitment of adolescents for domestic work has become. Sr. Bernadette Eyewah Okure, National Coordinator of AFJN, noted that the initiative is specifically designed to address abuses within homes.
“Sadly, many perpetrators are women. This initiative seeks to end these violations in Lagos households,” she said. To tackle child labour, the coalition is implementing a multi-pronged strategy, which includes training parish-based advocacy groups to recognise and report child abuse and promote children’s rights, rooted in Catholic social teachings.
Mr Frederick Uche Oko, who represented NAPTIP zonal commander, stressed the legal awareness campaigns led by NAPTIP to educate the public on the criminality of employing underage domestic workers.
Phil Nneji, a lawyer, encouraged victims to reach out to NGOs and legal bodies, citing successful intervention stories in the past. She noted that children from low-income families often suffer long hours, lack of proper meals, and sleep deprivation while working in homes.
The event ended with a strong call for continued collaboration between religious groups, civil society, and government institutions to end child exploitation in Nigeria.
