By Usman Aliyu
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Wednesday inaugurated Anti-Trafficking Vanguards in two secondary schools in Edo to step up efforts to combat human trafficking.
The inauguration was carried out in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) under the “School in the Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project” (STEAP).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project is supported by the Kingdom of Netherlands.
The schools are Urora Secondary School and Bethel Secondary School in Aduwawa, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the inauguration in Urora Secondary School, the Benin Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Sam Offiah, said 30 students drawn from both junior and senior secondary levels in each school were selected to serve as anti-trafficking ambassadors.
“Human trafficking is a menace in our society and many children of school age have been victims.
“That is why we are inaugurating anti-trafficking vanguards in schools to fight the scourge,” Offiah said.
He explained that the students would be empowered to educate their peers and extend sensitisation campaigns to their homes and communities.
“You are selected among 50 schools for the first phase of this project. We have 30 students from junior and senior secondary schools as advocates to stand against injustice and trafficking in this institution,” he said.
He added that the project was supported by NAPTIP and ICMPD with sponsorship from the Government of the Netherlands.
Offiah assured that the agency would monitor the progress of the vanguards and encouraged other students to join the movement to strengthen resistance against traffickers.
Also speaking, ICMPD Project Officer for STEAP in Edo, Mr Elvis Ederibhalo, said schools remained a target for traffickers who exploited the innocence of young people.
“Traffickers are always coming to schools to recruit pupils because of their innocence.
“So we are coming with NAPTIP to educate you to know your rights, how to say no to traffickers and also sensitise other students and members of the society,” he said.
On behalf of the Edo Ministry of Education, Mrs Mercy Imasuen-Irabor, who is the Desk Officer for the project, commended the collaboration, describing the vanguard initiative as a sustainable intervention in protecting children.
“This anti-trafficking vanguard has come to stay and you will be equipped with the knowledge to avoid being trafficked,” she said.
She urged the students to cascade the information to their peers, churches and communities.
The Principal of Urora Secondary School, Mrs Omorogie Edith, expressed appreciation to the state government and partner organisations for selecting the school as one of the pilot institutions in the first phase of the project. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deborah Coker
