As
the world today commemorates the 2017 World Day Against Child Labour, the
Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in
Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Oka-Donli has urged Nigerians to spare some thoughts
for the plights of children in difficult situations.
Speaking
today as part of activities marking the day, the NAPTIP boss said that since
the focus for this year’s activities is on the impact of conflict and disaster
on child labour, all Nigerians should speak out in support of children
especially those in the North East who have suffered one form of deprivation or
the other in the last few years.
She
said, “We should give some thoughts to our children in the North Eastern part
of the country whose development has been stunted by the activities of
insurgents. Until recently when the military has worked hard to restore
normalcy to the conflict areas, schools had shut down and the lives of the
young hung in the balance. They cannot live a normal life as no one knew when
danger lurked and many with their families became internally displaced. The
children could not go to schools like their peers in other places neither could
they enjoy recreational facilities like others.
“As
we mark this day, let us all arise as a people and make peace with each other
for the sake of our children and those unborn. Conflicts and disaster leave a
lot of sorrow on the society and we cannot afford more of that in this country”.
She however, stated that
the Agency which is established to eradicate human trafficking in Nigeria with
all the dimensions involved, remain highly committed to the protection of
children and join hands with other stakeholders around the world to end Child
Labour.
‘’Child Labour is a sad
development, and Nigeria has had a fair share in the several Millions of
children victims of child labour, who are living in slave-like conditions
across the globe, having been deceived and lured out of their homes by criminal
gangs and greedy parents. Victims of child
labour suffer varying degrees of misfortune, inhumane treatments, psychological
and emotional harm, physical torture, socio-economic violence, sexual abuse and
harmful traditional practices that undermine their natural development as human
beings. Their worth and dignity are destroyed, their lives are made worthless
and with no hope in sight”, she stated.
She
further said, “the negligence of parents to their children and their greed
which push the children out should no longer be tolerated in Nigeria. Children
are gifts from God and parents are under obligation to take care of these
children until they come of age. Unfortunately, many of our people now delight
in making their children bread winners at a very tender age while they feed fat
on the sweat of those children. That is evil and must be stopped”.
She
however, asked Nigerians to remain their brother’s keeper as a way of building
up the country where the children will be free from all the vices bedeviling
society.
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