SUCDEN-Olakoko has condemned the idea of child labour.
Gatekeepers News reports that a cocoa sustainability company SUCDEN-Olakoko has condemned cocoa-related child labour in Nigeria.
The Project Manager of the company, Mopelola Fabunmi in a press release indicated that the “SUCDEN-Olakoko Project is not only focusing on improving cocoa productivity but is also interested in the total wellbeing of farmers and families.”
Fabunmi added that the company is committed to assisting farmers to eradicate or reduce to the barest minimum the issue of child labour in Nigeria.
The Bureau of International Labour Affairs in the USA said Nigeria made a minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst form of child labour in 2019.
Also, research work in the University of Osun, indicated that the educational challenges facing children in cocoa plantations revealed that their academic performances were not worthwhile when compared with what was obtained in an urban area.
Fabunmi stated that this was why SUCDEN-Olakoko embarked on a back-to-school project that will enlighten the farmers on child labour and encourage their children to focus more on education.
She said, “We try in our own little way to ensure the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which was adopted by Nigeria in 2015.
“We have been able to contribute our little quota in supporting the communities we are working with through improving health care awareness, women empowerment, and education (Back-to-School), by achieving universal basic education and ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunity for all.”
The Project Manager added that in commemoration of the annual farmers’ day organised for cocoa farmers, the organisation coordinated a 4-State based Quiz competition for the cocoa farmers’ children in Osun, Ondo, Ogun, and Edo State.
At the end of the quiz finale competition, Ajayi Opeyemi of Adventist High School Ayetoro Osogbo Osun State came first in the senior category, while Akinsola Oluwatosin of Community Grammar School Onirogbo, Ondo State emerged second just as Onuh Michael of Honey Land College Olode, Osun State came third.
In the junior category, Akingbade Blessed of Adventist High School Ayetoro Osogbo Osun State came first as George Samuel of Unity School Ode-Aye, Ondo State got the second position while Olaniyi Abdulsalam of African Grammar School Igbara-Oke, Ondo State came third.
A cocoa farmer and Procurement Manager of Olakoko Project, Bankole Ojo, expressed concern over the high cost of labour, deplorable condition of farm roads and enjoined the government to invest massively in rural roads to boost the production of cocoa and ensure food security.
Ojo also urged the Federal Government to subsidise farm inputs in view of the current economic challenges in the country and ensure there are mechanisms in place for over 65% of rural farmers to benefit from such scheme.
In other news, the organisation also awarded gift items to the best lead farmers, buyers, and female farmers across Osun, Ondo, Edo, and Ogun States.
