Media organisatoins tasked to sustain campaign against modern slavery
By Peter Usman://
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr. (Mrs.) Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, has tasks media organizations in the country to ensure that the message of the campaign against modern slavery is sustained.
Mrs. Anyanwutaku gave the charge while delivering a speech on Monday in Abuja on the occasion of the commemoration of International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
She said, “Against the backdrop, it is my sincere hope that the campaign against modern day slavery does not end here. I wish to task our media organizations to ensure the message is sustained on air and it reaches the nooks and crannies of Nigeria so as to create the needed national awareness on this menace.
“Today, we honour the memory of the men and women who in 1791 in Santo Domingo (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic), revolted and paved the way for the end of the transatlantic slave trade and its associated dehumanization.
“This special day acknowledges the pivotal struggle of those who subjected to the denial of their very humanity, triumphed over the slave system and affirmed the universal nature of the principles of human dignity, freedom and equality.
“As a mother myself, this year’s theme: “Modern Day Slavery, A National Question: Protecting the future Generations” is particularly a subject of interest to me, considering the realities of modern day slavery that out children and youths are faced with today, some of which include; human trafficking, voluntary slavery, child labour, forced marriage, force labour, irregular migration and so on”
The permanent Secretary urged children present at the event to take the message of the campaign against modern day slavery to their schools, house and neighbourhoods so as to sensitise their friends on the menace.
Also speaking at the event, the Secretary-General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, Mr. Olagunju I. L., said Nigeria has experienced an increase in the cases of human trafficking in recent times due to dwindling economy and poverty rate.
Olagunju said research has revealed that the people of the Niger Delta have been found more vulnerable to human trafficking.
He however asserted that the Federal Government of Nigeria has demonstrated significant efforts in combating human trafficking in the country by creating the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in persons, NAPTIP.
According to him, “It is also gratifying to state here that the identified push and pull factors responsible for the increase human trafficking in our dear country are being individually and jointly addressed by relevant government agencies and NGOs to ensure this ugly trend comes to an end.
“Let us remember the freedom fighters of the past and every organization working so hard in fighting this ugly scourge in our world today.
The Secretary-General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, emphasized on rehabilitating the victims and educating the citizens on the evil effects of every acts connected to modern day slavery.