THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. And if we have learned anything from the 2014 Ebola pandemic, it is child labour will worsen during this crisis.

UNICEF reveals 15 million children under the age of 14 are working in various fields across Nigeria. A 2019 NOI Polls reveals 58% of children engage in street hawking, 11% engage in domestic labour, and 10% engage in street begging amongst other labour activities.

Although Nigeria passed the Child Right Act (CRA) of 2003, which protects children against discrimination, harmful and exploitative practices such as child marriage, prostitution, and child labour. Little to nothing has changed in protecting children.
House of ZETA in collaboration with Working Title and CEPI Nigeria shows the realities of children engaged in child labour, especially given the threat and reality of COVID-19, which leaves them more vulnerable than they already are.