Ogun partners NAPTIP, others to combat human trafficking in schools
The Ogun government has reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking across the state.
The state commissioner for education, science, and technology, bayomi Arigbabu, made this known on Thursday at a training organised by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for student vanguards in Abeokuta.
The commissioner, who was represented by the director of education support services, Mary Akinola, said the state government would continue to explore all necessary avenues to tackle the menace.
The training is funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development in collaboration with NAPTIP.
Mr Arigbabu stressed that schools remained the first line of defence for students, serving as more than just centres of academic learning.
‘”The schools are incubators of values, Identities and resilience, so education managers, principals, teachers are first adults outside the home to observe signs of abuse, vulnerability or behavioral changes.” he said.
The director of research and programme at NAPTIP, Josiah Emerole, raised concern over the rising cases of human trafficking in Ogun.
Mr Emerole said the state’s vulnerability to the crime was due to its multiple borders and their porosity.
He called for increased reporting of human trafficking cases to strengthen international collaboration in the fight against the menace.
Mr Emerole explained that the aim of the training was to equip school leaders with adequate knowledge on human trafficking so they could effectively educate and sensitise their students.
He emphasised that Nigerian youths were invaluable and not for sale, adding that NAPTIP had successfully rescued over 25,000 young people from traffickers
” The victims have been sent back to schools or empowered with businesses.” he said
Rhoda Dig – Johnson, the Nigeria project manager for School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project ( STEAP) said the project would pull all efforts to create a conducive environment to prevent human trafficking.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Olubadan lauds Tinubu on release of Oriire kidnap victims, urges rehabilitation
“As a follow-up to this development, the government must ensure that all communities bordering the National Park are fully secure,” he said.
Heading 1
Iran’s new supreme leader vows revenge over father’s assassination by U.S.-Israeli forces
“We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” he said.
Heading 4
Trump administration subpoenas New York Times journalists over Air Force One story
The subpoenas seek to compel the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan.
Heading 2
Klopp agrees to replace Nagelsmann as Germany coach
Nagelsmann resigned last week as the men’s national team coach following Germany’s shocking exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Health
FG expands cancer funding, local drug production
“We are trying to domesticate expensive treatments by producing much-needed medicines locally and translating global research into action in our clinics,” he said.
Heading 3
Remi Tinubu begs Asake, Davido, Burna Boy to come rescue poor Nigerians from hunger
The first lady stated that buying exotic cars is good, but noted that the singers can still establish foundations to assist the struggling population.
