Thesis Abstract

This study is on the menace of child trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. The total population for the study is 200 residents of Nnewi local government of Anambra state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up civil servants, youths, married men and married women was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

Trafficking is not a new phenomenon in Nigeria. It comes with a new trend that’s hard to quantify, children are traffic within and outside Nigeria for many purposes (UNICEF, 2007; Adepoju, 2005; Hassan, 2012; UNICEF, 2006; Adesina, 2014). Furthermore, internally most of the victims are children (Hassan, 2012) whose numbers are not known (Konstantopoulos et al., 2013); it comes with a new trend called baby factory which promotes trafficking in Nigeria (Makinde, 2015). It is a public health challenge affecting the world (Dovydaitis, 2010) with only a few programs to address it (Fong and Cordoso, 2010). Similarly, Bale and Soodater (2009) are of the opinion that the total number of trafficked victims is two times that of olden days’ slavery, hence the need to review its impact on the population. Trafficking children is an exploitative act that jeopardizes child survival.

However, child trafficking is a multidimensional social problem caused by socio-economic challenges as well as demand for the exploitative use of children. There is a reason behind the emphasis on poverty as one of the fundamental causes of child trafficking, simply because most victims are trafficked from poor countries to rich countries. It is important to mention that for child trafficking to continue, there should exist some sociolegal environment which encourages the menace. It is for this reason that all aspects contributing to the vulnerability of children to trafficking recruitment must be looked at. To this end, the factors that facilitate child trafficking are extremely complex and inter-connected but can be divided into two, namely: the push and the pull factors. The paper will therefore make an attempt to examine these factors right from the bud and come up with more practical suggestions that will go a long way in fighting the scourge of child trafficking in Nigeria. Furthermore, the list provided above cannot be said to be exhaustive, other causes include traditions such as the placement of children away from their homes, violence and lack of education are of equal impact. The impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic produces its own legacy of widows or orphan-headed households. While, the demand for cheap manual labour and the high demand for paid sex in destination countries, the lack of information on the risks involved (ignorance), together with parents offering or selling their children for financial advantage, nourish the pull factors or purposes of trafficking in children.

Equally important, the United Nation Convention on the right of a child (1989) defined a child as a young human being who is below 18 years old. Child right is a human right index in any society today. Correspondingly, article 24 of the international covenant on civil and political rights (1996, p.13) “states that every child shall have the rights to such measures of protection as are required by his status as a minor on the part of his family, society, and the state”. This declaration is not worldwide. Children are traffic within and outside Nigeria for the purpose of exploitation (UNICEF, 2006). This paper aims to examine the situation in the country to (or “intending to”) outline specific responses that could be put in place to curtail the menace.

This study as a worldwide problem, frightens the growth rate of our economy, reducing lives of people in the world it has also brought poor reputation to the state. because of unemployment child trafficking has increased, they have gone in search for money which has led to be underdeveloped. The research is designed to view the immediate causes and effect of child trafficking in Nigeria. Because people had fail to recognize the effect if would bring.       The researcher hope that this project work would assist the society both at home and in school to reduce child trafficking and more also the problem which the researcher intends to look into are as follows:

1. What are the effects of child trafficking among the youth?
2. What are the causes of child trafficking on the teenagers., adult etc?
3. How does child trafficking affect the nation?
4. What are the effect of child trafficking on the standard of living of the youth?
5. What are the possible difficulties that the society encounters in child trafficking?

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1. To enumerate the various types of child trafficking in Nigeria
2. To examine the effects of child trafficking in Nigeria
3. To examine the causes of child trafficking
4. To proffer solution to the effects and causes of child trafficking

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H0: there are no various types of child trafficking in Nigeria

H1: there are various types of child trafficking in Nigeria especially

H02: there are no causes of child trafficking in Nnewi

H2: there are causes of child trafficking in Nnewi

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study of the menace of child trafficking and abuse in Nigeria is considered important due to the fact that this is capable of having a great impact on individual and the entire members of Anambra state. The study will be very significant to students and the general public. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on this topic

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers the menace of child trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study

Some words are defined or described to show their meaning as used in this study;

Human: Having to do with mankind as opposed to God or animals of persons having the qualities feelings.

Trafficking: Movement of people along road and streets, of an aircraft in the sky, a transport business done by a railway, steamship line etc trading and commerce.

Slavery: The act of being a slave or condition of being sold into country.

Illegal: Against the law

Trolleys: Persons involved in trafficking

 1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study