29.6.2026
Renewed awareness of children’s rights, dignity, and protection have been identified as critical measures to curb child abuse in Nigeria and across Africa. According to experts there’s a need for parents and guardians to draw a clear line between normal household chores and child domestic work.
That formed the focus of discussion by civil society groups and other stakeholders at an event in Lagos to commemorate this year’s Day of the African Child.
The programme according to the organisers was to provide protection for the child who cleans, cooks, fetch water, care for others and keep the home running.
Organised by Civil Society Group, Cece Yara Child Advocacy Center:, the gathering focused on the theme
“Beyond Household Labour: Protecting the Dignity, Safety and Rights of Every Child. *In commemoration of the Day of the African Child 2026*
Setting the motion, Convener of the event, Mrs Bisi Ajayi-Kayode said the group was determined in restoring the innocence and childhood of the Nigerian child.
“This programme is to give clarity, capacity building for participants so they can step to mitigate the plight of child domestic workers, to preserve the lives and destinies of the children who are in the bondage of child domestic work.” She added
Child rights’ advocate and Head of Programs – Cece Yara Child Advocacy Center, Damilola Adenusi, said it was important to create a safe, child-centred space for survivors of exploitation and encourage more participation in the advocacy.
He said “We are here today to say say ARISE and to create awareness and to recognise those signs, because we cannot just stay indoors and ignore the child outside our own flat suffering, and not be attended to.”
The Executive Director, Bimbo Odukoya Foundation, Aderonke Oyelakin, while linking the increase in child exploitation to poverty, called on couples to produce only the number of children they can cater for, so as to avoid the idea of giving the minors to relatives or friends as domestic workers.
Another child rights activist.and program manager of CAPRIGHTs-VP, Bar Ngozi Arinze,, led a panel discussion which Included Psychologist, Olorunfemi Precious , Child Protection Expert Azeez Ajifowoke, identified and demystified the kind of domestic work a child should be involved.
The Psychologist, Precious Olorunfemi,who said abuse produce children that become aggressive, highlighted that emotional signs of abuse could be noticed from physical expressions like fear or timidity.
“There are some that looks well taken care of just to create a picture that everything is actually fine. Some guardian pour negative words on the children, hearing such words at that formative period of their lives takes away their self esteem.” She stated
Azeez Ajifowoke noted that when children is noticed to be in an unsafe place, the first duty is to remove the minor from the location to save them
traumatic experience.
A survivor and advocate for children rights, Roseline Oguwezi who noted that child domestic work had harmful effects on children, also wants governments and non government stakeholders to amplify the rights, dignity, protection and wellbeing of African children.
The event in c commemoration of the Day of the African Child is *Sponsored by Freedom Fund and funded by gift of the US Government*
The 2026 Day of the African Child focuses on ensuring universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene for every child in Africa.
Photo: from L-R Damilola Adenusi: Head of Program – Cece Yara Child Advocacy Center; Bisi Ajayi-Kayode: CEO – Cece Yara Child Advocacy Center; Omole Florence Titilayo – Ministry of Youth and Social Development; Salako T. O – Ministry of Education, Quality Assurance Dept; Oteniara Abolore – Bureau of Public Defender