THE ERADICATION OF CHILD LABOR: AN IMPETUS fOR NIGERIA DEVELOPMENT

*THE ERADICATION OF CHILD LABOR: AN IMPETUS fOR NIGERIA DEVELOPMENT*

Children are the glory and joy of life. Children are the gift of God on earth. They are the basis of development in any nation. With these ubiquitous essence of children to life and its function to nation, its however saddened to know that some children are deprived from their right to education, right to enjoy childhood and other basic right necessary for children to develop to their full potential as a result of works that is physically, mentally, socially and morally harmful to children known as child labor.

Child labor as a cankerworm all around the world maybe responsible for the reason as to why countries thrive and some fail. As they say "children are the leaders of tomorrow". This means that nations that are willing to provide viable and visionary leaders that will contribute to the nation development, to this extent should be ready to shun child labor because child labor is an impediment to child development which may leads to the nation impediment.

In Nigeria child labor has become an hydra headed problem that pervade the nooks and crannies of the nation. According to UNICEF, it was said that more than half of Nigeria 79 million between the age of 5 & 17 are put to work in activities like street vendor, shoe shinning, domestic servant  e.t.c all of which affect the efficiency of children in school and their physical and mental health which are necessary for children successful development to adult. 

The reason for child labor is not far fetched, the economic decadent of the nation has compelled parent, guardian and care givers to put children to work in order to augment the economic need of the family. Judging this from self preservation perspective child labor maybe justified but the adverse effect of child labor on the long run to the nation outweighs the utility parent  derives. Thus, child labor becomes an ICARUS paradox because the decadence of the economy will affect the nation and the family as a whole.

During the course of child labor children are exposed to dangers like injury, accident, abuse, diseases which compromise children physical and mental health which are necessary for children to transit to adult that will contribute to the nation development. 

Although, government  has taken some step in order to curb the increase of child labor but most policies made to that effect are not giant enough to suppress the menace of child labor. Therefore, child labor persist and Nigeria continue to lose her potential developer. Hence this situation begs for the question, HOW CAN THE ERADICATION OF CHILD LABOR  BE AN IMPETUS FOR NIGERIA DEVELOPMENT?

Investing in children by preventing children from engaging in child labor will intensify the number of school going children in Nigeria this means in the future Nigeria will have enough know- hows adult that will use their intellectual prowess to develop the nation also it will increase the number of conscious citizen that will check the excesses of the government and citizens that will bring the government into book anytime they transgress, which is essential for Nigeria development. On similarly note, the eradication of child labor will reduce the rate of  childhood death which will consequentially increase the number of adults that are physically and mentally healthy to work and to contribute to the nation economy which in turn leads to development.

This is a calling for  well meaning Nigerians and  organizations to campaign against child labor in order to ensure the development of Nigeria

 *EDUMARE-KOREDE* ✍🏽✍🏽✍🏽