The National Agency for The Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP) has extended the inauguration of vanguard campaign group against human-Trafficking to secondary schools in Oshimili North and South of Delta State.
Recalled that the agency formally flagged off the sensitization and inauguration of students Vanguard at Abraka Grammar School, Erho Secondary School, Abraka, in Ethiope East local Government Area of Delta State and Igbonine Grammar school, Ozoro, Isoko North and St. Michael College, Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area
Speaking at the event, the Benin Zonal Commander of the Agency, Mr Sam Offiah, stated this on Thursday in Asaba , during the inauguration of the Anti-human Trafficking and Violence Against Persons vanguard (ATIPVAP) in 8 more schools in Delta State under the schools Anti-human Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), bringing to an end the first phases of the inauguration.
STEAP is a Project of the Federal Government, funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented through NAPTIP in collaboration with the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in Nigeria to support the fight against human trafficking
Offiah inaugurated no fewer than 30 students each in Okpanam High School, Okpanam, Madonna School For Children With Special Needs, Okpanam, and St. Thomas’s College, Ibusa, all in Oshimili North local Government Area of Delta State
The team climaxed the inauguration at Unity Modern Secondary School, Asaba, West End Mixed Secondary school, and Osadenis High school, Asaba, in Oshimili South Local Government Area .
He said they came to sensitize the students to be NAPTIP’s voice, while NAPTIP would be their hand in the campaign against human-Trafficking
The Zonal Commander described trafficking as modern-day slavery, adding that they had empowered the inaugurated students on how to detect, identify, prevent and report cases of human trafficking. He however, said that their target were secondary schools students as they could be easily confused and distracted, noting that “if they were not informed on the dangers , they would fall victim” adding that the Agency just concluded the launching of Anti-human trafficking Vanguard Clubs in 10 schools across 5 Local Government Areas in Delta State for the first instance.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Ijeoma David-Ukolo, STEAP Project officer, ICMPD, said the advocacy campaign to secondary schools became necessary because the students are the vulnerable group.
She added that to reduce the scourge of trafficking, the STEAP project has stepped into sensitization of teachers and other stakeholders, who would further educate the students on the dangers of trafficking in the State.
Also speaking, Mrs Nwanze Ijeoma, Secretary, Delta State Taskforce on Anti-human trafficking, appreciated NAPTIP for choosing Delta State as one of the 5 States to benefit from the STEAP adding that the impact of the project will greatly raise the awareness and reduce human trafficking in the State. She restated the commitment of the State Government to combat human trafficking in the State , saying that all hands must be on desk to fight the menace of human trafficking.
She also described the reception of the Schools to the Project as encouraging and expressing their willingness to step down the awareness on human trafficking to their peers and community
Further speaking at the events, the representative of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Eze Mackeans, Deputy Director, advised the vanguards and the schools to take all they have learned seriously as Delta State ranks high with cases of human trafficking.
Responding, the Principal, West End Mixed Secondary School, Mrs Augusta Ogeah and her counterpart in St. Thomas’s College, Ibusa, Mrs Maureen Dumbiri, applauded NAPTIP for finding their schools worthy of being among the selected schools just as they promised to assist the inaugurated students to educate other students on the dangers associated with human trafficking.
