Grass selling as means of survival for Kebbi kids

According to UNICEF, an estimated 158 million children aged between five and 14 are engaged in child labour. More worrisome is the assertion that one in every six child in the world is a victim of child labour. The break-down shows that in sub-saharan Africa, 69 million while in South Asia, another 44 million are […]

According to UNICEF, an estimated 158 million children aged between five and 14 are engaged in child labour. More worrisome is the assertion that one in every six child in the world is a victim of child labour.

The break-down shows that in sub-saharan Africa, 69 million while in South Asia, another 44 million are engaged in child labour.

The findings may sound exaggerated and the onus of verifying such claim may not be saddled on the rest of erudite scholars. Intelligent search and inquisitive security reveals that millions of children are engaged in hazardous situations including working in mines or with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture and sometimes with dangerous machinery.  Children toil as domestic servants in homes, laboring behind the walls of workshops, hidden from view in plantations and many more.

An employer is usually not permitted to hire a child below a certain minimum age. This minimum age depends on the country and the type of work involved. States ratifying the Minimum Age Convention adopted by the International Labor Organization in 1973, have adopted minimum ages varying from 14 to 16.

Except for the agricultural industry where children as young as 12 years of age can work in the fields for an unlimited number of non-school hours as contained in the Children’s Act for Responsible Employment (CARE Act); but most countries’ Child labor laws set the minimum age to work in an establishment, without restrictions and without parents’ consent, at age 16.

Amazingly, even though according to the World Bank, the incidence of child labour in the world decreased from 25 to 10 percent between 1960 and 2003, children living in the poorest households and in rural areas are most likely to be engaged in child labour. Kebbi state may fall among the states of the North with less economic activities compounded by the absence of functional air or sea ports.

Located at the extreme end of the north west of Nigeria, Kebbi people have agriculture as a major occupation.  Children in the area equally engage in some agricultural activities based on their capacities.

Degere junction popularly called “Lamba” is a strategic location in Kebbi State. It is the junction that links the major towns of Argungu, Gwandu and the state capital – Birnin-Kebbi. With the coming of  the ruiny season, and as the place serves as an important meeting point for commuters plying the road to the state capital; children aged between 11 and 15 who reside in locations of  the nearby villages which include Dangarso, Dabire and Dagere, did not not underrate the double opportunities. They converged at the junction every evening to sell grasses which they get as weed from farms or taken out from bush.

Usman Aliyu aged 15 is a pupil of class 4 in Degere Model Primary School. He told Sunday Trust that was his mother who asked him to go and get the grass for sell. According to him the money generated from the sale of grass would be used to buy clothes and shoes for the forthcoming Sallah celebrations. He added that his going to cut grasses could not prevent him from attending school.

Another child who gave his name as Shafi’u Umaru aged 11, said he generates between N60 to N70 and when the market is good, he can even get up to a N100 in a day. He added that he always goes to Fadama and brings it to Lamba for sale.

He said he is doing the business to get money to buy clothes.  Shafi’u who is not enrolled into primary school expressed optimism that he will dedicate his time to study when sent school. He also admitted that he cannot attend school now because of being preoccupied with Fadama work.

In a more convincing terms Bilali Salihu, 13, said he comes to the place because he assists his parents with the little money in satisfying their daily needs. The money accumulated from such a tasking job would enable him contribute to his parents for them to buy Sallah celebrations clothes.

However, Bilali regrets not enrolling into primary school but said he is currently studying at the Islamiyya school in their locality.

The version of Farida aged 12 is not different from her ma counterpart, she, like most of the males, travels up to 7 or 10 kilometers a day in search of the grass. They told Sunday Trust that they use hands to gather it.

Malam Idris Ahmed Indire, a father and one of the buyers of the grass from the children, told Sunday Trust that he was at the market to purchase the grass  which he will in turn give to animals. He said there are a lot on their parts in the area of feeding themselves, family and animals. He admitted that the children contribute handsomely in reducing their stress of going into farms to get the grass because of being busy with farm work.

It is true that the children help in removing weeds from the farm land as they help economically in the area of animal rearing. This is a demonstration of the fact that children are ready to work and contribute, not only to help their parents but boost the societal activities in relation to the season and geography.

Alas, the questions that will quickly come to mind include, what are the ways in which these kids can be utilized in nation building? Are there better ways to engage the children? Has the society realized the damage that might be done by introducing children to hardships at the early age?  Is there any way government, individuals and corporate organization can intervene?