The Imo State Government has warned parents to desist from sending their children on begging and/or hawking food items and other wares during school hours when their mates are in the classrooms learning.
In a release signed by the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Vulnerable Group, Hon. Lady Nkechinyere Ugwu and made available to Newsmen, she stated that “This act is inexcusable and tantamount to child abuse, child labour and negligence. Our attempts to privately curb this menace did not yield the desired result.
To this end, parents and guardians of such children are hereby warned to stop exposing the innocent children, especially the girl-child, to rape, kidnapping, bullying, pickpocketing and other social vices encountered in the course of hawking and trading”.
She noted that “hawking by children is illegal and destructive to the child’s future, deprives children of their childhood, and interferes with their ability to attend regular school. It is also contrary to the 3R Policy of the Shared-Prosperity government led by the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma which is committed to protecting the Rights of the Child”.
“Consequently, the State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Vulnerable Group, Owerri, has issued one week notice to all Parents/Guardians who send their wards to hawk, trade, or beg on the streets, to stop immediately and return them to school.
