The International Labour Organization (ILO) has expanded access to healthcare and social protection for more than 3,600 women, men, and children living in vulnerable cocoa-growing and artisanal mining communities across Ondo, Niger, and Osun States in Nigeria.
Implemented through the ACCEL Africa II Project and funded by the Government of the Netherlands, the initiative enrolled vulnerable families in state health insurance schemes while connecting them to broader social protection programmes. The effort aims to reduce financial hardship, improve access to healthcare, and address some of the key factors that contribute to child labour.
In addition to health insurance enrolment, hundreds of households were registered or updated in the State Social Register, enabling them to access government social assistance programmes. Community members also received support in obtaining or validating their National Identification Numbers (NINs), making it easier to benefit from essential public services.
The outreach campaign covered 16 cocoa-growing and artisanal mining communities across the three states. More than 3,600 residents participated in awareness sessions focused on healthcare access, social protection, and child labour prevention, helping families better understand their rights and available government services.
The programme was implemented in partnership with state health insurance agencies, the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), the State Operations Coordinating Units (SOCU), and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). By integrating health insurance, social protection registration, identity services, and community education into a single outreach campaign, the initiative streamlined access to essential services for vulnerable households.
The ILO said that improving access to healthcare and social protection helps families better manage financial shocks, invest in their children’s education and well-being, and reduce the likelihood of children entering labour. The initiative forms part of the wider ACCEL Africa II Project, which supports efforts to eliminate child labour in cocoa and artisanal gold mining supply chains by strengthening social protection systems and promoting decent work opportunities across Africa.
