As part of its move to put an end to child labour in Osun State, International Labour Organization’s (ILO) ACCEL Africa project, Idoka Chapter, embarked on sensitisation campaigns in Obokun Local Government.
The group empowered local leaders to enforce education-focused policies, ensuring children prioritize schooling over hazardous work in farms and artisanal gold mining sectors.
The team had previously visited St Peters Anglican Primary School, Kiloru, Idoka, Osun State, where parents were urged to prioritize their children’s education and well-being over economic pressures that drive child labour.
The latest sensitisation programme, held in commemoration of the 2025 World Day Against Child Labour, is part of efforts in laying a strong foundation for eradicating child labour.
The programme, targeting parents in communities such as Ora, Aba Aladura, and some villages under Idoka Obokun, aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of child labour and promote education as a fundamental right for children.
The team also visited a mining site in Ora, along Osogbo Road in Obokun Local Government Area (LGA), to address child labour in artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM).
According to the 2022 Nigeria Child Labour Survey Report, 39.2% of children aged 5 to 17 in Nigeria—approximately 26.5 million—are engaged in child labour, with Osun State being a focal point due to its cocoa and gold mining activities.
Leading the campaign was a dedicated team comprising Olori Akintokun Iyabo, Rev. Mordecai Olunlakin, Mrs. Agbola Comfort, Mr. Oludare Oluseye, Mr. Ademola Fatunwase, and Mr. Tosin Omotosho.
Olori Iyabo, a prominent community leader, emphasized the government’s firm stance against child labour during the sensitisation events, particularly in Aba Aladura and Ora. She said, “Children below the age of 17 are not to engage in menial jobs, especially during school hours. Taking children to farms during school hours is deemed illegal and the government is trying to ensure that all students receive basic education”.
She added that the government has put mechanisms in place and will arrest the parent of any child hawking or found on mining grounds during school hours.
Her remarks underscored the state’s commitment to enforcing child labour laws through community monitoring and legal action.
Sustained efforts are crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7, which aims to eliminate all forms of child labour by 2025.
By combining community-driven monitoring, educational infrastructure improvements, and policy advocacy, ACCEL Africa, led by committed teams including Olori Iyabo and her colleagues, is fostering a future where children in Osun State can prioritize education over labour, ensuring their health, safety, and development.