Abstract:
the high rate of child labour in nsukka urban and in many urban centers in nigeria at large has remained a very big problem. there are various forms of child labour, covering a wide range of work activities, such as, street hawkers, bus conductors, beggars, domestic servants among others. child labour has serious adverse effect both on the child’s health, education, psychology and on the development of the nation at large. the study was approached in an objective and systematic manner. the primary and secondary source of data collection, including direct and indirect interviews with personal reflections was used in an analytic manner. the findings, made clear the fact that, so many nigerian children are working under unhealthy conditions due to some necessity, which push them to labour. the prime reason for child labour in nsukka urban and nigeria at large was found to be poverty among other causes like; death, illiteracy and ignorance, polygamy, etc. besides the need for poverty reduction in nigeria, the study further recommends that more money and time should be spent on the improvement of education in nigeria. the conclusion is that poverty and child labour are interwoven, therefore child labour cannot be eradicated without great reduction in the poverty level of the nation.
