With the theme of the conference being “Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: Let’s speed up efforts,” Dr. Dingyadi highlighted the moral, legal, and social imperatives to end child labour in Nigeria. He noted that children were divinely created to enjoy their adolescence, to play, dream, and learn not to engage in strenuous labour or be exposed to harmful environments.
He emphasized that the federal government remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding the rights of Nigerian children and called on stakeholders including the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), and organised labour unions to unite in advocacy and practical steps to eradicate child labour from the nation’s socioeconomic fabric.
Citing recent data from a joint ILO and UNICEF report, the Minister noted that global progress is being made. The number of children involved in child labour worldwide has dropped from 160 million to 138 million a significant 22 million reduction. “That number represents progress, and I am proud to say Nigeria is part of that progress,” Dingyadi declared.
However, he was quick to warn that despite these gains, every child still trapped in labour is one too many. “Imagine a Nigeria where every child is in school, learning and becoming the best version of themselves,” he said passionately. “This is the Nigeria we are working towards. This is the Nigeria and future you deserve,” he told the children in attendance.
The Minister reiterated the rights of Nigerian children: to attend school, to play, and to dream freely. “Let me be clear, dear children: you have the right to go to school, not to work in dangerous jobs. You have the right to play, not to carry heavy loads. You have the right to dream, not to be forced to work long hours,” he stressed.
Addressing the children directly, Dingyadi encouraged them to form a united voice that would resonate with the government and influence future policymaking. “We believe in your ideas, and we will use them to improve our policies and programmes, to give you a legacy you can be proud of,” he added. He also reassured them of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving the lives of all Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Highlighting education as a critical weapon against child labour, the Minister stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to break the cycle of poverty and child labour.” He urged communities, parents, and educators to work together to keep children in school and away from exploitative labour.
Dr. Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Abuja Country Office, also spoke at the event. She described child labour as a deeply entrenched challenge, lamenting the millions of children who continue to toil in dangerous and exploitative conditions across the country just to survive. “These are jobs no child should be subjected to,” she asserted.
Phala shared key highlights from the new Global Estimates on Child Labour jointly published by the ILO and UNICEF. According to the report, the global number of children aged 6 to 17 years involved in hazardous labour dropped by 22 million since 2020, a figure she described as promising. She added that, since the year 2000, the world has seen over 100 million fewer children in child labour, even though the global child population has increased by over 230 million during the same period.
She commended Nigeria for being a signatory to international labour standards that promote the elimination of child labour but lamented the persistence of the menace. “The findings underscore that while progress is being made, there is still much work to do,” she said, adding that enforcement of existing laws remains weak and inconsistent.
Dr. Phala called on the National Assembly and the Ministry of Labour and Employment to act quickly by facilitating the passage of the revised Labour Standards Bill. “We need accelerated, strategic, and well-coordinated efforts,” she urged, “to ensure no child in Nigeria is left behind in our quest to end child labour.”
Both speakers concluded by calling for a multi-stakeholder approach, including civil society organisations, the private sector, development partners, and traditional institutions, to double down on efforts to protect the most vulnerable in society. “The future of Nigeria depends on how well we treat our children today,” Dingyadi stated. “We must be united in purpose to protect their right to a childhood filled with learning, laughter, and love.”
