ILO tasks leaders on elimination of child labour in Ondo

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has tasked traditional rulers as well as community leaders in Ondo State with the need to add their voices to the ongoing drive to eliminate child labour.

During a program tagged ACCEL Africa Phase II Project, the Director of the ILO Country Office, Abuja, Ms. Vanessa Phala, emphasised that the training of the community leaders will in no small measure assist in the drive to tackle the menace and promote child protection.

Speaking during the training, which commenced on Tuesday and will end on Friday, in Akure, the state capital, Phala, who was represented by the Coordinator of the ACCEL Africa Phase II Project, Mrs. Celine Oni, stated that the project was funded by the government of the Netherlands with the aims of combating child labour in Ondo, Osun, and Niger States in the cocoa and artisanal small-scale gold mining supply chains.

She said: “The vision we pursue is a positive impact on the lives of children in the communities, empowering them to pursue their education, health, and futures free from the exploitation of child labour.

“We believe that by strengthening community capacity and fostering collective action, this initiative paves the way for a brighter future for Nigerian children.

“This training of CCLMCs marks a critical step towards combating child labour and promoting child protection through effective monitoring, prevention, response, and reporting of child labour cases within the community in collabouration with government agencies and other stakeholders.”

While expressing optimism that after the training, the participants who were formed to be members of the Community Child Labour Monitoring Committees (CCLMCS), she added that “they will collabourate with relevant stakeholders to promote children’s rights, report cases, and develop action plans to address child labour in their respective communities.”

The Director, Inspectorate Department of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs. Grace Adeleye, said although commendable steps have been taken to address child labour in Nigeria, sustained efforts were needed to achieve lasting impact, adding that addressing legal framework gaps, expanding social protection, and tackling broader economic challenges are crucial in the matter.

“Combating child labour requires a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond monitoring and cleaning up workplaces, but targeting root causes at the community level is crucial for achieving sustainable impact in eliminating child labour in Nigeria.

“Community Child Labour Monitoring Committee will play a crucial role in the elimination of child labour and child protection and ensure that the farms, mining sites, and other sectors in the communities are child labour-free.”