Economy
50.5% of Nigerian Children Engage in Economic Activities—NBS
By Adedapo Adesanya
Data has shown that 50.5 per cent of Nigerian children, aged between 5 and 17, are engaged in some form of economic activities.
This was disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its report titled Nigeria Child Labour and Forced Labour Survey 2022 released on Thursday.
Child Labour, according to the bureau, refers to work for which children are either too young or that may be physically or psychologically injurious to their health and well-being.
“50.5 per cent ( 31,756.302) of all children aged 5 – 17 years old in Nigeria are engaged in economic activity,” the NBS said.
The report said 39.2 per cent of children (24, 673, 485) are in child labour and 22.9 per cent of children (14,390,353) are involved in hazardous work.
According to the report, the North-west geopolitical zone had the highest number of children in child labour (6,407,102) and in hazardous work (3,266,728).
However, in terms of the percentage of children in child labour and hazardous work, the NBS said the South-east region has the highest prevalence of children involved in child labour at 49.9 per cent.
“In the 5-17 age group, nearly 94 per cent of children in child labour are involved in own-use production of goods (including collection of firewood and fetching water), 24 per cent are in employment and 11 per cent perform unpaid trainee work,” the report said.
It said children aged 5-14 years old in child labour are less likely to be in employment and more likely to be engaged in own-use production of goods than children aged 15-17 years old in child labour.
It explained that almost 96 per cent of children in child labour who live in rural areas are engaged in own-use production of goods and nearly 26 per cent are in employment compared to 89 per cent and 20 per cent respectively of children in child labour who live in urban areas.
It added that in the 5 -17 age group, children in child labour spend an average of 14.6 hours per week working, while older children in child labour spend more time per week at work than younger children.
The NBS data said children aged 15 – 17 years old in child labour spend an average of 24.6 hours per week working compared to 19.4 hours for children aged 12 – 14 years old and 9.8 hours for children aged 5 – 11 years old.
“Children in child labour who live in rural areas spend 2.3 more hours working on average than children in child labour who live in urban areas. Boys in child labour spend more time working per week on average than girls in child labour,” it said.
However, the NBS noted that these estimates do not include time spent performing household chores.
The bureau said employment is the most time-intensive form of work on average for children in child labour with children spending on average 16 hours per week.
“Time-intensity in employment and unpaid trainee work is substantially higher in urban areas than the national average. Children in child labour are less likely to attend school than those not in child labour,” it said.
The report added that in the 5-17 age group, 53.3 per cent of children in child labour have been exposed to at least one workplace hazard.
“Children in child labour who live in rural areas are more likely to be exposed to workplace hazards than those who live in urban areas.
“16.3 per cent of children in child labour have experienced a work-related injury. Boys in child labour are more likely to have experienced a work-related injury than girls in child labour,” it said.
The bureau further explained that girls are more likely to be engaged in household chores than boys.
“62.2 per cent of girls performing household chores compared to 50.8 per cent of boys. Children are often engaged in household chores in addition to work in economic activities. 73.1 per cent of children are both in child labour and household chores,” it said.
The report added that in the 5-14 age group, 77.6 per cent of children attend school while 46.5 per cent are working and 11.2 per cent are exclusively working.
“Children in the urban areas are substantially less likely to be working only and more likely to attend school only than their rural counterparts. There are few differences between boys and girls.
“In the 5-17 age group, more than two-thirds of children are working and 21.9 per cent are exclusively working. Children living in rural areas are 12 percentage points more likely to be working and 17 percentage points less likely to attend school than children living in urban areas,” the report said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government expects the Nigerian economy to grow by 4.68 per cent in 2026, supported by easing inflation, improved foreign exchange stability and continued fiscal reforms, the federal government said on Thursday.
The projection was outlined by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, during the launch of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) 2026 Macroeconomic Outlook Report in Lagos.
Mr Edun said Nigeria had moved beyond the crisis-management phase of recent years and was now entering a period of economic consolidation, where stability must translate into growth, jobs and improved living standards.
According to the minister, two years of difficult reforms have helped stabilise key macroeconomic indicators, creating a platform for sustained expansion.
Inflation, which peaked above 33 per cent in 2024, declined to 15.15 per cent by December 2025. Foreign exchange volatility has eased, with the Naira trading below N1,500 to the Dollar, while external reserves rose to $45.5 billion.
GDP growth averaged 3.78 per cent by the third quarter of 2025, with 27 sectors recording expansion, Mr Edun said.
He warned, however, that Nigeria could not afford to reverse course.
Mr Edun said Nigeria cannot afford to pause or retreat from its reform agenda adding that the success of the consolidation phase would determine whether recent gains deliver productive jobs and shared prosperity.
The finance minister also addressed public concerns about Nigeria’s rising debt stock, which stood at about N152 trillion, insisting that the increase was largely the result of transparency and exchange rate adjustments rather than fresh borrowing.
He explained that about N30 trillion of the figure reflected previously unrecognised Ways and Means advances, now formally recorded, while nearly N49 trillion resulted from the revaluation of foreign debt following exchange rate reforms.
Despite the higher nominal figure, Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio declined to 36.1 per cent, which the minister said remained among the lowest in Africa and well below the global average.
Reviewing fiscal outcomes in 2025, Mr Edun said the government maintained discipline despite revenue pressures, particularly from the oil and gas sector.
The fiscal deficit was kept at about 3.4 per cent of GDP, while non-oil revenue performance improved and allocations to states increased, strengthening fiscal federalism.
He also said the government achieved 84 per cent capital budget execution for 2024 projects during the transition period.
The minister noted that the 2026 Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity, currently under deliberation by the National Assembly, would prioritise growth-enhancing investments.
The budget proposes N58.18 trillion in total spending, including N26 trillion for capital expenditure, representing about 44 per cent of the total budget, one of the largest capital spending plans in Nigeria’s history.
Inflation is projected to average 16.5 per cent in 2026, while the exchange rate is expected to stabilise around N1,400/$1.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Four price decliners weakened the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.22 per cent on Thursday, January 15, with MRS Oil the gang leader after it lost N5.00 to close at N195.00 per share compared with the previous day’s N200.00 per share.
Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc declined during the session by 47 Kobo to settle at N40.50 per unit versus Wednesday’s closing price of N40.97 per unit, Geo-Fluids Plc depreciated by 21 Kobo to end at N6.59 per share versus N6.80 per share, and Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) Plc dipped by 2 Kobo to sell at N3.10 per unit, in contrast to the N3.12 it was traded at midweek.
The losses printed by the above quartet reduced the market capitalisation of the trading platform by N4.88 billion to N2.195 trillion from N2.2 trillion, while the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) sank by 8.03 points to 3,670.10 points from 3,678.13 points.
During the trading day, the volume of transactions was up by 7.1 per cent to 690,886 units from 645,002 units, but the value of trades went down by 29.2 per cent to N17.3 million from the N24.4 million recorded in the previous trading session, and the number of deals executed at the session dipped by 10.5 per cent to 17 deals from 19 deals.
At the close of trades, CSCS Plc remained the busiest stock by value on a year-to-date basis with a turnover of 2.9 million units worth N117.9 million, trailed by MRS Oil Plc with 270,773 units valued at N54.1 million, and Geo-Fluids Plc with 6.5 million units traded for N43.9 million.
But the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis was Geo-Fluids Plc with 6.5 million units sold for N43.9 million, followed by Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc with 3.1 million units traded for N1.9 million, and CSCS Plc with the same of 2.9 million units valued at N117.9 million.
Africa’s investment market is entering a phase of visible transition, driven not by a single shock but by the gradual accumulation of structural changes. For years, the continent was often discussed through simplified narratives — either as an untapped frontier or as a high-risk environment requiring exceptional tolerance. That framing is beginning to lose relevance as investors reassess how and where capital actually performs under evolving global conditions.
What is changing first is not the volume of interest, but its direction. Capital is becoming more selective, less patient with inefficiency, and more focused on how investments interact with trade, logistics, and regional demand rather than isolated national stories. This shift is subtle, but it alters the underlying logic of how Africa is evaluated as an investment destination.
In this context, the growing attention around platforms and ecosystems such as westafricatradehub reflects a broader reorientation toward connectivity and execution. Investment discussions increasingly revolve around trade flows, supply chains, and integration mechanisms instead of abstract growth potential. The emphasis is moving from “where growth exists” to “where growth can realistically be accessed.”
Several forces are converging to accelerate this change. Global capital is operating under tighter constraints, with higher financing costs and stronger pressure to demonstrate resilience. At the same time, African markets are becoming more internally differentiated. Some regions benefit from improved infrastructure, digital adoption, and regulatory clarity, while others struggle to convert opportunity into consistent returns. This divergence makes generalized strategies less effective.
As a result, investors are adjusting their approach in practical ways, including:
- Prioritizing regions with established trade corridors rather than standalone markets
- Favoring business models tied to everyday demand instead of long-term speculation
- Structuring investments in stages rather than committing large amounts upfront
- Placing greater value on operational partners with local execution capacity
These adjustments do not signal reduced confidence, but a more disciplined allocation mindset.
Another factor reshaping the market is the changing perception of risk. Traditional concerns such as political stability and currency volatility remain relevant, but they are now weighed alongside newer considerations. Execution risk, infrastructure reliability, and regulatory consistency often matter more than macroeconomic projections. In some cases, smaller but better-connected markets outperform larger economies where friction remains high.
This evolution also affects which sectors attract attention. Instead of broad category enthusiasm, interest clusters around areas where investment aligns with trade and consumption realities. Logistics, processing, digital services, and trade-enabling infrastructure increasingly define where capital feels comfortable operating. Growth still exists elsewhere, but it is approached more cautiously.
Importantly, this transformation is not uniform or immediate. Africa’s investment market will not change overnight, nor will it move in a single direction. What makes the current moment distinct is the fading dominance of legacy assumptions. Investors are no longer satisfied with potential alone; they want visibility, access, and durability, mentioned the editorial team of https://westafricatradehub.com/.
In the near future, Africa’s investment landscape may look very different not because opportunities disappear, but because the criteria for recognizing them have changed. The market is becoming less about promise and more about precision — and that shift is quietly redefining where growth is expected to emerge next.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn