...targets 52 Secondary Schools, over100 teachers, 2,500 students

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Media Coalition and Awareness to Halt Human Traffifking (MeCAHT) has convened a stakeholders meeting in Benue State to kick-start its anti trafficking intervention in the state, named Shared Foundation to Protect Against Risks of Irregular Migration and Trafficking (Safe-MIT) Project.

Speaking at the inception meeting held weekend in Makurdi, MeCAHT Project Coordinator, James Ikape, stated that the meeting aimed to integrate stakeholders in the migration space into what the intervention was set out for “and get their buying and also begin the implementation of the project.”

He said the initiative which is funded by the European Union through the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is being implemented across four countries. “Here in Nigeria, our focus is on Benue, Kwara, and Nasarawa States, where vulnerabilities to irregular migration are high, but also where the resilience and determination of the people are strongest.

“The Safe-MIT project seeks to create safer pathways for our people by raising awareness, and building the capacity of key actors especially teachers and young people to become champions of prevention.”

He explained that the intervention which would centre on trafficking and irregular migration would enhance the capacity of 52 Secondary Schools where more than 100 teachers would be trained and over 2,500 students would have their knowledge “enhanced or increased on the risk of irregular migration and human trafficking.”

The Makurdi Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, one of the partners, Mrs. Gloria Bai lauded the role played by her Director General, Binta Bello to have the project become a reality.

She stated that “NAPTIP has always used partnerships as a key tool for fighting human trafficking” adding that some of the projects were coming to the state because of the statistics from the state “but I believe that with the coming of this projects, the statistics will go down.”

She urged stakeholders to support the intervention saying with the coming of the various projects to fight trafficking, Benue would record outstanding results in the onslaughts against the menace. “Already our School Anti Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP) project is doing very well,” she said.

The ICMPD Project Officer (STEAP) Benue State, Mr. Selbol Langyi lauded the stakeholders for supporting STEAP to engage with 50 schools across the state in raising awareness on human trafficking and equipping school children, teachers, and parents with essential knowledge and skills to safeguard their communities.

“And with the introduction of the Safe-MIT Project, an additional 52 schools are now being reached. This means together we are empowering a total of 102 schools in Benue State with the tools to combat the scourge of human trafficking and irregular migration. This is a remarkable milestone that reflects our shared commitment to protecting our children and communities.

“I therefore call on all our partners and stakeholders to extend the same level of cooperation and commitment you have shown to STEAP, to the Safe-MIT Project as well. So that together, we can build safer communities, protect our children, and create sustainable pathways away from trafficking and irregular migration.”

The Commissiner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Margaret Adamu represented by the Director of Education, Mrs. Sember Saamo commended the commitment of MeCAHT in
the fight against human trafficking and modern-day Slavery assuring of the support of the Ministry to the course.

“Your work in rescuing, rehabilitating and restoring survivors of trafficking, while empowering communities and schools through advocacy, trainings and education, stands as a powerful testimony to what compassion, justice and collaboration can achieve,” she said.

The Attorny General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yangien Ornguga represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dooshima Ortserga assured that the Ministry would give the project all the necessary support to succeed.

Speaking on behalf of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) Benue State, Mrs. Regina Ahua of Padopas Harmony Secondary School, said the project would help equip teachers and students with necessary knowledge and capacity to stand against trafficking.

Members of the Civil Society, including Dr. Beatrice Onoja of Civil Society Network on Migration and Development as well as Enuwa Soo of Network Against Human Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, commended the coming of the project and promised to ensure its success in the state.

The inception meeting also drew participants from schools, Immigration Service, the Police among others who were intimated on the project and its set objectives in the state.