For the last two decades, child domestic work carried out in Nigeria as well as in other countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia, has been given increasing attention by international policy makers and scientists. Yet, the research mainly focuses on the living and working conditions of these children, which also forms part of this book. However, in addition, political and pedagogical measures of intervention employed on international, national and local levels on child domestic work are also at the centre of analysis. Against the background of post-colonial theory the author studies the effects of social modernisation in Nigeria as a rapidly growing national economy on child domestic work and historically retraces the origins of this form of child work back to indigenous modes of socialisation and social security within the (pre-colonial) Nigerian extended family network. The research is based on field work in Nigeria, including interviews and documentary analysis.

Describes the child trafficking phenomenon in Asewele, a transit labour camp that recruits children from Yakurr local government of Cross River State for labour activities in the Western states of Nigeria.

This book is recommended to those working to end modern day slavery where children are the victims and losers, particularly in hidden employment like domestic work in the developing countries. In Nigeria, children are recruited from rural to urban areas to work as domestic servants with false promises including child fosterage by clandestine agents. The study found that poverty among the rural families, compounded by large family size, increasing number of orphans and vulnerable children, low rate of school enrollment, poor attitude to girl child education and the growing demand for domestic workers by working class families in urban areas as the root causes of the problem. The study recommended in addition to poverty alleviation measures, a strong awareness creation to change mindset about children's exchange in the society and suggested some remedial measures for the prevention of recruitment of children for domestic work as well as rescue abused and traumatized victims now in the urban areas.