Enugu: NAPTIP Trains School Coordinators to Combat Human Trafficking
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has organized a one day workshop for school principals, teachers, and vanguard coordinators in Enugu to boost school-based advocacy against human trafficking.
Held in collaboration with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and sponsored by the Netherlands government, the training aimed to equip educators with tools to identify and address trafficking risks within school communities.
Speaking at the event, NAPTIP Director-General, Ms. Binta Bello who was represented by Director of Public Enlightenment, Mrs. Kehinde Akomolafe said the participants would act as frontline advocates and coordinators in their schools, using the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for School Advocacy Campaigns.
She emphasized the importance of empowering teachers to educate students on the dangers of trafficking and pledged continued collaboration with international partners to strengthen prevention efforts.
“NAPTIP, in partnership with ICMPD, has produced handbooks to guide the inauguration of anti-trafficking advocacy clubs in selected schools across the implementing states which include Benue, Enugu, Ogun, Delta and Edo.
“The idea is to educate teachers on these documents so they can effectively carry out school-level inaugurations and other awareness activities,” Bello added.
The ICMPD Project Manager, Mrs Rhoda Dia-Johnson, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the nation’s fight against human trafficking through capacity building.
She said that the training was part of the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP).
Dia-Johnson stressed that schools are critical in identifying early warning signs of trafficking and providing safe spaces for children to seek help.
According to her, STEAP aims to make schools safer and more resilient by establishing Vanguard Clubs in 50 schools across each participating state.
“Principals and vanguard coordinators are not just educators; they are frontline defenders of children’s rights.
“Our collective goal is to build a strong network of protection that begins in schools and extends to every corner of society,” she added.
In a goodwill message, the First Secretary for Migration at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Sib Siebesma commended NAPTIP’s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in Nigeria highlighting the vulnerability of children, who account for over 75% of trafficking victims in West Africa, and urged educators to use the training to better protect them. He reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting anti-trafficking efforts through the ICMPD’s STEAP project.
Also speaking at the event, Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Nwabueze Mbah, represented by Mr. Patrick Ochie praised NAPTIP and its partners for their dedication and assured the state’s continued support in securing schools against trafficking threats.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reported that the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, who was represented by Mrs. Caroline Avah, emphasized that legal frameworks are in place to prosecute traffickers and called for joint action to safeguard school children across the state.