Michael Babatunde
As a follow up to its plans in curbing human trafficking, a non-governmental organisation, Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) is set to give out loans to communities with prevalent human trafficking in Ogun state.
Following the revelation by National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in persons and other related matters, NAPTIP that human trafficking is prevalent in Ogun, Kano, Kaduna, Anambra and Edo states, PRAWA has been sensitizing and empowering for communities in these states for the past two years.
Having sensitized and empowered the people through skill acquisition, PRAWA is set to offer a financial assistance platform on which the people can take off their businesses in Igan-Okoto area of Yewa-North Local government, Ogun State.
The team leader social development rehabilitation of PRAWA, Ifunaya Igbokwe, who identified poverty as the reason child trafficking is on the rise added that the seed capital will ensure financial stability and comfort of the people.
In his words, “this programme, anti-human trafficking project being sponsored by Netherlands embassy in Nigeria started three years ago. This is the 6th phase and it is running in five states consecutively, that is in Ogun, Edo, Kano, Kaduna and Anambra states which according to NAPTIP are having endemic human trafficking.
“What we will be giving them is not a loan, it is a seed capital but we want it to be like a revolving credit scheme. We realized that if we give them the money and back out, they might spend the money anyhow. So, we want a situation where that credit can be revolved and more participants and indigenes can all benefit from the scheme. It is not a loan but a seed capital and a revolving credit scheme.
“There is no exact amount we are giving out but having empowered them through skill acquisition programmes, we will buy the equipment needed for them through this scheme. Like someone into hair dressing, we finance the business and from whatever the person makes, she will be paying back little by little into a micro finance account that will be opened in the name of the community so as to help other people out.
“Most of these parents, due to poverty and lack of funds will have to send their children out to help alleviate poverty but you find out that it has not solved the problem. So, instead of sending the child out, why don’t we empower the parent and the children? If we empower the parents and the parents are able to provide basic needs, it will help curtail the issue of child labour as recorded by NAPTIP in this state.”
Ifunaya who said the sensitization had earlier been done in Ilara, Iwoye-Ketu of Imeko-Afon, Igan and Igan Okoto areas of Yewa-North added that the choice of Igan-Okoto was because of the eager response received from the residents.
He added that PRAWA is collaborating with Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation, SPADEV, as a contact NGO in Ogun State, and National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in persons and other related matters, NAPTIP as a government agency to curb human trafficking in the states and the country at large.
As a follow up to its plans in curbing human trafficking, a non-governmental organisation, Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) is set to give out loans to communities with prevalent human trafficking in Ogun state.
Following the revelation by National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in persons and other related matters, NAPTIP that human trafficking is prevalent in Ogun, Kano, Kaduna, Anambra and Edo states, PRAWA has been sensitizing and empowering for communities in these states for the past two years.
Having sensitized and empowered the people through skill acquisition, PRAWA is set to offer a financial assistance platform on which the people can take off their businesses in Igan-Okoto area of Yewa-North Local government, Ogun State.
The team leader social development rehabilitation of PRAWA, Ifunaya Igbokwe, who identified poverty as the reason child trafficking is on the rise added that the seed capital will ensure financial stability and comfort of the people.
In his words, “this programme, anti-human trafficking project being sponsored by Netherlands embassy in Nigeria started three years ago. This is the 6th phase and it is running in five states consecutively, that is in Ogun, Edo, Kano, Kaduna and Anambra states which according to NAPTIP are having endemic human trafficking.
“What we will be giving them is not a loan, it is a seed capital but we want it to be like a revolving credit scheme. We realized that if we give them the money and back out, they might spend the money anyhow. So, we want a situation where that credit can be revolved and more participants and indigenes can all benefit from the scheme. It is not a loan but a seed capital and a revolving credit scheme.
“There is no exact amount we are giving out but having empowered them through skill acquisition programmes, we will buy the equipment needed for them through this scheme. Like someone into hair dressing, we finance the business and from whatever the person makes, she will be paying back little by little into a micro finance account that will be opened in the name of the community so as to help other people out.
“Most of these parents, due to poverty and lack of funds will have to send their children out to help alleviate poverty but you find out that it has not solved the problem. So, instead of sending the child out, why don’t we empower the parent and the children? If we empower the parents and the parents are able to provide basic needs, it will help curtail the issue of child labour as recorded by NAPTIP in this state.”
Ifunaya who said the sensitization had earlier been done in Ilara, Iwoye-Ketu of Imeko-Afon, Igan and Igan Okoto areas of Yewa-North added that the choice of Igan-Okoto was because of the eager response received from the residents.
He added that PRAWA is collaborating with Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation, SPADEV, as a contact NGO in Ogun State, and National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in persons and other related matters, NAPTIP as a government agency to curb human trafficking in the states and the country at large.
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