By Sunday Apah
The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) has intensified its efforts to combat human trafficking in Delta State.
Through its Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), the organization has engaged more than 4,159 community members via sensitization campaigns led by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Parent Teacher Forums (PTFs).
STEAP is funded by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
The project is delivered in close collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Delta State Ministry of Education, and Hope Health Organization (HHO), Ozoro.
The project’s core objective is to prevent human trafficking through interventions delivered in schools and communities throughout the state.
To foster community engagement and coordinated action against human trafficking, HHO conducted sensitization activities in several locations: Ozoro (Isoko North), Irri, Oleh, and Emede (Isoko South), and Ughelli (Ughelli North LGA).
These campaigns were held at prominent public venues such as the Ozoro main market, Oleh community market, and the town halls of Irri, Emede, and Otovwodo in Ughelli.
These initiatives significantly enhanced public awareness of human trafficking, strengthened local ownership of anti-trafficking efforts, and reinforced collaborations among government bodies, CSOs, and community leaders.
Beyond the considerable number of people reached, the campaigns secured strong commitments from local government authorities and community leaders.
This indicates broad acceptance of the STEAP Project and a growing desire to expand its reach and empower local stakeholders to sustain anti-trafficking efforts beyond the project’s lifespan.
Nwaefulu Matthew, the CSO STEAP Project Officer, informed journalists that the project’s primary focus remains prevention through education. “We are directly addressing high-risk communities across Delta State,” he stated.
“By providing students, teachers, and parents with the knowledge to identify warning signs, resist deceptive proposals, and safely report threats, we are establishing a protective barrier around our children before traffickers can approach them.”
Oluwakemi Omotoso, the CSO Project Coordinator, commended the dedicated work of Delta State ICMPD officials.
She specifically acknowledged Mrs. Ijeoma David-Ukoko, the State ICMPD Project Officer, for her technical support in ensuring the project’s smooth execution.
Omotoso also recognized the vital contributions of other STEAP partners in the state, including the Delta State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking and the State Ministry of Education, emphasizing that the project’s implementation would not have been possible without their assistance.
