Devatop Anti-Human Trafficking Ambassadors and team members recently paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Barr. Julie Okah-Donli at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja.
During the courtesy visit, Devatop Anti-Human Trafficking Ambassador, John Fashanu, a football Legend and former UN Ambassador appreciated the NAPTIP boss for her time and revealed his intention to use his wealth of experience to fight human trafficking in the areas of sports. He lamented that some unregistered football academies traffic young people in the name of signing them to play for super-clubs in Europe. In his words, ‘‘There is human trafficking in football’’. He, however, assured the DG of his commitment to employ his affluence of experience and expertise to combat this global menace affecting Africa, especially Nigeria.
Also, Rachel Bakam (a TV presenter) praised Bar. Julie Okah-Donli for her drive and passion in combating human trafficking. According to her, Devatop ambassadors (John Fashanu, Kenneth Okonkwo, Chido Onumah and Esther Ekanem) are planning to start a TV series which will include different renowned actors and actresses in Nigeria. She assured the DG that the TV series will be a platform to educate young people about human trafficking. She requested the agency to partner with Devatop Centre for Africa Development in producing the TV series.
In his speech, Joseph Osuigwe, Executive Director of Devatop (represented by Arinze Egemonye) briefed Bar. Julie Donli of the organization’s plan to use the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to raise funds to enable her continue with the second phase of her project on The Academy for the Prevention of Human Trafficking and Other related Matters (TAPHOM). Egemonye explained that the project is estimated to cost Twenty Three Million Naira Only (N23, 000 000) and includes the training of 775 young people from 36 states, developing a Human Rights Abuse Reporting Mobile App (TALKAM), conducting researches/survey, empowering survivors, and publishing and distributing anti-human trafficking materials.
In her response, the Director-General thanked Devatop ambassadors and their team and pledged her agency’s partnership and support on the upcoming TV series. She promised to continue to offer technical and professional supports to the organization, and requested them to always notify and update her agency of their activities.
She acknowledged the creativity in the project of creating a human right mobile application ‘TALKAM’ and promised to lend her support.
While responding to John Fashanu, she assured the Ambassador that whoever is found to be culpable in such dastardly act will surely be prosecuted. She informed him that NAPTIP had the constitutional and legal backing to arrest, detain and prosecute trafficking offenders and encouraged him to report any culprits found within the sports sector.
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of an anti-human trafficking frame, titled: ‘‘JOIN Julie Okah-Donli, TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING’’ by Devatop ambassadors to the Director-General.
Also in attendance were other Devatop team members, including Ibrahim Hayatudeen, Vivian Amalu, and Cynthia Frank-Inyang.
To contact Devatop Centre for Africa Development, visit: www.devatop.org, info@devatop.org
