From classroom to construction site: The child labour journey from Benin Republic to Lagos

In the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, a young boy named Ibukun Ojo finds himself working on a construction site instead of attending school. At just ten years old, Ibukun has left his home in the Republic of Benin to pursue a career in tiling. Alongside him is his mentor, Kilamuwaye Alexandre, who brought Ibukun to Lagos for the opportunity to learn the trade.

On a typical day, Ibukun starts his work at an unfinished building in the low-income neighborhood of Ilasamaja. He is tasked with pushing a shovel filled with sand and cement, carrying cement, and mixing mortar. The site resembles a construction zone with bare walls and unfinished rooms. Ibukun works tirelessly, often beyond the normal school hours, and spends his nights sleeping on a piece of cardboard inside the building.

Ibukun's situation highlights the complex issue of child labor, poverty, and migration in Nigeria. Although the ECOWAS member states allow Beninese nationals to enter Nigeria for visits of up to 90 days, the rules surrounding longer stays and residence are more complex. For Ibukun, the journey from Benin to Lagos has shifted from a classroom to a construction site, with his work replacing school and protection becoming increasingly difficult to enforce.

The International Labour Organization defines child labor as work that is harmful to children's well-being and development, interferes with their education, or involves children who are too young to perform it. Ibukun's circumstances challenge this definition, as he is not merely observing an experienced tiler. Instead, he carries materials, mixes cement, and works on an active construction site, all while sleeping on a piece of cardboard inside the building.

This story sheds light on the broader pattern of economic migration between Lagos and neighboring countries, where people from communities close to Nigeria's borders travel to Lagos for work. For Ibukun's family, working in Lagos became the better option compared to staying at home and becoming a nuisance. However, the question remains: at what point does learning a trade become child labor?