The International Labour Organization (ILO) has called on journalists in the country, particularly in Ondo State, to join hands in
the fight against incidents of child labour.
Dr. Agatha Kolawole, National Project Manager ofInternal Labour Organisation Action Against Children Labour In Agriculture In West Africa (ILO AWA), made the call during a three-day intensive workshop in Akure, Ondo State capital.
According to the data released by the National Bureau ofStatistics (NBS) in 2022, no fewer than 5.1 million children are
undergoing child labour, while 4.1 million children are engaged in hazardous work across the federation.
The training programme centered on Communication for Development for Media Pro
fessionals availed participants of
prevalence ofchild labour in agriculture sector, particularly in cocoa producing communities in Ondo State.
She appealed to journalists to help dig deep into the cause ofthe incident and proffer social solutions to the menace in the
state.
Expressing their readiness to fight against child labour, the state Chairman ofNigeria
Union ofJournalists (NUJ), Leke Adegbite, who spoke on behalf ofthe participants, promised that urnalists in the state would do their best to stamp out the menace from the state, particularly in the farmsteads where incident of child labour is prevalent.
He assured that more investigations would be conducted by journalists in the state with a
view to solving the challenges of child labour.
The training was organised by ILO, United States ofAmerica Department ofLabour and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry ofLabour
and Employment.
