EDO STATE, NIGERIA- On May 5th and 6th, 2017, we were honored to serve as consultants to the Edo State Government of Nigeria, organizing a 2-day workshop on human trafficking alongside the brilliant minds of its Strategic Planning Unit. With over 90% of all Nigerian women trafficked into Europe hailing from Edo, it was encouraging to see our state Governor, His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, and First Lady, Her Excellency, Betsy Obaseki, reinforcing their commitment to eradicating the issue from Edo State. The workshop brought over a hundred stakeholders to the table, including NAPTIP Nigeria, UNODC, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Customs and Immigration Services, dozens of CSOs (including IOM, ILO, TY Danjuma Foundation, FIDA, NAME, CONGOS, WOTCLEF, etc.), traditional rulers and community leaders, Federal and State Ministries, destination embassies, religious institutions, the British High Commission in Nigeria, Laura Boldrini of the Italian Parliament, Nigeria’s Special Advisor on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, world renowned women’s activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (Chairwoman), and so many others to collectively strategize and make recommendations to the government.
In his remarks, Governor Obaseki expressed 100% commitment to (1) domesticating the federal anti-trafficking law in Edo State; (2) strengthening our local institutions to work with federal agencies; (3) partnering with international organizations; (4) rehabilitating survivors and to set up a fund to support them; (5) partnering with religious/community/traditional leaders; and (6) creating a database of repatriated survivors who will receive top priority for job placement. We are prepared to work with his administration to ensure that his goals and vision for Edo State are realized. The workshop was a complete success and we look forward to a new emerging Edo State! #Not4Sale #EndSexTrafficking
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- Trafficking Programme
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- With His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki
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- With His Excellency, Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu
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- With stakeholders
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- With Dr. Joe Odumakin and SA Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa
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- Breakout sessions
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- Breakout sessions
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- Breakout sessions
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- With secondary school student reps.
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- Team Members
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- Team Members
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- NAPTIP Nigeria
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- With members of the Italian Media Team
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- Governor Obaseki
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- With Governor Obaseki
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- Workshop Day II
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- With FIDA Edo State
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- Workshop Day I
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- Barrister Idahosa speaking
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- With members of the British High Commission to Nigeria
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- PJI with Chairman SPU and Deputy Chief of Staff
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- With Deputy Governor Shaibu
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- Some NGO representatives
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- Pathfinders and Edo State SPU
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- Our team with Kay Benson-Akhigbe
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- With DVID
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- Workshop Day II
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- Nick Wood of British High Commission speaking
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- Workshop Day I
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- Student representative on Day II
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- With PJI team
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- Workshop Day II
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- NAPTIP Commissioner
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- With DFID, British High Commission and Help Services for Nigerian in Russia
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- Workshop Day II
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- Working hard
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- With survivor B.O.
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- Workshop Day I
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- Deputy Governor Shaibu speaking
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- PJI Team with Dr. Odumakin
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- With Bishop Feb Idahosa, Dr. Odumakin and Mr. Oluremi
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- Professor Ihonvbere (Chairman Edo State SPU)
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- Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin
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- Team Members at work
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- First Lady Obaseki with a survivor