By Emmanuel Antswen
The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) said it has targets of 1,600 teachers and 100,000 students to prevent human trafficking in five states.
Mrs Rhoda Dia-Johnson, Project Manager, ICMPD School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), disclosed this on Tuesday at the Training of Trainers one-day workshop in Gboko, Benue.
Dia-Johnson said out of the 1,600 teachers, 600 were lecturers of colleges of education, while 1,000 teachers and head teachers were from primary and secondary schools in the states.
She listed the benefiting states to include Delta, Edo, Benue, Enugu and Ogun.
Represented by Mr Selbol Langyi, ICMPD STEAP Project Officer, Dia-Johnson said 250 schools were also selected, 50 from each state for the project.
She said they were also building the capacity of 100,000 students from primary and secondary schools on the prevention of human trafficking in their localities.
The project manager said they would also inaugurate 2000 Parent Teacher Associations/School-Based Management Committees as part of their efforts to curb human trafficking.
According to her, 50,000 communities will also be enlightened across the states during the execution of the projects on the prevention of human trafficking.
Dia-Johnson further said that the project would also engage 50 NGOs, CSOs, CBOs & academic institutions and establish School Clubs Against Human Trafficking (Brigades & Vanguards).
The project manager emphasised that the aim of the project was to build the capacities of people to detect and forestall human trafficking across their communities.
She insisted that human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery which involves the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gains, adding that all hands must be on deck to stop them.
Dia-Johnson said Nigeria remained a strong source, transit and destination country when it comes to human trafficking worldwide.
She said the beneficiaries will be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and skills to effectively teach, advocate, and act against trafficking in persons within schools and communities. NAN
