ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Devatop Centre for Africa Development (DCAD) has trained journalists in Enugu State on Human Trafficking, targeted at reducing trafficking issues in Nigeria.
The group also inaugurated the trained journalists as coordinators and reporters against trafficking in persons.
The programme was carried out under Palladium, a leading implementer of international development programmes, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented in Nigeria by DCAD.
The theme of the Two-Day Capacity Building Training for Journalists, which started on Wednesday and ended o Thursday, was tagged: “TALKAM Against Trafficking in Persons (TATIP) Project in Enugu”.
The training had many journalists from different media organizations in attendance, including some members of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ).
In an interview with voiceofnaija.ng, the Programme Manager, DCAD, Emmanuel Obiabo said the training was part of Talkam project aimed at supporting victims of trafficking.
Obiabor added that the training was also tailored to raise awareness on the issue within communities.
He noted that the organization understood the important roles journalists play in identifying trafficking in the communities and reporting same.
“We also understand the essence of handling the issue ethically and ensuring the victims are supported, so that the journalists can appreciate it better,” he said.
Obiabo said that the same training had been done in Sokoto and Delta states to raise more awareness on the incidences of human trafficking.
“We want a sustained action by journalists in reporting and investigating human trafficking as much as trafficking continues to exist in Nigeria.
“We want those traffickers to be exposed as well as help victims get necessary support through their reports.
“The trained journalists, who are now coordinators/journalists for ‘Trafficking in Persons’ in Enugu State would be provided with technical support for their quarterly forum,” he explained.
Speaking also, the Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Enugu, Mrs. Nneka Ajie noted that trafficking in persons had became a cankerworm that had eaten deep into the nation.
Mrs. Ajie who described trafficking as a modern day slavery and multi dimensional, regretted that there was not enough awareness on it.
According to her, reporting it daily will reduce the menace in the country.
Ajie further identified various forms of human trafficking to include forced labour, begging, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, removal of organs, child labour, sale of children and prostitution.
She said also that the training would reawaken people’s consciousness in eradicating the menace.
She attributed human trafficking to poverty, ignorance, lack of opportunities, adding that many victims of trafficking were not aware they were being trafficked.
On her part, the Chairperson, NAWOJ, Enugu Chapter, Comrade Ngozi Ngene, who was also one of the trainees, described the training as a welcome development as she gained more knowledge on the issue.
Ngene promised to take the campaign against human trafficking to the grassroots as women and children are mostly victims of trafficking.
According to her, creating awareness will help them know when they were being trafficked.