By: Modupe George
The University of Ibadan (UI) has trained education stakeholders in the second phase of certificated International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) SCREAM – ‘Supporting Children’s Rights through Education’ Module on child labour.
The five-day training workshop from March 23 to 28, involved technical officers from ministries of education, Nigeria Union of Teachers, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, among others.
It was oganised by the university in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and supported by the ACCEL Africa project and funded by the government of the Netherlands.
The first phase of the Certificated SCREAM Module training was previously conducted at a six-day workshop with the theme ‘A Certificated SCREAM,’ to train teachers and other stakeholders in the cocoa and artisanal mining sectors on child labour.
In her remarks at the opening of the training, the country director, ILO, Ms Vanessa Phala, represented by the national coordinator, ILO, Dr Agatha Kolawole, said child labour remained a significant challenge in Nigeria as children are engaged on various forms of child labour, including hazardous work.
She said that child labour does not only deprive children of their childhood, education as well as their health and future prospects, but ‘‘also undermines the country’s social and economic development.”
According to her, the ACCEL Africa Nigeria project, since its launch in 2019, sought to address the root causes of child labour and promote decent work for young people in Nigeria through targeted activities outlined in the project work plan.
She disclosed that the ACCEL project had also provided education and training opportunities for over 1,800 children and young people and has raised awareness on the impact of child labour on education and the importance of promoting decent work for young people in Nigeria.
Speaking about the training workshop, Phala said: “This second phase is for technical officers who are influencers to ensure the adaptation and wide usage of the module in our educational systems, in rehabilitation homes, by street children, among others.”
She appreciated the authorities of the University of Ibadan and its ACCEL team led by the deputy vice chancellor (Academics), Professor Ronke Baiyeroju, for their hard work and dedication to the project.
The UI ACCEL Project coordinator, Professor Akin Odebunmi, who was one of the resource persons at the training, harped on the resourcefulness of the module, as all necessary ingredients of effective pedagogy had been injected into the training sessions in spite of the challenges of time.
He encouraged participants to invest themselves in the activities of the training not only for fulfilling the purpose of their nomination for the programme, but also to pick up skills that will help to transform the society.
In her address at the closing ceremony of the training workshop on Tuesday, the UI ACCEL team lead and DVC, UI, Professor Ronke Baiyeroju, said the main aim of the workshop was to promote the implementation and adaptation of the SCREAM modules in schools and requisite workplaces.
In their comments at the end of the training, three of the participants, assistant secretary general, NUT, Ondo State Wing, Mr Daisi Igbelowowa; the executive secretary NACRRAN, Mr Archibong Anderson, and Mrs Oluwatoyin Williams, from the Lagos Ministry of Education, and who spoke on behalf of others thanked the organisers of the training and for choosing them as beneficiaries of the second phase of the SCREAM Module training.
They promised to be change agents in their various organisations, circles of influence and worthy ambassadors of ILO SCREAM/ACCEL Africa Nigeria projects.
