Children
By Bukola Adewumi
Abuja, June 13, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Biola Oduwusi, Executive Director, Lele Bloomsom School, Abuja, has advised parents and guidance to assist government in putting an end to child labour by enrolling their children and wards in schools.
Oduwusi made gave the advice while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
She said this would forestall poverty and insecurity in the country, adding that child labour could be detrimental to the society and the country at large.
According to her, children education had gone beyond giving them inheritance, adding that this would also enhance peace in the country.
“If the nation is at peace and it’s recording success it is because the children turned adults were brought up properly.
“When we educate our young ones and keep them off the streets, it will greatly reduce the issue of child labour.
She said that most children go through hardship because there is no one to provide for them.
“It is not compulsory for parents to enroll their children in private schools, we have government schools that are good and free, instead of allowing these children walk around aimlessly, enroll them to enjoy peace,“he said.
The 2018 world day against child labour and the world day for safety and health at work, beamed its spotlight on the global need to improve the safety and health of young workers and end child labour.
NAN reports that children from the age of five to 15 in the Federal Capital Territory, who were expected to be in school were seen hawking and engaging in different child labours.
Hauwu Abdullahi, five years old girl, who was hawking groundnut, said that her mother told her that she needed to hawk to be able to feed.
“My father is a tricycle driver popularly known as “keke Napep” and he has two wives and 12 children, the money he gives my mother is not enough for her to take care of us, that is why am not in school. ” she said.
John Omale, 12-year-old boy, said that the economic situation in the country forced him to fend for himself.
“My father is jobless and my mother sells gari and other petty things in Utako market, the little money she brings is what we all use to feed.
” We are five children and I am the first born, so I have to work so that I can do things for myself, I will love to go to school if I see who will enroll me. ” he said.
Usman Ahmed, a 12-year-old boy, who came from Sokoto to stay with a malam in keffi to learn Quran had to leave for Abuja to fend for himself because of hunger.
“Since I came to Abuja more than six months I have been living in the market, in the morning I resume my work as a wheelbarrow pusher to make money for myself.” he said.(NAN).
BOL/JPE/AFA
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Felix Ajide
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