ICMPD, NAPTIP Train Principals, STEAP Vanguard Coordinators on Anti-Trafficking Strategies

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in collaboration with the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Benue State Ministry of Education, has engaged school principals and Vanguard coordinators in a strategic capacity-building programme to combat the rising cases of human trafficking in the state.

The two-day awareness and training workshop, held Wednesday in Makurdi, focused on equipping principals, Vanguard coordinators, and education administrators with the necessary tools for implementing the Trafficking in Persons Vanguard Project (TIPVAP) under the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP).

Speaking at the event, the STEAP Project Manager explained that the initiative is a four-year project funded by the Government of the Netherlands, implemented by ICMPD in partnership with NAPTIP. She noted that the training is part of ongoing activities targeting 50 selected schools in Benue State, where Anti-Trafficking Vanguards are being established.

According to her, the workshop aims to familiarize participants with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed by NAPTIP, reporting tools, and guidelines on coordinating vanguard activities in schools. She added that the project extends beyond schools to involve parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders, and other stakeholders through outreach and sensitization campaigns.

“Benue currently records the highest rate of human trafficking in Nigeria, which is why all hands must be on deck to minimize children’s exposure to becoming victims,” she stressed.

Also addressing participants, NAPTIP Director-General Hajia Binta Bello, represented by the agency’s Director of Intelligence, Research, and Programme Development, Josiah Emerole, emphasized the prevalence of trafficking in Benue, noting that the state has now overtaken Edo State, which previously topped the list of trafficking-prone states in Nigeria.

She described trafficking as a “clandestine crime” and urged vigilance, collaboration, and proactive measures to curb the menace.

In his remarks on behalf of Governor Hyacinth Alia, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, Mrs. Helen Nambativ, said human trafficking has become a global illicit business that thrives in vulnerable communities like Benue, which continue to suffer from violent attacks. She commended NAPTIP, ICMPD, and their civil society partner, Okaha Women and Children Development Organization (OWACDO), for supporting the state’s fight against trafficking and violence against persons.

Zonal Commander of NAPTIP Makurdi, Mrs. Gloria Bai, explained that Vanguards have so far been inaugurated in 10 schools, with plans to extend to 50 schools by September. She highlighted the importance of “catching them young,” noting that most trafficking victims are secondary school-aged children. Each Vanguard, she said, consists of 30 students trained to raise awareness, educate peers, and report suspected cases of trafficking.

Principals of Community Secondary School, Makurdi, Mrs. Victoria Akange; Tilley Gyado College, Makurdi, Dr. Emmanuel Zakaa; and Vanguard Coordinator, Franca Ijor, all praised the initiative, describing it as a transformative project that has been well-received by students and school authorities alike.

Our correspondent reports that the STEAP project is currently being implemented in five states—Benue, Edo, Delta, Enugu, and Ogun.