A new initiative is equipping secondary schools across Ogun, Benue, Enugu, Delta, and Edo states to take an active role in preventing human trafficking. Through the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), young leaders are being trained to raise awareness, educate peers and strengthen resilience within their schools and communities.
Through the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), young leaders are being trained to raise awareness, educate peers and strengthen resilience within their schools and communities.
Funded by the Government of Netherlands, the initiative aims to transform schools into hubs of knowledge and prevention by establishing Anti-Trafficking Vanguard Clubs. These peer education groups are central to a whole-of-community approach that actively involves students, teachers, parents, and relevant stakeholders in reducing trafficking risks among school-aged children.
Each Vanguard consists of 30 trained student members in every participating school, guided by a school coordinator. The program is coordinated with State Ministries of Education and State Taskforces on Human Trafficking to ensure broad institutional support. The first phase aims to reach over 25,000 students through peer-to-peer education, leveraging the influence of young people to shape attitudes and build protective networks.
The Vanguard Clubs focus on four core areas:
- Awareness: Students are educated on the various forms, causes, and consequences of human trafficking, including deceptive job offers, unverified scholarships, sexual exploitation, and forced labour.
- Empowerment: Vanguards are equipped with the skills and tools to identify, resist, and safely report suspected trafficking activities, with clear channels to NAPTIP and other authorities.
- Advocacy: Students are encouraged to become agents of change, promoting safe practices and protective policies within their schools and communities.
- Collaboration: The initiative fosters partnerships between schools, government agencies, and civil society to ensure a sustainable, school-led response to trafficking.
Structured Implementation for Sustainable Impact
The Vanguard Clubs follow a participatory and sustainable model, beginning with administrator engagement before selecting and training Vanguard members. Each school inauguration includes sensitisation sessions reaching over 550 students, supported by awareness materials such as educational toolkits and public address systems.
Beyond individual schools, Vanguard members act as peer educators and frontline responders, creating a ripple effect that embeds anti-trafficking awareness within their communities. The project’s systemic integration of anti-trafficking education is building a well-informed generation capable of recognising and resisting exploitation, with efforts already expanding to include Vanguard Clubs in military and faith-based schools nationwide.
This initiative is a strategic investment in youth leadership and community protection — positioning students as key partners in the national effort to combat human trafficking.
Abeokuta Ogun State