By Akaha Sule
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, Mrs. Nambativ Helen Zeramo has called for collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to put an end to the menace of Trafficking in human beings.
The Perm. Sec. made the call on Wednesday, 13th August, 2025 while declaring open a two-day Awareness Raising and Capacity Building Workshop for Principals and Vanguard Coordinators of Selected Schools for the STEAP project held at Smile View Hotel, Makurdi.
“Human trafficking has become an International illegal business with its high attendant consequences and Benue State seems to be a fertile ground for this illegal business. This is because of incessant attack by herders and terrorists on Benue Communities thereby leaving our people vulnerable,” She stated.
“The state government has been trying to educate people on the dangers of human trafficking through the available media platforms. But not everybody can be reached through these platforms hence the need to partner with Organizations and Spirited Individuals with interest to end human trafficking in the State.”
She commended the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) for supporting Benue state in the fight against Human Trafficking and Violence against Persons as well as National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the partnering CSO, Okaha Women And Children Development Organization (OWACDO) for their commitment in the fight.
The Perm. Sec called on all stakeholders in the project to cooperate with the Ministry through the Desk Officer to ensure the success of the project and equally challenged representatives of the selected schools to pay attention to the training so as to escalate it to their respective schools when they go back.
Mrs. Nambativ used the opportunity to encourage the sponsor, ICMPD, to improve on timely payment of the stipend stipulated for any activity, saying, delay in payment of allowances to participants in organized activities is tantamount to discouraging the expected cooperation of the stakeholders.
Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu OON represented by Josiah Emerole in a remark said, the program is targeted at educating participants on issues of human trafficking towards prevention, which is better than cure.
On her part, STEAP Project Manager, Mrs. Rhoda Johnson, who described participants as Frontline defenders of schools and communities, stressed the need for them to be informed as she charged them to take the training seriously.
Speaking with journalists, NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Mrs. Gloria Bai noted that Benue is topping the chart on Trafficking cases not because they are not doing enough but because of awareness, promising to up their game to reduce the prevalence.
There were goodwill messages from Director, Public Prosecution, Benue State Ministry of Justice and Public Order, Dooshima Ortserga and founder of OWADCO foundation, Mrs. Joy Ijuwo.
