As a way of curbing the menace of human trafficking, the Nigerian government has announced plans to introduce Trafficking in Persons, TIP, into the curricula of basic and secondary schools across the country.
It has in preparation for this organised a two-day sensitisation and advocacy workshop for publishers and authors by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP.
The seminar, which has kicked off in Lagos, is for the stakeholders to provide needed textbooks and other learning materials to compliment Federal Government’s effort.
Delivering a welcome address, Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, explained that the essence of mainstreaming TIP issues into the curricula was to deepen the prevention aspect of the agency’s work.
She said with the knowledge of TIP issues and related crimes at an early age, it will be difficult for pupils and students to fall prey to traffickers and, by extension, make them vanguards against TIP.
She said: “It is our conviction that we cannot win this battle alone without the collective support of the various stakeholders, including children, who are usually the target.”
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, Prof. Ismail Junaidu, described human trafficking as modern day slavery, saying the need to eradicate human trafficking led to the infusion of TIP issues into schools’ curriculum.
On his part, National Programme Officer, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, ICMPD, Mrs Amala Obiokoye-Nwalor, said the workshop was necessary for the roll-out of the curriculum.
