Follow Us on Google
From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
The Anambra State government has arrested and prosecuted a middle-aged woman identified as Nkechi for allegedly engaging a 7-year-old grandson (name withheld) in child labor exploitation in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare Ify Obinabo disclosed this when a group of traders brought the 7-year-old boy who they caught hawking satchet water in Ochanja market, Onitsha during school hours.
Obinabo said she had summoned the grandmother while the victim was in state government’s protection, vowing to prosecute other offenders of child labour in the state .
She expressed worry over the recent growing rise in child labour, warning that government would not relent until offenders were brought to book.
According to her, one major effect of child labour is psychological instability as the childhood of the victims had been taken away from them.
She further advised parents to take advantage of Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration’s free education to enroll their children in school.
Narrating his ordeal, the 7 year old pure-water hawker, said his grandmother had asked him to hawk pure water so they would be able to feed.
He said, “I’m a primary 2 pupil and living with my grandmother in Onitsha while my mother is in Lagos with my elder brother.
“It was my grandmother who asked me to hawk pure water so we will be able to feed. She usually gives me N250.00 everyday to purchase water and I trek from 33 to Ochanja each day to make sales.”
On profits he makes per day and what the proceeds were used for, the victim said, “I make about N2000 everyday we use in buying rice and spaghetti for feeding.
The traders who brought the victim to the Commissioner, also donated the sum of N10,200 to assist him enroll him in school.
The commissioner appreciated the traders who were members of Ochanja Market Union , who deemed it fit to bring the boy to her, charging others to emulate such act for a better society.
