It was a protest against human trafficking on screen recently when the train of Na Wa film festival berthed in Lagos.

Powered by Austrian based Nigerian film maker, Joan Adesuwa’s company EXIT, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the festival aimed at preserving the dignity of Nigerian youth while promoting safe migration.

Joan

The maiden edition of the advocacy film festival held for ten-day in three key cities of Abuja, Edo and Lagos and it witnessed series of film screenings, book readings, panel discussions and strategic networking receptions involving key speakers from participating government agencies, civil society and Nollywood.

Exploring the success-story of Nollywood, Joan Adesuwa, while speaking with newsmen at the end of the event said the intention is to utilise the same visual impact of film, as well as other interactive media to inform the Nigerian public on the dangers involved in migrating irregularly to Europe, at the hands of human traffickers.

With some notable international film directors, renowned journalists, Nollywood stars, celebrities from the entertainment and arts industry, bestselling authors and many other prominent supporters in attendance, Na Wa festival brought to the limelight personal narratives and stories to raise awareness about one of the greatest problems of humanity.

At the end of the 10-day event, the documentary, “Sisters of No Mercy” highlighted the plight of victims of trafficking, especially as it relates with Italian prostitution rings. The documentary was screened in Benin city where recruitment is allegedly accomplished.

Joan narrated how Nigerian girls are deceived into making trips from the country through the deserts of Morocco and Libya to Italy and other European countries. The journey, she noted begins with grotesque rites where the ladies take oaths as a binding force by the recruiters.

“It was very difficult choosing the film. We started developing this project in 2009, so it is about two years now. We are looking beyond Edo State, but it’s a matter of voluntary work and financial support.

We think it is very important to have a foundation, have a good structure which we can multiply in other states but for the next two years, we will be focusing on Edo State because there is a lot to do there,” Adesuwa said.

Joan founded EXIT, in 2003 when she moved to Austria with the aim of combating human trafficking from Africa to Europe.