Child Street - Trading Activities and Its Effect on the Educational Attainment of Its Victims in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State

Abstract

This study examined child street trading activities and its effect on the educational attainment of its victims inEpe local government area of Lagos State. One hundred and twenty (120) respondents were selected from 6communities using purposive sampling techniques, administered by means of interview guide. Childreninterviewed were between 10 and 18 years of age. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used indata analysis. The study revealed that most (60.8%) of the children who engaged in trading are females while39.2% were males. Also, 36.7% of the respondents are Christians while 40.3% are Muslims. Most (31.7%) of therespondents have a household size of 9 -12 persons while 34.2% have father’s occupation as fishing. Also,45.8% have mother’s occupation as trading. Only 20.0% undertake load carrying operation while 29.2% citedreason for involvement in street trading as poverty. Most (40.8%) are into sales of pure water. Majority of themearn a daily income of N500 – N1000 while 36.7% work morning and afternoon. Nevertheless, 70.9% of therespondents are of the opinion that child trading activities have a negative effect on the reading schedule ofchildren while 79.2% believes trading activities affect their school attendance rate. There is a significantrelationship between daily income and pure water selling (?2= 22.22, p < 0.05), orange hawking and head carrier(?2 = 21.72) p < 0.01). The study suggests the need for government to design appropriate programme aimed atpoverty reduction and recommends mass enlightenment for the populace to reduce the menace.