Worried by the rising cases of child trafficking, exploitation, and unsafe migration in Ogun State, parents and community leaders have resolved to intensify efforts in protecting children from traffickers.
At a sensitization workshop held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu-Ode, the Parents Club of the school (Senior and Junior) in collaboration with the Gender Development Initiative (GenDi) and anti-trafficking agencies, stressed the urgent need for stronger parental vigilance.
The event, tagged School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), drew over 500 participants, including parents, teachers, students, traditional rulers, and religious leaders.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Parents Club (Junior School), Prince Oyetayo Gbenga, described parents as the “first line of defense” against traffickers.
He urged them to investigate suspicious job offers, monitor their children’s use of technology, and collaborate with schools and government in the fight against trafficking.
Participants were educated on the operations of traffickers, their deceptive strategies, and the devastating consequences victims face, including slavery, prostitution, organ harvesting, and psychological trauma.
Experts also warned that traffickers were no longer distant strangers but operate within local communities, including Ijebu-Ode.
Facilitators emphasized the importance of prompt reporting of suspicious cases to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), noting that traffickers increasingly exploit social media and online platforms to lure unsuspecting victims.
Community leaders also weighed in. High Chief Benson Ade Ajayi, the Oloritun of Obalende, Ijebu-Ode, cautioned parents to monitor the company their children keep, while Mrs. A.O. Sogbehin, Principal of the Junior School, advised parents to lead by example and strengthen family bonds.
The workshop also spotlighted the Federal Government’s 5Ps strategy against trafficking—Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Partnership, and Policies—calling for collective action among schools, religious institutions, government, and civil society.
A senior teacher, Mr. Adesanya Adelani, urged parents not to impose career choices on children but instead guide them according to their strengths, while Pastor Olajubutu Emmanuel encouraged parents to discipline with love and accept corrections from others in raising their children.
Closing the event, stakeholders stressed that the fight against human trafficking cannot be left to government alone but requires joint efforts of families, communities, and institutions to safeguard Nigeria’s children.
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