2025 WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOUR: C'RIVER MOWA, SCI PAY COURTESY VISIT TO IKOM MONARCHS.

By: Rekpene Uket.

Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with Save the Children International Organization and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity have embarked on an aggressive campaign  against Child Labour in Ikom Local Government Area in commemoration of 2025 World Day Against Child Labour.

Addressing parents, cocoa merchants as well as members of the public during the public enlightenment rally, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom admonished parents, care-givers and members of the public to encourage children to go back to school and focus on their academic pursuit in order to gain requisite knowledge and skills to excel in any chosen career in future  to enable them contribute meaningfully towards the development of the society.

The Mega Rally which started at Ikom Local Government Council Secretariat through Ikom Four corners, Obudu road as well as other major streets culminated into an Advocacy Visit to the Paramount Ruler of Ikom, Minen Takon  Atamgba at his  Palace in Akparabong as well as the residence of the Clan Head of Adijinkpor community.

 Speaking to the Paramount Ruler of Ikom, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom conveyed warm greetings from His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Apostle Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu to the good people of Ikom.

Hon. Irom commended the Paramount Ruler of Ikom for his efforts towards Gender -Based Violence (GBV) response as well as child protection in his domain.

 The Commissioner however, frowned at the rising trend of child labour in which children have abandoned the classrooms to engage in cheap labour at cocoa plantations adding that, children hawking during school hours, working in cocoa farms during school period as well as child trafficking and other forms of GBV are against the Cross River State Child Rights Law.

 Hon. Irom also noted that the Governor, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu is trying his best to ensure that Cross River State children receive quality education by providing conducive learning environment, implementing the promotion of Teachers, payment of WAEC registration fees for Cross River State students across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, adding that, the least we can do to appreciate this gesture as parents is to encourage our children to go to school and learn. She also noted that, exposing our children to money too early in life will distract them from focusing on on their academic pursuit.

 On this note, the Commissioner appealed to the Paramount Ruler to set up a Local Task Force to enforce the Cross River State Child Rights Law and also an Agency to ensure that cocoa dealers give back to the society by carrying out developmental projects under corporate social responsibility services.

 Responding, the Paramount Ruler of Ikom, Minen Takon Atamgba commended the proactive steps of the Hon. Commissioner towards child labour in cocoa producing communities of the state and promised to set up a Local Task Force to ensure that children go back to school. Minen Atamgba also promised to do something to ensure that cocoa dealers invest in community development.

 At Adijinkpor community, the Commissioner commended the clan Head, Minen Christopher Agbor Ojong and his council of chies for making out time to receive the Team adding that, as custodians of the laws of the land, they should ensure that children go back to school so they will grow up to be responsible citizens in future.

 Responding, the Clan Head of Adijinkpor community stated that they will continue to do their best to ensure that children are in school adding that, even those who are not academically inclined will be encouraged to acquire skills. He however complained that most of the children are very disrespectful.

 There was also an interactive session where parents asked questions in areas of concern and solutions were profered to them.

 The Area Coordinator, Save the Children Int'l, Ikom, Mr. Franklin Ozor appreciated the Traditional Rulers for the audience accorded them as well as the collaboration they have enjoyed so far, promising that as an NGO, Save the Children Int'l will continue to sensitize the children on the need to acquire good education.