By Oluwatope Lawanson
Mr Joseph Osuigwe, Executive Director, Devatop Centre for African Development, says every child deserves a childhood and should be cherished as a treasure, not exploited.
Osuigwe made the remark at a Stakeholders’ Advocacy Roundtable on Protecting Child Domestic Workers from Maltreatment, held on Tuesday in Ikeja.
The event had the theme Strengthening Policy and Collaboration to Prevent Child Domestic Work and Protect Affected Children.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable was organised by Devatop with support from Freedom Fund, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State.
NAN also reports that Devatop is a youth-led anti-human trafficking and human rights organisation in Nigeria.
Osuigwe condemned the exploitation of Child Domestic Workers (CDWs) while emphasising the inherent value of childhood.
According to him, there is urgent need to protect children from exploitation and uphold their rights, as Nigeria grapples with child domestic labour.
He described CDWs as a “hidden, widespread issue”.
“Child Domestic Work has existed for years. It is worrisome, yet people hardly talk about it. Our aim is to bring it to light.
“For two years, we have interacted with CDWs and found they are often neglected, with no projects addressing their plights,” he said.
Osuigwe stressed that a child should never be treated as a servant.
“A child is not a worker. A child is a child, and should be treated as such,” he said.
He urged communities to stop criminalising child domestic work.
Osuigwe cited economic hardship, poverty, orphanhood, and ignorance of child rights as major drivers of child domestic labour.
He added that these issues also fuel human trafficking.
“A lot of things worsen the problem. Parents struggling economically often lack resources to care for their children,” he said.
Osuigwe stressed that everyone has a duty of care, whether a child lives with parents or guardians.
He called on citizens to safeguard children, treat them as children, and ensure they enjoy their childhood fully.
He highlighted actions against the law, including denying education, subjecting children to hazardous tasks like heavy lifting, hawking, or using knives beyond their capacity.
He noted that while children may assist with domestic chores, they must not be exploited in ways that harm their mental, academic, or psychological wellbeing.
“Some children bear the burden of entire families. We condemn such acts. Every child should enjoy childhood and be treated as a treasure, not a tool,” he said.
He stressed the need for awareness, stronger protection, and enforcement of child rights laws.
Osuigwe also urged parents to fulfil their duty of care and treat children as treasures, while encouraging citizens to report cases of exploitation.
Mrs Chika Nwabeke, representing Freedom Fund, in her keynote address, called on government and stakeholders to address root causes of CDWs and strengthen protection measures.
In her paper, Building Stronger Legal and Social Protection for Children in Domestic Work, she said poverty, unemployment and weak safety nets drive children into labour.
She warned that without stronger safety nets, livelihood support, women’s empowerment, and access to education, the issue would persist by treating symptoms rather than causes.
Nwabeke stressed that collaboration and partnership were crucial for lasting results.
She urged stronger enforcement, accountability, and resource allocation for real-life protection.
“Lagos State Government has shown commitment to child protection, but equal attention must go to children in exploitative work.
“These children must not be left behind between policy and reality. Safeguarding them requires consistent accountability and adequate resources,” she said.
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
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- Agriculture and Environment Desk Controller/Website Content Manager.
