Stakeholders caution Nigerians against hiring minors as labourers

• Urge greater investments in education
Private sector stakeholders have urged Nigerians who engage children for one form of labour or the other to desist from doing so, saying every child should have access to quality education irrespective of religion or social status.

Speaking at separate forums organised by Laterna Ventures Limited, Emzor Wellness Club and Bunmi Adedayo Foundation (BAF) to celebrate Nigerian children, they maintained that government, parents, schools and the larger society should be committed to the wellbeing of the Nigerian child in the interest of the country.

Communications Lead of BAF, Irene Azuh, who stressed the importance of quality education, frowned on using children as labourers and urged Nigerians to review their actions with a view to ending the practice.

“Every child has the right to quality education. The government, teachers and schools, have an important role in moulding these future leaders. The society too has a huge role.

“The foundation on its part changing the narrative, but we want to use this means to appeal to Nigerians to abstain from hiring children or minors as labourers of any kind. Going to school helps children to achieve all-round development, so it is important that every child goes to school,” she added.

Head, Corporate Affairs Unit, Laterna Ventures Limited, Nnaji Ugbaja, said as future leaders, children should be exposed to the right mix of information through quality education and regular reading, urging government to ensure regular review of curriculum to accommodate new knowledge.

Speaking, Project Manager, Emzor Wellness Club, Faith Nwalie, pointed out that government, parents, schools and the society should be committed to the wellbeing of children and regularly create programmes that would enrich their mindset. “All of us will benefit in the short and long run, if we have decent children. Government should not only invest more in the sector, it should also monitor such investments to ensure that funds are appropriately utilised,” she added.