Edo State has intensified its school-based campaign against human trafficking, as the state government, in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, on Tuesday opened a two-day capacity-building workshop for teachers handling trafficking-related subjects in the 50 designated STEAP schools.

 The event, which held in Benin City, brought together education stakeholders, government officials, curriculum specialists and teachers drawn from across the state. 

 The training is part of broader efforts to strengthen the State’s School Anti-trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), a prevention-focused initiative that uses classroom learning to equip students with knowledge and skills that can help them resist exploitation.

 In his keynote address, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu, described the initiative as a strategic investment in the human infrastructure needed to curb human trafficking. He noted that while the state has made noticeable progress in recent years, sustained and targeted work within the school system remains essential.

 According to him, Edo’s history with human trafficking continues to justify long-term preventive measures, especially within learning environments. He said the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo has placed school-based preventive education at the centre of its human security and development plans.

 “Education is still our strongest tool for shaping values and protecting young people from exploitation,” the commissioner said. “Every child in Edo State deserves a safe learning environment and the right information to make protective choices. STEAP gives us an avenue to do this in a structured, practical and evidence-based way.”

 Dr Iyamu explained that the 50 STEAP schools were deliberately selected to serve as models for early, age-appropriate and context-sensitive teaching on human trafficking. He added that the teachers serving in these schools remain the backbone of the programme and must be empowered with updated knowledge of trafficking trends, warning signs and teaching methods.

 He outlined key priorities of the Ministry of Education going forward, including deeper integration of anti-trafficking content into relevant subjects, continuous professional development for teachers, expansion of STEAP activities based on emerging data, creation of trauma-sensitive classrooms and stronger collaboration with security agencies, civil society and international partners.

 “You are more than educators,” he told the teachers. “You are protectors and advocates. The work you do will directly influence the safety and awareness of thousands of children.”

 In her welcome address, the Director-General of NAPTIP, represented at the event by a Special Adviser, Hassan Tahir, said the training aligns with a national agenda to strengthen the school system’s role in tackling human trafficking. She noted that children account for more than half of detected victims in Nigeria, making the education sector an indispensable partner in the national response.

 She recalled that efforts to mainstream Trafficking in Persons content into the curriculum began more than a decade ago, culminating in the 2017 collaboration with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, which developed the TIP-infused curriculum for basic and senior secondary schools.

 “This workshop is another milestone,” the DG said. “It is important that teachers understand not just the concepts but the pedagogy. What you will learn here goes beyond lesson delivery; it is life-saving knowledge.”

 She urged teachers to remain alert to behavioural, emotional or physical signs that may indicate that a child is at risk or already experiencing exploitation. She also encouraged them to apply trauma-informed methods and create safe spaces where learners can speak freely.

 The DG thanked the Government of the Netherlands for funding support, ICMPD for coordination, and NERDC for its technical leadership in updating the curriculum. She emphasised that the workshop is being held simultaneously across Delta, Edo, Enugu, Benue and Ogun States, the five STEAP states.

 A total of 150 teachers from the 50 schools are expected to benefit from the training. For many of them, the training is expected to enhance their ability to deliver trafficking-related lessons with accuracy and confidence, while also bridging the gap between classroom instruction and community-level awareness.

 Speaking on behalf of ICMPD, Amarachi Chike-Jerry, Project Manager, said the initiative responds to a disturbing trend in West Africa, where more than 75 percent of trafficking victims are children. She noted that schools remain one of the most strategic environments for prevention because children spend most of their formative years there.

 Chike-Jerry explained that the mainstreaming of anti-trafficking content into the school curriculum began under the FMM I Project, funded by the European Union between 2014 and 2019. Through collaboration with NAPTIP, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education, ICMPD helped integrate Trafficking in Persons topics into basic and secondary education, as well as teacher training programmes. The Federal Government approved the updated curricula earlier in 2025.

 She stressed that even the best curriculum requires well-prepared teachers to succeed, which informed the decision to organise the workshop. Participants were trained on recognizing trafficking risks, identifying warning signs and using teaching methods that empower students to stay safe.

 According to her, the programme is designed to strengthen classroom delivery, deepen teachers’ understanding of human trafficking and position them as child protection advocates within their schools. By the end of the training, teachers are expected to demonstrate stronger capacity to deliver the approved curriculum, increased awareness of prevention and response measures and develop school-level action plans. The workshop also aims to build a network of Anti-Trafficking Champions across Edo State.

 The sessions combined presentations, group exercises, role play and peer learning to give teachers hands-on experience in applying the curriculum in ways that resonate with young learners.

 Chike-Jerry said the long-term impact of the initiative goes beyond classroom lessons. By empowering teachers as both educators and protectors, the project is helping to create safer school environments, strengthen community resilience and break the cycle of trafficking.

 She expressed appreciation to the Edo State Ministry of Education, NAPTIP, NERDC and the Kingdom of Netherlands for their support, adding that the partnership is helping to ensure that schools remain safe spaces for Nigerian children.

 She said the mission is clear: to make schools not only centres of learning but also strongholds of protection against human trafficking.