The Enugu State government, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has launched a school-based anti-human trafficking initiative targeting primary and secondary schools across the state. The programme, known as the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Awareness Initiative, is currently being piloted in selected schools in Enugu North, South and East local government areas. It includes curriculum-integrated lessons, teacher training, and student-led drama presentations designed to educate children about the dangers of trafficking and how to identify potential traffickers. The initiative also establishes child protection clubs in schools to encourage peer-to-peer awareness and reporting. IOM project coordinator Chidinma Onyekwere stated, "Children are not just passive recipients of information — they are becoming advocates in their homes and communities." The programme follows recent data from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) showing that 45% of trafficking victims in Nigeria are under 18, with many lured through false promises of education or employment. So far, over 30 teachers have been trained, and 12 schools have adopted the programme. Officials say the model could be expanded to other states if the pilot proves successful.
The state is teaching children to spot traffickers while many of the same children walk past out-of-school peers daily, a contradiction the programme does not address. If 45% of victims are under 18, then focusing only on enrolled students leaves the most vulnerable untouched. The initiative may empower pupils in classrooms, but it does nothing for those already outside the system. A campaign against child trafficking cannot be complete while ignoring the children with no school to begin with.
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