Edidiong, is a 26-year-old secondary school certificate holder who works as a nanny in Lagos state, Nigeria.

Financial constraint made it impossible for her to attend university, forcing her to leave her hometown in Etinan, Akwa Ibom and move to Lagos in order to seek better opportunities.

Edidong was introduced to a nanny agency by a friend, where she registered and underwent six months of training.

According to her, she paid 50,000 Naira for the training. Upon completion, she was assigned to work for a family in Lagos.

Her first salary was split, with half going to the agency and half to her.

Since then, she has continued working for the family, but like every job, it comes with its challenges.

According to Edidong, being a nanny is not an easy task. She works long hours and gets paid only N20,000 monthly.

She starts her day before dawn and works well into the night, performing a variety of tasks ranging from cleaning, cooking to childcare and taking care of the children’s grandmother.

The physical demands of her job sometimes lead to a host of health issues, including back pain and fatigue.

“My day starts very early, around 4:30 AM. I prepare breakfast for the family, get the children ready for school, and then start with the cleaning. Throughout the day, I am either cooking, doing laundry, or taking care of the younger children or grandma. My day usually ends around 10 PM.”

“Sometimes, it can be very tiring, but I have no choice. The pay is very low, so I need to work as much as possible to provide for my own self and family. Sometimes, I only get a few hours of sleep.”

Some of the challenges include lack of respect and appreciation. Edidong complained of inhumane treatment and disrespect from the family members.

“But there’s nothing I can do until I get a better offer.”

She said she is hoping to get a better offer soon where she will be more appreciated for the kind of work she puts in instead of being undervalued.

Edidiong is one among so many domestic workers in Nigeria that is overworked, underpaid and undervalued.

For a balanced society, it is important for employers to address the plight of their employees by providing better wages and a respectful working environment.