Child Servitude

It is a common sight today in Nigeria and mostly other part of Africa to see children of ages 5 - 17 going through one form of abuse or the other. I grew up to believe that parents are suppose to cater to the needs of their children. In Nigeria today, female child labour is the order of the day and if you try to intervene in any way, you will be lucky to go unharmed, if the madam of the house (in most situations where the child is not related to her) or the mother, doesn't break your head with a stone or chopping stick. What is happening is a clear abuse of a child's right, yet no one seems to care. I have pondered upon this situation time and again, and yet can't understand why it's happening. Many claim it's caused by poverty, but what about situations where the adults are wealthy folks and can afford to send these girls to school. Is it that these supposed mothers (because in Africa all older women of child bearing age are viewed as one) are loosing their motherly reputation of love, protection and fairness in which mothers are known for? Or is it that the see nothing wrong with such practise? These kids work round the clock and most of them that are not related to their mistresses are hardly allowed to go to school. So they miss out on what other kids are enjoying, a basic necessity like education. I saw a 7year old boy carrying a 30litres gallon filled with water on his head, and this is a common sight. I couldn't help but weap inside. Have seen a 5year old girl mopping the floor, a 12 year old washing all the dirty clothes in the house. What breaks my heart the most is the fact that with all these work and inhuman treatment these children are subjected to, they never get a simple commendation. Rather, the commendation they receive are slaps, starvation, denial of basic education, being called names like witches (since they're mostly females) sexual abuse by the husband of their mistress and other ill treatment. They're abandoned by their poor relatives, based on promises these mistresses make when trying to get the child. Most of them even die as a result, as they're turned into asses that work the mill day-in-day-out. Others hawk vegetables, fruits, sealed water in sachets and snacks on the streets. They're not expected to return home till they sell the whole stuck. They're abused, knocked down and killed by careless drivers; since some hardly know how to cross the street. Most of 'em join bad gangs (for the males) and for the girls the start prostitution in an attempt to cater to their needs. The disturbing thing is that this is trending right now and not even the government is capable of stopping it. Though Nigeria's Child Right Act is part of child labour Act, this is just like any other law, not enforced. These kids end up becoming a nuisance to the society and the funny thing is that it is the same society that created them that are complaining. They become the bread winners for their parents and since they are not equipped to handle the challenges that come with it, they fall prey to many vices. A situation where most of the girls get pregnant, they are immediately returned to their owners. This is not a hidden thing, as merely walking the streets on Nigeria will prove it true. This is just the tip of a sad tale of what children (maily females) are going through in Nigeria. We need the intervention of the international community to stop this madness, and help enlighten adults on the ills of such practices.