CHILD STREET TRADING AS AN ASPECT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT OREDO MUNICIPALITY OF EDO STATE, NIGERIA AS CASE STUDY

Abstract

One of the fundamental global problems facing developing countries today is the fact that the incidences of children who work outside the family to earn a living or to support their families are increasing. In Nigeria, most especially in the urban areas, children between the age of eight years and fifteen are seen working. The situation of most Nigerian children remains critical due to their socio-economic, cultural, and developmental circumstances. Children are compelled by circumstances beyond their control to contribute to family income. In the long run, working children are disadvantaged in several ways due to their involvement in all sorts of hazardous works which affect their health and developmental process. The objective of this study was to find out whether children engage in street trading in Oredo Municipality (Benin City Central) of Edo State, Nigeria. The results of the study showed that a greater proportion of the child street traders combined work with schooling. There was abundant evidence of Child Street trading in Oredo Municipality of Edo State, Nigeria. Allowing children to work in the streets is a negation of the rights of children as guaranteed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)