In an effort to intensify child protection and eliminate child labour in Ondo State, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has conducted a comprehensive training session for the State Steering Committee on Child Labour (SSCL).
The four-day training, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) through the ILO’s (ACLAWA) project, sought to equip key stakeholders with the necessary tools to safeguard children across communities in the state.
Held from Tuesday October 15 to Friday October 18, 2024 in Akure, the state capital, the training attracted stakeholders from various ministries and organisations, aiming to establish Community Child Labour Monitoring Committees.
These committees are intended to oversee and implement the state’s action plan on child labour eradication.
National Project Manager for the ACLAWA project, Dr. Agatha Kolawole,
highlighted the importance of building the capacity of the State Steering Committee.
“The goal of this training is to ensure the committee is more effective in its mission to tackle child labour by enhancing their understanding of the state action plan and clarifying the roles of each organisation involved,” she said.
Dr. Kolawole stressed the need for resource mobilisation to ensure that child labour-related issues are prioritised in the budgetary allocations of various ministries and departments.
She also emphasised the importance of coordination, noting that the committee has agreed to meet bimonthly to facilitate knowledge sharing and effective communication.
The training was formally opened and closed by the State Controller of the Federal Ministry of labour and employment and Chairman Ondo state streeing committee on Child labour, Mrs. Olanike Mogboruko who underscored the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in combating child labour.
“Our aim is to strengthen efforts to protect the well-being of our children. We must work together, collaborate openly, and share our experiences to develop strategies that address child labour, especially in our local communities,” she said.
The Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ondo State, Comrade Olapade Ademola Adeniji, urged participants to remain focused on the welfare of the children, reminding them that every child rescued from labour is a step towards securing the future of society.
“We must create an environment where no child has to choose between survival and education,” he stated.
The training brought together members from the Federal Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ministry of Education, National Orientation Agency, Ministry of Justice and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
Also at the training were; officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and several other agencies and organisations.
Collectively, these bodies are tasked with driving initiatives to reduce the prevalence of child labour across the state.
