By: Manoah Kikekon
IKEJA, LAGOS – The Heart and Hands Humanitarian Foundation (3HF) hosted a Child Rights and Safeguarding Workshop on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Ikeja, Lagos State. The event, supported by the Freedom Fund and the U.S. government, brought together government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community leaders to chart a path toward ending the abuse of vulnerable children.
The workshop served as a rallying point for stakeholders to synchronize efforts in protecting the rights of child domestic workers, ensuring that perpetrators of exploitation are held accountable under the law.
Mr. Samuel Esuola, the project team lead for 3HF, emphasized the organization's commitment to humanitarian service and the empowerment of vulnerable populations. “3HF is a humanitarian organization providing livelihood support and empowerment for vulnerable women and men, protection for children and other marginalized groups across different states in Nigeria,”
“This project is to reduce to the barest minimum the exploitation of child domestic workers in Lagos. We expect all the stakeholders to take the messages to their places of work and communities. Every child deserves a childhood, and their rights should be protected. They should not be exposed to any form of exploitation, as they are our future.”
The keynote address by Mrs. Odimba Gloria of the Office of the Public Defender, who spoke on the complexities of securing justice for child domestic workers. She defined a child domestic worker as any individual under 18 performing household tasks, often in isolated settings that hide abuse from public view.
“The question before us is therefore not merely whether the law protects child domestic workers; it is whether these children can actually access justice when those protections are violated,”
Mrs. Odimba noted. She highlighted systemic barriers such as a lack of legal awareness, fear of retaliation, and the normalization of child labor in various communities. To bridge this gap, she advocated for child-friendly reporting mechanisms, free legal aid, and stronger inter-agency coordination.
Mrs. Agboko Comfort, Lagos Zonal Commander Representing the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), delivered a stern warning to those who exploit children. “When we see any children in our neighborhood being exploited, we should say something.
All forms of insecurity today can be linked to not taking proper care of these children. Those who have domestic workers should treat them well because if they are caught, they will be investigated and prosecuted,” she stated.
Adding the perspective of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Popola Elizabeth of the Directorate of Citizens Rights pointed to the socio-economic roots of the problem. “The major factor causing child exploitation is poverty, as parents who cannot afford to take care of their kids sometimes give them out to others,” she explained.
“The law is totally against giving a child work that is above their age, and anyone found guilty of that will face the law.”
The workshop also featured participation from other key advocates, including Damilola Adenusi, Head of Programs at the Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre, and Eduvielawhe Olutimayin, COO of the Street Project Foundation, signaling a unified front in the fight for the safety and dignity of Nigerian children.