The Gender Development Initiative, in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, has scaled up its anti-human trafficking campaign across Ogun State, reaching no fewer than 7,787 parents, traders and community actors through coordinated school and community engagements.
The intervention, implemented under the Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project, covered major zones including Abeokuta, Ijebu and Yewa, with a focus on curbing trafficking at the grassroots level.
As part of the initiative, sensitisation programmes were held in five secondary schools in Abeokuta—Lafenwa High School, Salau Abiola Comprehensive High School, Ansar-U-Deen High School, Premier Grammar School and Muslim High School—alongside market outreach at Osiele and Lafenwa.
Facilitators educated participants on the dangers, patterns and prevention of human trafficking, with emphasis on the vulnerability of young people. They identified common tactics used by traffickers, including deception, false promises of better opportunities and increasing cases of online exploitation.
Participants were urged to verify opportunities before committing, maintain open family communication and promptly report suspicious movements. They were also introduced to reporting mechanisms such as Community Registers and emergency response platforms designed to link communities with law enforcement and support services.
Beyond Abeokuta, the programme featured town hall meetings and the inauguration of Community Registers in 14 communities across the three zones, as well as awareness campaigns in six major markets.
The initiative also included the commissioning of school improvement interventions under the project and the collection of feedback from parents to guide future engagements.
Interactive sessions, including question-and-answer segments, provided participants with opportunities to share experiences and deepen their understanding of trafficking risks, particularly in commercial and transit hubs.
Speaking on the impact of the programme, the Executive Director of GenDi, Prof. Olubunmi Ashimolowo, stressed the need for sustained engagement across schools, markets and communities.
She noted that consistent awareness efforts remained critical to early prevention and long-term success in combating human trafficking.
The organisers added that the exercise recorded strong participation and positive feedback, with growing community ownership and readiness to tackle trafficking threats.
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