The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intensified efforts to combat child trafficking in Nigeria by actively engaging school-age children through targeted awareness and sensitisation programmes.
The Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, on Thursday underscored the importance of involving students in the fight against human trafficking and violence against persons, describing children as both prime targets of traffickers and critical stakeholders in prevention efforts.
Bello, who was represented by the Ogun State Commander of NAPTIP, Abosede Jimoh, spoke during a sensitisation visit and the inauguration of the Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Persons (ATIVAP) Vanguard Club at Kobape Grammar School, Ogun State.
According to the NAPTIP boss, the ongoing sensitisation campaign will cover 50 secondary schools across Ogun State. The programme is being implemented by NAPTIP in collaboration with the Ogun State Government and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), with funding support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Bello explained that recruiting schoolchildren into anti-trafficking advocacy is aimed at equipping them with knowledge of the tactics used by human traffickers, who are often familiar faces, including relatives and trusted community members.
She urged students to speak up and report suspicious activities, stressing the need for early intervention to prevent exploitation.
“The importance of raising awareness on human trafficking among schoolchildren cannot be overemphasised,” Bello said. “They are the primary targets of traffickers who prey on their innocence, vulnerability, and socio-economic background.”
She noted that the initiative is designed to improve children’s understanding of child trafficking indicators, help them recognise warning signs, and empower them with practical skills to avoid becoming victims. The programme also encourages students to act as anti-trafficking ambassadors within their communities by educating peers and family members.
Bello further disclosed that ATIVAP clubs were inaugurated in 10 schools in 2023, while 15 schools were scheduled for the first phase of 2024, with four schools already reached.
Speaking at the event, Samuel Okoroji, Project Officer for the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Empowerment Project, said the initiative is jointly implemented by ICMPD and NAPTIP across five states—Ogun, Benue, Delta, Edo, and Enugu.
Okoroji stated that the project aims to reach 50 schools in each participating state, delivering structured anti-human trafficking messages and building capacity among students, teachers, and community stakeholders to address the menace.
The Principal of Kobape Grammar School, Mrs Adeyinka Akinyele, expressed appreciation to NAPTIP and its partners, noting that the outreach would play a significant role in reducing child trafficking and exploitation in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, a 2024 report by the United States Department of State described human trafficking in Nigeria as a “critical and multifaceted crisis,” identifying the country as a source, transit, and destination for trafficking victims.
Although Nigeria has recorded improvements in law enforcement efforts and trafficking convictions, the country remains on the Tier 2 Watchlist, indicating that while significant efforts are being made, minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking have not yet been fully met.
