Edo, Delta girls ‘Not for Sale’ – NAPTIP, UK Aid in new initiative
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/04/edo-delta-girls-not-for-sale-naptip-uk.html
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in
Persons (NAPTIP) in collaboration with UK Aid, an NGO, officially
launched the “Not for Sale” initiative in Abuja.
The initiative is aimed at reducing the number of overseas sex trafficking victims from Edo and Delta.
A press statement issued by Mr Vincent Adekole behalf of NAPTIP and
UK Aid said the launch was attended by NAPTI Director General, Ms Julie
Okah-Donli and John Primrose, Deputy Head of Office, Department for
International Development (DFID), representing British High Commissioner
to Nigeria.
Also present were Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to
the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora issues, Prof. Yinka
Omorogbe, Attorney General of Edo State, alongside other stakeholders.
“The ” Not for Sale” initiative aims to inspire, enable and empower
young women in Edo and Delta states to find success on their own terms.
“They do not have to pay the terrible price paid by so many others, who look for success abroad,” Adekole said.
He said that a large number of Nigerian women who sought prosperity abroad ended up being trafficked.
“Approximately 80 per cent of Nigerian women who take the dangerous
journey overseas end up being trafficked and forced into prostitution.
“The Not For Sale initiative thus provides these women with the
support services that enables them to seek out training and
opportunities in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the NAPTIP DG, Okah-Donli, expressed delight
at the collaborative efforts of NAPTIP and UK Aid in driving positive
conversations through the Not for Sale campaign.
According to her, “the initiative is making immeasurable impact in
the fight against modern slavery issues and its effect on vulnerable
persons, especially young women, in the country.”
She added that, “the Not for sale” campaign provided a platform for
stakeholders to forge common ground in enlightening vulnerable young
women on the potential dangers of buying into false promises of a better
life abroad.
” These range from involuntary servitude to rape, forced marriages and has cost many women their lives ,” she said
She urged state governments in Nigeria to empower women in rural
areas through effective skill acquisition programmes which would ensure
that they earn good living and in turn, impact their communities
positively”.
The event showcased the inspiring stories of young women from Edo and
Delta, like Blessing, Gift, Latifah and Gladys who have found success
on their own terms.
Gift Jonathan said that she only made it to Libya where she was sexually abused and tortured.
She commended the efforts of NAPTIP in enlightening and empowering
young women within the society on the need to believe in themselves and
engage in worthwhile activities and programmes to better equip them for
the larger society”.
She expressed that, like many other young and vulnerable women the
desire for a so called “better life” abroad leads to many bad choices.
“But an initiative like Not For Sale should be sought after as one
which shines a light on the need for self-empowerment and belief in
local development rather than a false promise,”she said.
The event also showcased the Not For Sale website (www.notforsale.ng) which provides women with a number of resources to search out opportunities available to them in their area.
There are many organisations now available across both states that
offer services for training and job support such as The Amena Academy
and the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
UK Aid is a United Kingdom based NGO which supports civil society
organisations working on sustained poverty reduction in marginalised and
vulnerable communities.