International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Child-Hustling in Ibadan Metropolis: A Cultural Worldview
Gbemisola Hannah, ADEOBA
Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko Ondo State, Nigeria
Abstract: Over the years, the unfavorable situation of children hustling hard under demeaning situations has triggered very serious deliberations among scholars, policy-makers, and human rights’ activists globally. The high rate of occurrence of child-hustlers over the years is a crucial factor in explaining child-neglect in form of child-labour and child-abuse. Studies on children protection had focused on child-labour or street-children as a whole. However, little attention has been given to hustling among children. Hence, this study examines a cultural worldview of child-hustlers in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo state.
Cross-sessional research-design is adopted and a multi-stage sampling technique was used to elicit primary data from six major commercial centres in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State. A semi-structured Questionnaire Schedule (QS) was administered to 300 respondents. Data were collected on socio-demographic profile and cultural world-view of child-hustling. The data generated were analyzed with the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20.
On the cultural world-view of child-hustling, majority of the respondents viewed hustling as a means of livelihood. Child hustling has negatively affected the development of children and had compromised the achievement of societal development globally. There is need for effective reorientation, sensitization, and strict enforcement of policies that could help in the protection of child’s rights, most especially in the urban centres by both the Government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Key word: Child Hustlers, Cultural Worldview, child.
I.INTRODUCTION
As the most inquisitively susceptible groups in human history, children often acquit themselves, are defenseless and, no doubt, the hope of society (Kurfi and Aliyu, 2014) whose childhood experiences should not be run-down of necessary support and devoid of neglect, and cruelty. Child-hustling is a global phenomenon, even though it varies with developing countries at the centre of the problem, with significant rise in the prevalence of children working, living and surviving on the streets of most urban centres due to the fact that children in these areas are easily caught up in the daily struggle for survival (Ejigbo, 2003 and Akanle, Adeoba, and Adewusi, 2018). As an important element of development, whose welfare in society is a guide for social and economic development of that society Akanle (2012), children are confronted with difficulties leading to the establishment of groups with their own interests, norms and values.
Although child-work has been in existence throughout history, the challenging conditions under which children work