According to a cross section of adults, child labor is also rooted in protection against social vices. Interviewees agreed that with more than enough free time, children may begin to associate with peers that pose a negative influence. However, with involvement in laborious activities, having spare time becomes a luxury. It is also described as the best way to teach a child how to be good time manager.

Awareness on Illegality of child labor

Many states in Nigeria enforce legislation which outlaws various forms of child labor, yet it is still rampant throughout the country. Largely, lack of awareness is a problem. Speaking to residents in Oyo State, AFKInsider conducted a small survey which showed that out of 20 randomly selected respondents, only four knew that there are laws on child labor.

And while many believed child labor may not be legal, they didn’t see it as illegal either.

“How can we say that something is illegal when even the law enforcement officers are patronizing the child laborers?”  Health News social media manager and social development volunteer Chris Alagboso asked.

“Child labor has become extensively acceptable in Nigeria [so much so] that you begin to wonder if there isn’t even a part of our constitution that allows it. Everywhere you turn to, there is a child trying to sell something to you,” he said.

According to him, tackling the menace of child labor in Nigeria goes beyond just making laws.

“It is easy to make laws in Nigeria; the major challenge is enforcing such laws. If you tell parents involving their children in such activities that it is illegal and wrong, the next question they would ask you is that are you going to feed their children?” Alagboso said.

What Will Help Solve the Issue?

Advocacy has been described as an important tool towards tackling child labor in Nigeria.

“We should become as serious with child labor as we are with tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS,” Vicky Ojo, a medical student and child labor activist said.

She enjoined non-governmental organizations (NGOs), faith and religion-based organizations including churches and mosques to begin enlightening members of the public on the dangers and ills of child labor.

“They need to know the psychological effects it could have on the child. Furthermore, they need to know that engaging in such activities could significantly increase the risk of their child being kidnapped and raped,” she said.

Even though the number of children involved in child labor — 15 million — continues to soar across Nigeria, the number of NGOs involved in child labor advocacy and campaigns continue to increase too.

On VConnect.com, Nigeria’s version of the Yellow Pages, there are 6049 establishments listed to be involved in child rights advocacy. They include initiatives such as the Save the African Child Initiative, Child-to-Child Network, the Child Right Action Coalition and the National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NACCRAN).

Adesioye Samson, head of NACCRAN said more hands need to be on deck to achieve significant results in the fight against child labor.

“The burden outweighs the capacities of current initiatives. In other words, we still need more people on board. Current laws need to be updated and enforced,” he said.

The yardstick for assessing the performances of current strategies is the reduction in the number of children involved in child labor practices and not the number of committees that have been set up.

Many Nigerian states, some to university level, have free education policies. These policies could help in reducing financial burdens for parents. Furthermore, welfare services are taking some children off the streets — although thus far, the number of children taken off the streets is infinitesimal in comparison to the large number that are still entrapped in child labor.

“If children are taken off the street, I am sure the sale of some products such as water in sachets, fruits and others would be greatly affected. But this is needed to secure the future generation,” Samson said.

“It is not all about making money. Parents should know that the main essence of fighting child labor in Nigeria is all about keeping the children safe, because there are so many dangers out there that children are not strong enough to combat.”