The Accelerated Action for Elimination of Child Labour in Africa (ACCEL African Project), a non governmental organisation (NGO), has disclosed that 729 children discovered to be at risk of child labour in Galadima Kogo and Kpma Kpma communities of Shiroro Council of Niger State have been re- enrolled in school.
The National Project Coordinator of ACCEL African Project in Nigeria, Agatha Kolawole, made the disclosure at the flag-off ceremony for distribution of start up kits to beneficiaries of empowerment and livelihood support programme to parents, as well as the affected children in Minna, at the weekend.
Kolawole explained that the children were provided with back to school kits such as school bags, textbooks, uniforms, note books, sandals and socks.
She emphasised the need for stakeholders to support vulnerable children and their families by providing them with free education, tuition, decent learning environments, as well as quality infrastructure to ensure that child labour is eliminated from the society.
According to Kolawole said: “The ACCEL African Project, working in collaboration with Federal Government, Raise Foundation and Hub International, funded by government of Netherlands, commenced its activities in Niger since 2019, with consultations and needs assessment carried out to identify project communities.
“Situational analysis of the prevalence of child labour in the state confirmed the need for concerted effort to curb the menace.
“ACCEL African Project in Nigeria has trained 401 children within the legal working age, and their parents on the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) ‘start your business module’ to equip them with skills to start and manage sustainable businesses.
“The module includes how to generate a business idea, developing a business plan, costing, marketing, staffing, purchasing and record keeping.
“Our educational intervention has also covered training of 60 teachers and care givers in their communities to manage the negative impact of child labour.
“This is in addition to provision of health care support to beneficiaries and community members.”
Items distributed to beneficiaries include: sowing machines, clippers, hair dryers,
grinding machines, among others.