The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called for intensified efforts to eliminate child labour, particularly in Nigeria's cocoa farming and artisanal mining sectors, during the commemoration of the 2025 World Day Against Child Labour in Minna, Niger State.
Dr. Vanessa Phala-Moyo, Country Director of the ILO Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, emphasized the need for collective action to protect children's rights and prevent exploitation under this year's theme, 'Progress is Clear, But there's More to Do: Let's Speed Up Efforts!, End Child Labour'.
"There is need for strict measures against child labour and priorities high-risk sectors like cocoa farms and artisanal mining that requires stakeholders collaboration to combat it in the country," stated the country director.
Fundamental Rights Violation
Speaking through Mrs. Celine Oni, National Coordinator of Accelerating Action for the Elimination of Child Labour in Supply Chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa) Project, Phala-Moyo stressed that child labour constitutes a breach of the fundamental human rights of children, boys, girls, adolescents and youths.
"We must work to accelerate efforts to institute zero tolerance for child labour in our cocoa farms, in artisanal mining and in our society," she emphasized.
Global Progress Report
According to Phala-Moyo, recent research by ILO and UNICEF reveals encouraging progress in the global fight against child labour, with numbers decreasing from 160 million to 138 million over four years.
"Child labour prevalence has dropped from 9.6 per cent to 7.8 per cent. In Latin America, we saw a drop by 11 per cent while Sub-Saharan Africa saw a 10 per cent drop," she noted.
Hajiya Hauwa Zakariya, Niger State Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and Hajiya Hadiza Sheru, Permanent Secretary, Niger Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, commended partners' efforts in the fight against child labour while calling for increased stakeholder involvement in Niger State and across Nigeria.
The event highlighted the ongoing challenges in eliminating child labour despite measurable progress, particularly in sectors where economic pressures and traditional practices continue to put children at risk.
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