The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) recently held a sensitisation and capacity-building training for principals and school coordinators on how to address issues around human trafficking.

The two-day programme was held in conjunction with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), under its School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP). 

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu-Bello, disclosed that apart from raising the capacity of principals and teachers on addressing human trafficking, the programme was also aimed at developing the capacity to enable them to teach their students on the dangers.

Adamu-Bello, who was represented by the Director of Research and Programme Development, Josiah Emerole, described trafficking as a clandestine crime that is endemic across the states. 

“Knowing that youths are the main target of traffickers, we want to catch them young. We have infused trafficking into the school curriculum, but we also need to make the teachers understand what the issues are, to be able to teach them.

“What we are doing is to make them understand all the issues, so that when they return to their schools, it becomes easier to talk to these students.”
The Head of Pan-Africa Region of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Ms Monica Zanette, said the project was designed to empower young school children to become informed, protected, and proactive citizens. 

Project Manager of School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), Rhoda Dia-Johnson, said the initiative was developed to address issues of trafficking in terms of prevention.