Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has called for stronger collaboration among governments, institutions, communities and families to eliminate human trafficking in all its forms.
Dr Soludo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, made the call in a statement issued in Awka through her media aide, Daniel Ezeigwe, to mark the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
She said this year’s theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” highlights the growing threat of human trafficking driven by online scam networks, where unsuspecting victims are lured with fake job offers and forced into criminal activities.
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Describing the observance as a reminder of the collective responsibility to protect the dignity, freedom and rights of individuals, she noted that human trafficking remains one of the gravest violations of human rights.
Dr Soludo stated that the commemoration provides an opportunity to raise awareness on the tactics used by traffickers and strengthen collaboration among governments, security agencies, civil society organisations and communities to protect vulnerable groups, especially women, children and unemployed youths.
The Anambra First Lady said the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative continues to promote programmes focused on protecting women and children, youth empowerment, education, healthy family values and community sensitisation.
She noted that these efforts address social and economic vulnerabilities often exploited by traffickers while promoting human dignity, economic resilience and safer communities.
Dr Soludo urged parents, guardians, religious institutions, schools and traditional rulers to educate young people on the dangers of deceptive recruitment, irregular migration and online scams.
She also advised job seekers to verify employment offers and encouraged the public to report suspected trafficking cases to relevant authorities.
Dr Soludo stressed that ending human trafficking in Nigeria requires sustained investment in quality education, youth employment, skills acquisition, digital literacy, effective border security, stronger law enforcement and prosecution, as well as continuous public awareness campaigns.
She called for vigilance, compassion and shared responsibility, expressing confidence that protecting vulnerable persons and expanding economic opportunities will help build a society free from exploitation and modern-day slavery.
