Tony Elumelu Foundation commits to support National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
In recognition of the growing concerns around human trafficking in
Africa, The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), an African founded and funded
21st centuryphilanthropic organization committed to youth empowerment
and entrepreneurship development, hosted the Director
General of Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking
in Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah-Donli.
According to Okah-Donli, UNESCO ranks human trafficking as the third
most lucrative criminal enterprise in Nigeria. Thus, agencies like
NAPTIP need goodlaws, sustained funding and equally important, critical
support from local and global stakeholders to execute
the urgent war against human trafficking.
“We can no longer wait for government alone to fight this war. Many
victims are on standby, anxious to be fully reintegrated into society.
At the agency, we are desperate for assistance to empower and
rehabilitate these millions of victims in need. Thus, we
are identifying and approaching organizations like the Tony Elumelu
Foundation (TEF) for support.”
She continued: “We need to refurbish and rehabilitate our existing
shelters, facilitate periodic provision of food, clothing and medical
consumables and shelter for victims. We also need assistance in the
development of standard skills’ acquisition centres
in strategic locations for the training of vulnerable persons, as well
as rescued victims.”
In response, Mr. Tony Elumelu CON, Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation,
commended Okah-Donli for her accomplishments at the agency, including
the conviction of over 325 persons, and successful rehabilitation of
more than 12,000 victims. He also added that she
was a former staff of leading pan-African bank, United Bank for Africa
(UBA).
“She is an alumna of the United Bank for America (UBA), Africa’s global
bank, thus we are not surprised at what she has become. We predicted
that she will attain such great heights because of the passion she has
always had for human trafficking.”
On behalf of the Foundation, he pledged commitment to the war against
human trafficking. “We support what you are doing and we stand behind
you. The TonyElumelu Foundation believes in the empowerment of our
youths and as we all know, they cannot be empowered
if they are not free.”
“We stand with you in eradicating human trafficking in Nigeria and will
engage extensively with you as you work to restore dignity to mankind,
protect the dignity of our youth and ensure no one can take undue
advantage of them.”
He also made an appeal to the government to increase budgetary funding
to the cash-strapped agency. “I call on the Federal Government to make
more resourcesavailable to support you. As private companies, we pay
taxes to the Federal Government and we want to
see a more judicious use of the taxes paid.”
Elumelu also urged other private sector players to join the agency to
fight human trafficking, assuring them of the credibility and competency
of NAPTIP and its DG whom he could vouch for. “If she succeeds, we will
all succeed. Let us come together to make
sure our youth, our future leaders, are not trafficked.”