NAPTIP calls on states for sustained action against human trafficking

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has called on state governments to engage sustained programmes and action plan to tackle the pervading menace of illicit trafficking in persons.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah- Donli who was in Asaba, Delta state on Tuesday,  said she was in the state in continuation of the agency’s nationwide campaign against the societal ill.
The NAPTIP DG and her delegation, who paid courtesy call on the Delta State Governor said the advocacy visit was actually to see what efforts the state was making in the fight against trafficking in humans.
According to her, Delta state is already geared on the right direction, haven set up a taskforce to tackle the menace comprehensively, but called for sustained support of the state governments towards tackling inhumanity and modern day slave trade.
She noted the fight against human trafficking involved everybody in the society, pointing out that all hands should be on deck to sustain the battle against the ills associated with trafficking in persons.
In his response, Delta state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa said the state has taken measures to equip youths in the state with relevant skills that would enable them contribute to development of society.
While commending NAPTIP for its sensitisation campaign against trafficking in persons, Senator Okowa said government is engaging youths in skills acquisition and agricultural training programmes, a development that had shielded many of them from the vulnerability of being trafficked.
“We started the various skills acquisition training programmes as soon as we came on board; we are not yet where we are supposed to be but we have achieved 60 per cent in our youths training programmes,” Okowa said, adding that his administration has sustained the programmes since inception of his government.
He quipped that there are a number of skills acquisition centres across the state, adding that his administration’s education policy is geared towards technical and vocational education, which informed the revamping of defunct technical colleges in the state.
Governor Okowa stressed that apart scaling up infrastructural facilities in the existing six technical colleges, the state government is in the process of establishing nine more technical colleges to stimulate entrepreneurial development among youths.
The governor pointed out that being mindful of gender challenges, the state government has also created an office/department for the girl-child, which is fundamentally committed to tackling  human trafficking and related vices.