By Emmanuel Antswen
The Okaha Women and Children Development Organisation (OWACDO) has trained 98 parents and teachers on the prevention of human trafficking in Benue.
Mrs Joy Ijuwo, Executive Director of OWACDO, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the one-day workshop in Gboko on Friday, commended parents and teachers for their commitment to the wellbeing of children.
The School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP) is sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands through the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and implemented in Benue by OWACDO.
Ijuwo said the 98 PTA members were selected across 34 schools from Katsina-Ala, Kwande, Ushongo, Logo, Ukum, Vandiekya, Gwer East, Gboko and Buruku LGAs.
“According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, there are about 1.6 million people in Nigeria living in modern slavery, affecting about 70 per cent of women and girls.
“Therefore, it is crucial that we work together to prevent it. As members of the PTA, you play a vital role in shaping the lives of our children and ensuring their safety.
“Over the course of this training, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify the signs of human trafficking, understand its causes and consequences, and develop effective strategies to prevent it.
“We will also explore ways to protect our children and support those who may be vulnerable to exploitation,” she said.
Mrs Rhoda Dia-Johnson, Project Manager, STEAP, said that the aim of the training was to boost the capacities of parents and teachers to detect and forestall human trafficking.
Dia-Johnson, who was represented by Mr Slebol Langyi, ICMPD STEAP Project Desk Officer in Benue, said that STEAP was an integrated approach to human trafficking prevention, working with all relevant stakeholders in the education sector to prevent trafficking among the school-age children.
She stated that ICMPD was working collaboratively in Ogun, Benue, Delta, Enugu and Edo states to achieve the target.
Dia-Johnson said the project was being implemented in 250 schools across the five selected states.
The project manager added that they were training the participants on prevention tips on human trafficking so that they can retrain others in their schools and communities.
Mrs Gloria Bai, Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Benue, said that through STEAP they hoped to curb human trafficking in the state.
Bai, also the State Co-Chairperson, Benue Task Force on Human Trafficking, said the workshop would enhance the participants’ capacity on the prevention of human trafficking.
The zonal commander pointed out that parents and teachers were extremely crucial for the prevention of human trafficking among school-aged children in the state.
She commended the implementing civil society organisation, OWACDO, and the Benue Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management for their collaboration in the fight against human trafficking.
Mr Ageba Aule, Desk Officer, STEAP Project, Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, said that the Benue Government was committed to ensuring that the project succeeded.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several lectures were delivered during the workshop, among which is “Understanding TIP Drivers and Purposes of TIP Emerging Trends and Indicators of TIP” by Mrs Gloria Bai.
NAN further reports that the participants during their contributions at the workshop resolved to work with relevant stakeholders in their communities and schools to prevent human trafficking. NAN
