By Anne Azuka
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons( NAPTIP) has inaugurated 300- member students Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Persons Vanguard in 10 schools in Delta.
NAPTIP in collaboration with
the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in Ibusa, deepened advocacy on issues on human trafficking and violence against persons through the Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP).
Daybreak news reports that the project which is sponsored by the Netherlands is aimed at eliminating human trafficking and irregular migrations.
Accordingly, the campaign is part of the Agency’s programme to sensitise the students and to create awareness on issues about human trafficking and violence against persons in the society, home and abroad.
The Commander, NAPTIP Benin Zonal Command, Mr Sam Offiah, said that 30 students would be inaugurated in each of the 10 school selected in this first phase of the sensitisation in Delta.
The Agency formally flagged off the sensitisation and inauguration of students’ vanguard on Monday at Abraka Grammar School, and Erho Secondary School, Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta.
The team advanced to Igbonine Grammar School, Ozoro and St. Michael’s College, Oleh in Isoko North and South LGAs respectively where other set of vanguards were inaugurated to advance the advocacy against human trafficking in the area.
The Agency also launched its campaign at Okpanam High School and on Thursday advanced to the Unity Secondary School, Madonna School for Children with Special needs both in Okpanam, and St. Thomases College, Ibusa, all in Oshimili North LGA.
The team climaxed the inauguration at West End Mixed Secondary School and Osadenis High school, Asaba in Oshimili South LGA of the state.
Addressing the students, Offiah charged them to resist all pressures to make them abandon their education for work or travelling abroad for greener pastures.
He said that education was not a scam as alleged by some, but a tool that could open their mind to become aware of the happenings in their environment.
He charged the students to report any crime against human beings by calling a dedicated number to reach the NAPTIP and to sensitise, educate other students to become ambassadors of the Agency to preach against human trafficking in their schools, homes and environment.
“You are not for sale, say no to human trafficking in your school, community, in Delta and in Nigeria,” Offiah said.
In an interview, Mrs Ijeoma David-Ukolo, STEAP Project Officer, ICMPD, said advancing the campaign to secondary schools became necessary because the students are the vulnerable group.
She said that available statistics had revealed that human trafficking were on the rise in some states such as; Edo, Delta, Benue, Enugu and Ogun.
She added that to stem tide of trafficking, the STEAP project has stepped in to sensitise teachers and other stakeholders, who would further educate the students on the dangers of human trafficking in the states.
According to David-Ukoko, “the sensitisation and inauguration of the Vanguards is to bring awareness to communities; STEAP as a project is focusing on secondary schools.
” We are targeting secondary schools because the school age children are among the most vulnerable group for trafficking domestically and across the borders.
“Today, NAPTIP is inaugurating a vanguard; these are children who come together to form a club to enable them continue to create awareness in the schools and in the community.
“We have in collaboration with NAPTIP deployed this sensitisation in five states that we have noticed to have higher incidents of trafficking; Edo, Delta, Benue, Enugu and Ogun states.
“So, 50 secondary schools have been picked from each of the states and out of these, NAPTIP has chosen 10 schools to inaugurate this vanguard in the first phase.”
On her part, the Secretary to Delta State Taskforce on Human trafficking and Irregular Migration, Mrs Ijoma Nwanze, said that the state has passed the Delta State Human trafficking Prohibition Law to check the menace.
Highpoint of the ceremony is the distribution of packs and materials on issues about human trafficking to guide the club members in advancing the course of the campaign against human trafficking to the students by NAPTIP.
