The Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) has commended the Ogun State Government for its initiatives supporting girls’ education and protection while warning that out-of-school girls remain vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation and abuse.
The organisation’s Ogun State Coordinator, Comrade Olufemi Olusola, raised the concern in a statement on Sunday, October 11, 2026, to mark the International Day of the Girl Child. He noted that girls were still seen hawking goods during school hours in areas including Kuto, Sango-Ota, Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu.
Olusola praised Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration for investments in education, support for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and the adoption of child-protection laws, including the Child Rights and Violence Against Persons laws.
However, he urged the government to move beyond existing policies by strengthening programmes that return girls who have dropped out of school to the classroom. He also called for shelters, psychosocial support for vulnerable families, and collaboration with traditional institutions and civil society organisations to identify, protect and rehabilitate girls living or working on the streets.
NACTAL appealed directly to parents and guardians to stop sending their daughters out to hawk during school hours or subjecting them to early marriage. The organisation stressed that girls should have equal opportunities to learn, develop their abilities and participate in shaping their communities.
The warning is significant because prolonged school exclusion can limit girls’ future employment prospects and increase their exposure to exploitation. Addressing the problem requires coordinated action by government agencies, families, schools and community leaders.
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on October 11 to highlight girls’ rights and the barriers they face. This year’s theme, “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontline of crisis,” emphasises girls’ leadership and participation. NACTAL said protecting girls and keeping them in school are essential to building safer, more equitable communities.
