As part of measures to curb trafficking against young persons in Nigeria, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has held an awareness and capacity training workshop for principals and coordinators of Secondary Schools Anti-Trafficking Vanguards in Edo State.
The program under the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project had participants drawn from fifty selected schools in Edo State.
In a message at the occasion, Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, observed that the workshop was to bring the fight against human trafficking closer to young persons.
Represented by Director of Research and Program Development of NAPTIP, Mr. Josiah Emerole, Hajia Adamu-Bello said the workshop was to train teachers and principals of secondary schools to help pass the message against trafficking among young persons.
In a message, Head of the Pan Africa Region, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Ms. Monica Zanette urged principals and teachers to be frontline defenders of children’s rights.
Represented by the project manager, Amarachi Chike-Jerry, Ms. Zanette urged them to build a strong, interconnected network of protection against human trafficking that begins in the school and reaches into every corner of society.
Earlier, Edo State Commissioner for Education Dr. Paddy Iyamu, represented by the Director of School Support Services, Mr. Abdulkadiri Ikoghode, said the state government was open to partnerships that would assist in curtailing human trafficking in the state.
Some teachers at the event, including Mrs. Gladys Obawuyi and Cynthia Aya described the event as impactful, noting that it would help them create more awareness against trafficking among young persons in the state
High point of the event was various presentations on the dangers of human trafficking and a question-and-answer session.
