A Development Centre Coordinator in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, John Osi Omoke, has taken anti-human trafficking and menstrual hygiene campaigns to secondary schools in his domain.
The Coordinator of Anuagata Development Centre also distributed over 1000 packs of sanitary pads to the girls in the schools visited.
Omoke took with him the campaign resource persons from some non-governmental organisations, including the Nigeria Girl Guides Association, Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, and Young Men Network, who sensitised the teenagers on issues around human trafficking and child labour, menstruation and gender-based violence.
The campaign, carried out on Thursday, was part of activities in commemoration of the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, with the theme: “Girl’s Vision for the Future.”
Speaking on his motivation for the campaign, Omoke said the rising rate of trafficking in persons in Nigeria, especially girls, demanded urgent actions towards stemming the tide.
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He noted that educating the young generation on the manifestations and dangers of trafficking, helping the girls grow their knowledge about their rights and how to manage their gender could go a long way in nurturing a secured future for them.
Omoke explained: “When I was younger, I had a relative that got abused, and often in my community here, we have issues of traffickers luring young girls with fake promises.
“I discussed this with a friend, and we found it germane to sensitise these adolescents using the platform of their schools to let them know that it pays to be focused.
“At this age they are now, that is when they often begin to catch them through negative peer influence and other forms of allure.”
The Coordinator commended the present administration in the state under Governor Francis Nwifuru for taking the issues seriously, and doing a lot to prevent child labour and trafficking through his various empowerment packages.
Omoke stated that what he did was simply to align himself with the People’s Charter of Needs agenda of the Governor.
Nnenna Nnanna, one of the resource persons and the State Public Relations Officer, Girl Guides Association, educated the girls on the right usage, disposal of used sanitary pads and other tips about their menstrual health.
The State Coordinator, NACTAL, Lorieth Nwafor, admonished the students on how to avoid falling prey to traffickers, while Augustine Onwe of the Young Men Network encouraged the boys to always protect the girls and show them solidarity both at home and in school, avoiding gender discrimination.
Some of the children who spoke to newsmen: Ngozi Agwu, Ogbonna Anoke and Nnenna Ogudu, appreciated the team for the visit, describing the knowledge as rich and worthwhile.
The Principals of the schools, including Felicia Amadi of Ndiagu Community Secondary school, Okposi-Okwu, described the visit as timely.
They appreciated the DC Coordinator and his team and solicited for more of such visits.
The Coordinator was joined during the sensitisation visit by some of his Management Committee members: Esther Nweji, Odinaka John Okorie and Ngozi Sunday.
Other schools visited by the team were Government Secondary School, Okposi Okwu; IsiOkposi High School; and Ndi Unuhu Community Secondary school, all in Anuagata Development Centre.
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed on October 11 every year.
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