Wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, has called for an end to all forms of child abuse, child labour and human trafficking in the country.
The wife of the governor who stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital during a one day programme on Anti- Human Trafficking Sensitisation Programme, solicited for participation of all stakeholders in eradicating human trafficking and child labour in Nigeria.
According to Mrs Akeredolu, there is need to put in place laws and policies that will bring an end to the menace saying that governments at all level should leave no stone unturned in protecting the rights of the children.
She appealed to parents to instill in their children a lifestyle rooted in honesty, dedication to live and patriotism saying “no child should be subjected to brutality, violence or forced marriage in whatever. Every child has a right to education and choice of life.”
She assured that the present administration in the state would be more committed to protecting the rights of children as spelt out in the Child Rights Act of 2007 as well as in the 1999 Constitution.
Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu advocated for the involvement of every community to ensure active involvement of the people in reducing the scourge, adding that there is need for a paradigm shift in the way the issue is dealt with.
She identified poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, greed, family size, unemployment, corruption and broken home as some of the causes of human trafficking and child labour, and however called for support from nongovernmental organisations, philanthropists and other stakeholders in the community to assist the less privileged and embrace education among the people.
Corroborating her view, the Regent of Apoi Land, Adesola Ebiseni, called on traditional rulers, opinion leaders to join hands in reducing human trafficking and child labour in the society.
She said interested individuals and corporate organisations can organize fund raising to support agencies in fighting against the child and human trafficking.
She however solicited for prayers and support from religious leaders, urging them to provide job opportunities, saying an idle mind is devils workshop and appealed to the media to give accurate information and awareness to the people.
Speaking earlier, the organiser of the programme, who is also the President/ Chief Empowerment Officer, Feminine, Family and Foundation Aid, Nike Amore, said there is need to reach out to policy makers for the adoption of policies and legal frameworks supportive of the fight against trafficking in persons.
She added that there is need to discourage women from sending their children to slavery, noting that the society must desist from encouraging female children to travel abroad in search of greener pastures.
and then