The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi state, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has promised to eradicate child hawking and the movement of children into domestic work if elected in 2027. He stated that his administration would focus on addressing poverty, unemployment, and limited access to skills and education, which force many families to send their children away as domestic helpers or into street trading.
Odii, in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, emphasized that government must create opportunities for families to survive without depending on child labour. He proposed establishing skills-acquisition centres across the state, where young people would receive practical training in areas such as carpentry, POP installation, tailoring, animal husbandry, and fishery. These centres would be set up in each of the 13 local government areas.
Each skills-acquisition centre would accommodate about 3,000 people, with a total of 39,000 Ebonyians benefiting from the programme. Odii described this initiative as part of his plan to equip youths with skills that could translate into employment and self-employment. This approach aims to keep children in school rather than being pushed into hawking or domestic work due to their families’ economic circumstances.
Odii’s administration would prioritize education through scholarships and improved learning environments. He believes that by investing in education, children can have better opportunities and avoid being forced into child labour. The proposed intervention would be complemented by investments in agriculture, healthcare, rural infrastructure, and job creation to increase household incomes and reduce poverty.
The PDP candidate identified mechanized farming, improved rural roads, and private-sector investment as areas to convert Ebonyi’s agricultural and mineral resources into employment opportunities. He stressed that tackling child labour requires addressing the economic conditions that push families into sending children away for domestic work or street trading.
Odii’s human-capital development programme would form part of a broader strategy to reduce poverty, create jobs, and diversify Ebonyi’s economy if he is elected governor in 2027. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach that goes beyond simply prohibiting child labour, focusing on sustainable economic solutions.
By implementing these initiatives, Odii aims to make a significant impact on the lives of Ebonyi’s youths and their families, providing them with the tools and opportunities needed to break the cycle of poverty and child labour. His proposals have been presented as part of his commitment to improving the welfare and future prospects of the state’s residents.
Key points
- Ebonyi PDP governorship candidate Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii proposes establishing skills-acquisition centres across the state.
- Odii aims to address poverty, unemployment, and limited access to skills and education to eradicate child hawking and domestic work.
- The proposed initiatives would be part of a broader strategy to reduce poverty, create jobs, and diversify Ebonyi’s economy.
