CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
From the time immemorial, hawking seems to be part of Nigerian culture and understandably so. Nigeria being amongst the poorest economies on the planet with the accompanying impacts of unemployment, poor infrastructural facilities, and absence of human empowerment has seen the majority of her populace living in abject poverty. Consequently, due to the low socio-economic condition of many households in Nigeria and the high rate of poverty, most parents resort to pushing their children into the streets where they almost all their day, under the harsh environmental components, hawking sachet water (pure water), fruits, stationeries, confectioneries, drinks and the likes; so that the proceeds might contribute to family maintenance. This circumstance is worrisome because street hawking is considered to be a type of adolescent abuse which is on the increase in Calabar metropolis. Street hawking is considered a type of child abuse due to the fact that it endangers the health (physical, spiritual, mental, and social) and security of the child; affects with his/her education, and also denies him/her the right to standard and happy childhood. According to Ebigbo (2003), the conventional farming and trading Nigerian society, affected by economic and political misery, social dispute, unemployment, illiteracy, and urban drift, is bring about exploited, uneducated, abused, malnourished children.
Nonetheless, as Cruzador (1998) disclosed that, there is nothing wrong with work what is wrong is the means the children are exploited, beaten and sexually abused; this basic assumption holds in so far as the Nigeria economic situation is concerned. Taken in a different way, adolescent work is a great form of industry training offered to children and should not be totally eradicated. What is desired to alleviate the danger of adolescent labour and abuse is a more nuanced opinion of children's contribution to family income and livelihood. It is therefore hoped that by thus exposing the unfavorable impacts of street hawking on children, those concerned will have the capacity to draw the line between what amounts to child work training and child labour and abuse.
As mentioned by Edu (1999), hawking is the selling of things (normally goods) along the roads or from one location to another. Among the basic worldwide problems dealing with developing nations like Nigeria today is that the incidences of adolescent that work outside the family to make a living or to support their families are increasing. Children are understood to engage in one form of work or the other particularly within the family. In Nigeria, many particularly in the metropolitan areas, children between the age of fourteen years and twelve are seen working. The scenario in Nigeria according to United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), child labour report (2000) reported that 15million children under the age of 14 are working throughout Nigeria, the report revealed that 64% of Nigerians between the age of five and fourteen are involved in street hawking.
According to Nseabasi and Oluwabamide (2010) street hawking is a denial of the international convention on the right of the child. It is certainly inhuman for anybody to involve a child in money-making ventures; since such a child is denied standard education which is a right for each child. As revealed by Olujide (2007), the Child Welfare League disclosed that only in Lagos State alone there are approximately 100,000 children living and working on the streets. In northern Nigeria, children, called the almajiri are sometimes used in private farms and in commercial farms. A few of the children are also trafficked and used as farm labourers. Robinson (2004) revealed that National Child Labour Survey projected that there are 15 million children taken part in child labour in Nigeria. These children are likewise susceptible to being forced to farm work and, in several circumstances, they are being denied of access to education. Should this awful pattern continue unabated? Should the future leaders of tomorrow that ought to be trained to constitute the bulk of the human capital that will change the national economy of the nation be left to suffer under the guise of hawking? These mind-blowing questions are what prompted the research to consider street hawking and adolescent abuse in Calabar municipality as a topic worth researching.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The prevalence of child labour exists in different types however some are clearly noticeable compared to the other. Children are seen getting involve in different form of production work varying from farming, manufacturing, industries and domestic work. In Nigeria, street hawking appears to be more prominent form of child labour. Children hawk a vast array of cheap articles, edible and products such as sachet water, vegetable, bread, fruits, newspapers, cosmetics to mention but few. Street hawking is considered to be one form of child labour and exploitative due to the exceedingly long hour of trading by the children, hindrance of school attendance, efficiency on child's health (Ibanga 2007). Some Nigerian children are compelled to hawking due to their parents' unemployment, poor or uneducated. Ibanga study reveal that traditional custom particularly polygamy add to poor living standard and lead children into the street as a result of parents giving birth to many children. A few of the street hawking adolescents spend the whole day and at times until late in the night selling goods under harsh climate condition. This form of economic activities by children hinders their psychological, academic and social development. It was observed personally by the researcher in Calabar municipal adolescents are involved in unsafe and exploitative work during school hours and they work for very long hours daily. There is a need to be particularly worried about street hawking adolescents. As suggested by Admassie (2003), street hawking as a form of child labour is considered as violation children's human rights as long as children are pressured to take part in abusive, unsafe and exploitative work which might impact their physical abilities. It denies adolescents of their childhood freedom, which is, their right to play. Street hawking impacts the academic progress of a child and is a disinvestment in human capital development and has unfavorable impacts on the private and social returns of a child (Admassie, 2002).
1.3 Objectives of the Study
This study has both general and specific objectives. The general objective is to examine street hawking and adolescent abuse in Calabar municipality. However, the specific objectives are:
a) To examine the prevalence of street hawking and adolescent abuse in Calabar municipality
b) To investigate the relationship between poor parental economic background and involvement of adolescents in street hawking.
c) To understand relationship between street hawking and academic performance of the adolescents.
1.4 Research Questions
The following statements are the research questions for this study:
a) What is the prevalence of street hawking and adolescent abuse in Calabar municipality?
b) What is the relationship between poor parental economic background and involvement of adolescents in street hawking?
c) What is the relationship between street hawking and academic performance of the adolescents?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The following statements are the research questions for this study:
a) There is no significant relationship between poor parental economic background and involvement of adolescents in street hawking
b) There is a significant relationship between street hawking and academic performance of the adolescents
1.6 Significance of the Study
The researcher hopes that this research will be found useful to parents by preventing them from sending their children hawking especially during the school hours.
Various laws have been made towards the banning of street hawking in the country because of the danger it poses to children. The government would use this study as bases towards policy making as regards street hawking especially if such activities is affecting student academic performance.
It will help teachers to identify the source of poor academic performance and maladjustment behaviors that are common among adolescents by providing them with emotional needs.
Students can also learn how to embrace other with the spirit of oneness and not by segregating despite the differences in social background.
Also, this study will add to the existing knowledge and literature in the social sciences. This study will assist in closing the gap created in various urban center study. To this end, this may stimulate the interest of the government in providing adequate services especially in urban communities or modify and assist various groups and families to complement the efforts of government. Finally, it will be of great benefit to other stakeholders in their quest for socioeconomic reform.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study intends to find out if there is the relationship between street hawking and adolescent abuse. It covers young students of secondary schools, and it will be carried out in four secondary schools Calabar municipal of Cross River State as a result of time constraint.
