It was gathered that STEAP project, which is being funded by the kingdom of Netherland, is a collaborative effort between NAPTIP and ICMPD.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ workshop for the validation of the baseline assessment report on human trafficking on Friday held in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, NAPTIP state Commander Jimoh Bosede called on stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, state and non-state actors, to join forces in the fight against human trafficking.
She emphasized the need for education and awareness on the issue, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and women.
"Education Ministry , state and state and non -state actors for you to be educated on the issue of human trafficking , we are talking about the vulnerable especially children and women .
"NGO plays very important role to see that the incident of human trafficking is reduced to the bearest minimum ."
Head of West Africa Region, ICMPD, Mojisola Sodeinde, represented by Rhoda Dia-Johnson, STEAP Manager, said the four-year project funded by the Netherlands government aims to prevent and combat human trafficking among school children in Nigeria.
She added that the project, which runs until December 2027, focuses on five states - Edo, Delta, Enugu, Benue, and Ogun - and targets children aged six to sixteen.
According to STEAP Manager the project aims to create awareness about human trafficking among school communities, parents, and students.
She explained that initiative seeks to educate students on how to identify warning signs of trafficking and resist potential threats, while also supporting micro-projects in schools and reviving school-based management committees to address infrastructure needs and engage parents in anti-trafficking efforts.
"The project is supporting the government of Nigeria especially the five states where the project is targeting that's Edo, Delta, Enugu, Benue and Ogun State to prevent and combat human trafficking targeting school children Age six to sixteen in particular.
"The project is generally geared towards prevention of human trafficking through awareness creation targeting the school communities . We are going to be creating awareness in the communities targeting the parents , the danger and warning signs of human trafficking and the students are also going to be taught on how to identify those warning signs of trafficking and their capacity will be belt to be able to resist such issues, Identify and also talk to their peers whereby we can safeguard their future.
"These projects are basically targeting the young people to prevent human trafficking . We hope and believe that when the children get this information at that young age they would grow with it and be able to resist being a victim of human trafficking .
"Part of what we are going to be doing is to support micro projects in these schools . The school based management committees are going to be revived where they exist in our various schools and they're going to be helping us to identify the issues in those schools either fixing of roofs, supplying chairs , getting source of water , toilet and every other thing that they think is a need in the school because we believe this is another way of getting the parents to be involved in the education of their children and by doing that, they will also used the school based management committee as also our agent to create awareness on the trafficking issues .
On his part , Mr Oluwasina Ogungbade , the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice appreciated the NAPTIP and ICMPD for conceptualizing and actualizing the project.
The Attorney General represented by the Assistant Director, Citizens Right Department, Ogun State Ministry of Justice Mrs oluwatosin Ogundele said the issue of child trafficking has become a menace and it's high time that the menace is dealt with .
He urged all stakeholders to rise up and deploy all available necessary machinery to tackle the menace of child trafficking .
Ogungbade also urged the state government to support the school anti-trafficking education and advocacy project in ensuring that it's actualizing its aim and objective in eradicating the menace of child trafficking within Ogun State .
On his part, Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Dr Abayomi Arigbabu represented by the senior Education officer , Ministry of Education, Science and technology Afolabi -Oni Modupe said the project marks a significant milestone in the collective efforts to combat human trafficking, a crime that robs individuals of their freedom and dignity.
"The baseline assessment we are validating today is not just a report; it is a testament to our commitment to understanding the scope, dynamics, and root causes of human trafficking within our communities.
"It serves as a compass guiding our actions as we strive to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute perpetrators."
