Communities in the Kaduna Southern zone have taken bold steps to confront the menace of child labour in ginger production.
This move followed a series of awareness campaigns and training spearheaded by the Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigeria (CRUDAN), with funding from FAIRLABOUR.
CRUDAN project coordinator, Mr James Obadiah, disclosed this during the conclusion of the training organised by the group in Fai, Jaba local government area.
Obadiah said child labour remained a primary global concern, particularly in agriculture, where children are often exposed to hazardous environments.
He said in Kaduna South, where ginger farming was a key source of livelihood, many children were engaged in strenuous work that threatened their health and denied them education, which robbed them of a proper childhood.
He said: “To address this challenge, CRUDAN initiated a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme which equipped 60 selected participants with knowledge and skills to raise awareness, advocate for children’s rights, and mobilise their communities against child exploitation.
“These trained advocates have emerged as strong voices for change, challenging entrenched practices that normalise child labour.
“With further support from ginger suppliers AFEX and GACON, CRUDAN facilitated two major child labour awareness trainings in Fai and Antong communities in Jaba and Kachia local government areas, respectively.
“Together, the sessions drew over 120 participants, including farmers, traditional leaders, teachers, religious figures, youth and women leaders, Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), and policymakers.”
For his part, Mr Michael Agon, the project consultant, said that the training sessions were designed to educate and provoke action.
Agon said that the participants engaged in discussions on the definitions, causes, and consequences of child labour.
He said: “They examined the worst forms of child exploitation, such as hazardous labour, trafficking, and work that deprives children of education, and considered practical ways to eliminate them.
“Community leaders and participants also reflected on the root causes of child labour, including poverty, unemployment among adults, cultural practices, lack of quality education, and exploitation by employers.
“They acknowledged that these factors have for years contributed to the persistence of child labour in their communities.
“In Fai, 78 participants registered for the training, while 48 were recorded in Antong.
“Follow-up engagements later saw 105 participants in Fai and 93 in Ankwa, showing growing interest and commitment to tackling the issue.”
In an interview, Mrs Joyce Zaphaniah, a GACON field staff member, told NAN that CRUDAN’s training approach relied on participatory and culturally sensitive methods, including group discussions, role-playing, and case studies.
“Awareness materials such as posters, stickers, and flyers were translated into indigenous languages to ensure accessibility and deeper understanding,” Zaphaniah said.
Also, Sunday Ohiemi, an AFEX field staff member, emphasised the initiative’s long-term vision, adding, “This is not just a project; it is a movement, and if communities continue to work together, we can ensure that ginger production in Kaduna grows without exploiting children.
Mrs Grace Ayuba, a school administrator in Fai, said she was moved to tears by the performance, adding, “Catching those children act out the suffering of their peers was heartbreaking.
“It reminded me that every child deserves to be in school, not carrying heavy loads on the farm,” she said.
Mr Ibrahim Musa, a farmer from Antong, admitted that many families often relied on their children to supplement labour during harvest seasons.
He said, “We never thought about the long-term damage it causes, but now I realise that sending children to the farm instead of school is destroying their future and the future of our community.”
Mr John Danladi, one of the participants trained as a community advocate, said he was now determined to educate other farmers.
He admitted, “I used to think child labour was normal because I also worked as a child, but today, I understand that we must break the cycle because our children should have a better life than we did.”
NAN reports that at the end of the engagements, a strong consensus emerged across the communities that childhood was for learning, not earning.
The participants affirmed that children belonged in classrooms, not on farms or in hazardous workplaces, and pledged to uphold children’s rights in their households and workplaces.
