…As agency cautions against fraudulent overseas job offers
By Paul Effiong, Abuja
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and exercise caution when approached with offers of overseas employment for their children, warning that deceptive recruitment schemes have exposed many victims to exploitation and abuse.
Speaking at an integrated Health, Protection, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocacy and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) sensitisation campaign in Kabusa Community, Abuja, the agency’s Public Enlightenment Officer, Thamus Akinwale, who represented the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, called on parents, guardians and community leaders to promptly report suspicious activities and unfamiliar persons to traditional rulers and security agencies to help prevent human trafficking.
The sensitisation campaign was organised by the BlueNorth Initiative in collaboration with NAPTIP, Adorable Foundation International, Diamond Humanitarian Empowerment Support Initiative, WOTCLEF, the Sarina Project and other partners.
The outreach aimed to raise public awareness of the dangers of human trafficking, drug abuse and gender-based violence while promoting the protection of vulnerable members of society.
Declaring the campaign open, the Chief of Kabusa Community, His Royal Highness Samuel Kpowu, commended the organisers for bringing the initiative to the community. He described the programme as timely, saying it would equip residents with the knowledge needed to recognise deceptive tactics used by traffickers and strengthen efforts to protect children and young people.
The traditional ruler also praised the BlueNorth Initiative for its commitment to supporting efforts to combat human trafficking in Nigeria.
Speaking with journalists, the Country Director of the BlueNorth Initiative for the Prevention of Human Trafficking, Boma West, urged parents and guardians to maintain close communication with their children and remain attentive to their welfare to reduce their vulnerability to traffickers.
She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting national efforts to curb human trafficking through sustained public enlightenment and community engagement.
As part of the awareness campaign, BlueNorth presented a drama in the Hausa language illustrating how traffickers often lure unsuspecting victims with false promises of employment and better opportunities. The performance underscored the importance of public awareness and vigilance in preventing human trafficking.
West, however, identified inadequate funding as a major challenge limiting the organisation’s ability to expand similar awareness campaigns to more communities nationwide. She appealed to government institutions, development partners and well-meaning Nigerians to support initiatives aimed at protecting vulnerable persons from trafficking and related abuses.
Also speaking at the event, veteran Nollywood actress and philanthropist, Princess Maureen Ihua, urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s activities, friendships and general well-being both at home and in school.
She also expressed concern over the growing incidence of drug abuse among young people, describing it as a significant social challenge that requires collective action.
Ihua further appealed to government, corporate organisations, cooperative societies and non-governmental organisations to support programmes that provide assistance to widows, orphans and other vulnerable groups.
Princess Elizabeth, Queen of ASAKADA, said her organisation remains committed to promoting awareness of the dangers of drug abuse through sustained campaigns in primary schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
She stressed that educating young people on the risks associated with substance abuse remains one of the most effective preventive measures and emphasised that collaboration among government, civil society organisations, the media and local communities is essential to tackling both drug abuse and human trafficking.
The organisers also disclosed that the BlueNorth Initiative recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NAPTIP to strengthen public awareness campaigns against human trafficking and drug abuse across the country.
As part of the outreach programme, residents benefited from free medical screening, while those diagnosed with vision challenges received complimentary eyeglasses following comprehensive eye examinations.
