Abuja: The Centre for the Advancement and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable People (CAPRIGHTS-VP) has reaffirmed its commitment to preventing child domestic work through the economic empowerment of vulnerable families and communities. The organisation recently highlighted the economic hardships that can influence decisions about children’s futures, including sending them away to work as domestic workers.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, CAPRIGHTS-VP reported that no fewer than 70 women, men, and young girls participated in a free five-day skills acquisition programme in March at Ikotun-Igando LCDA. Participants were trained in practical skills such as bag making, makeup artistry, gele tying, pedicure, and manicure. The intervention aimed not only to provide practical skills but also to help beneficiaries explore sustainable income-generating opportunities.
The organisation stressed that preventing child domestic work requires more than awareness. Families need practical opportunities to strengthen
their livelihoods and provide for their children. Strengthening a family’s ability to earn can help reduce the economic pressures that place children at risk of child domestic work. Beneficiaries received online mentoring and follow-up support after the training to guide them in applying the skills acquired.
The process continued on June 25 with a one-day Skills Fair and Mentoring Programme at Ikotun-Igando LCDA, which brought together beneficiaries of the March training and 35 new young participants from the Education Department’s Skills Acquisition Programme. In total, more than 106 participants received practical mentoring on record keeping, bookkeeping, digital marketing, content creation, marketing, and customer engagement.
CAPRIGHTS-VP emphasized that while a skill creates an opportunity, business knowledge can help turn that opportunity into sustainable income. One beneficiary, Mrs. Judith Samuel, shared her experience of starting to make purses with a needle and thread despite not having a sewing ma
chine, demonstrating the initiative’s impact on resourcefulness.
The initiative has also been extended to other community members. On August 9, 50 members of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), St. Rita Catholic Church, Akesan, participated in a mentoring session focused on financial literacy, household financial management, economic decision-making, and strengthening women’s capacity to contribute to resilient families.
CAPRIGHTS-VP highlighted that children cannot be separated from the economic realities of the families and communities in which they live. Persistent financial pressure can increase children’s vulnerability to practices that affect their education, safety, and wellbeing. Strengthening families’ economic resilience can form part of a prevention strategy that creates conditions where children are more likely to remain at home, stay in school, and be protected.
The organisation’s pathway is skills acquisition, mentoring, business knowledge, financial resilience, and safer childhoods. CAPRI
GHTS-VP aims not simply to create skilled individuals but to strengthen families so that economic hardship is less likely to push children into situations where their rights, education, and wellbeing are compromised.
The programme was funded by the U.S. Department of State, with support from The Freedom Fund, and implemented by CAPRIGHTS-VP.