As the global community prepares to mark the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, efforts to protect young Nigerians from exploitation have gained renewed momentum with an education-driven awareness campaign targeting secondary school students in Ogun State.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), working in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Ogun State Government, organised an inter-school competition designed to equip students with the knowledge and confidence to recognise, resist and report human trafficking. The initiative formed part of broader activities aimed at reducing the vulnerability of young people to trafficking networks that increasingly target school-age children through deception and false promises.
Held at African Church Grammar School in Abeokuta, the event was themed “Trapped Behind the Scam” and brought together students from several public secondary schools across the state. Rather than relying solely on lectures, organisers adopted an interactive learning approach that featured debates, quizzes, drama presentations, spoken-word poetry and cultural performances. The activities encouraged participants to demonstrate their understanding of trafficking tactics while promoting peer-to-peer education among fellow students.
Participating schools included St. Peter’s College, Premier Grammar School, Salau Abiola Comprehensive High School, Lomiro High School in Ogun Waterside, Ososa Comprehensive High School, Ifedapo Community Comprehensive High School and the host institution, African Church Grammar School.
Speaking during the programme, Ogun State Commander of NAPTIP, Abosede Jimoh, explained that the competition was structured not merely as an academic exercise but as a practical assessment of students’ understanding of the realities surrounding human trafficking. According to her, traffickers frequently prey on young people by presenting seemingly attractive opportunities abroad, particularly in countries such as Mali and Ghana, where victims are promised lucrative employment in gold mining and other ventures. In reality, many eventually discover that they have been deceived and subjected to exploitation, abuse or forced labour.
Jimoh stressed that one of the agency’s major responsibilities is to ensure that students understand these warning signs before they become targets. She added that commemorating the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons provides another opportunity to educate communities, support victims and reinforce the message that traffickers will continue to face prosecution wherever they operate.
She further emphasised that awareness remains one of the strongest preventive tools, noting that young people who understand the recruitment methods commonly employed by traffickers are better equipped to protect themselves and alert others to suspicious activities.
The Project Officer of ICMPD in Ogun State, Samuel Okorji, described the programme as part of the organisation’s School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), an initiative focused on building awareness among secondary school students through sustained education campaigns.
According to him, involving students directly in advocacy efforts increases the effectiveness of anti-trafficking campaigns because messages delivered by peers often resonate more strongly with young audiences. He explained that empowering students to educate classmates creates a multiplier effect that extends awareness beyond the classroom and into homes and communities.
Okorji noted that the annual observance of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, recognised by the United Nations, provides an opportunity to strengthen public understanding of the dangers associated with trafficking while encouraging young people to become ambassadors for safe migration and informed decision-making.
Representing the Ogun State Government, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, commended both NAPTIP and ICMPD for investing in preventive education rather than waiting until young people become victims.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Education, Mrs Mary Akinola-Okereafor, the commissioner observed that continuous awareness programmes help equip students with the knowledge, values and life skills needed to identify deceptive recruitment schemes, online fraud, unsafe migration offers, fake scholarship opportunities and other forms of exploitation increasingly directed at young people.
He reminded students that human trafficking rarely begins with physical force but often starts with attractive promises designed to exploit ambition and financial need. Consequently, he encouraged them to verify information carefully, seek guidance from trusted adults before making major decisions and remain cautious of individuals offering unrealistic employment, travel or educational opportunities.
The commissioner also urged participants to view themselves not merely as competitors but as advocates capable of influencing positive behavioural change among their peers. Through debates, drama, poetry, quizzes and other creative presentations, he said, students could help challenge misinformation, educate fellow learners and encourage safer choices within their communities.
The programme reflects a growing recognition that combating human trafficking requires more than law enforcement alone. By integrating anti-trafficking education into schools, authorities hope to build resilience among young people before criminal networks can exploit their aspirations.
Education specialists have increasingly argued that sustained awareness campaigns within schools complement prosecution efforts by addressing one of the root causes of trafficking—lack of information. When students understand how traffickers operate, they become less susceptible to deceptive recruitment tactics and more willing to report suspicious activities to relevant authorities.
With youth-targeted scams evolving through social media, fraudulent employment advertisements and fake international opportunities, initiatives such as the STEAP project reinforce the importance of equipping students with practical knowledge that can protect them throughout their educational journey and beyond.
