As the world marks the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, Nigeria’s Luna Foundation is taking bold steps to raise awareness and empower communities against human trafficking and irregular migration.
To this end, it intensified its nationwide campaign, blending online advocacy with grassroots outreach to ensure the message reaches every corner of society—from digital spaces to local markets.
Luna Oyiza, founder of Luna Foundation, noted that the foundation’s campaign expanded into rural markets, engaging traders, parents, and youth through in-person conversations and messaging in local languages.
According to her, the market activations were especially crucial in communities with limited digital access, where trafficking risks remain dangerously high.
Ms. Oyiza added that the awareness was not be a privilege.
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Rather, it was an opportunity to ensure Nigerians at the grassroots become key drivers in tackling the menace.
“From smartphones to chalkboards to market stalls, we’re meeting people where they are. This is a novel approach that would yield benefits going forward,” she said.
Bigger Picture
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), over 50% of detected trafficking victims globally are women, while nearly one-third are children.
The Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (2022) notes that Africa accounts for 20% of global victims, with trafficking for forced labor and sexual exploitation being most prevalent.
In Nigeria, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has recorded thousands of cases in the past decade, with Edo, Delta, and Kano among the top source states.
The Luna Foundation founder, herself a human trafficking survivor, pointed out that Nigeria remains a source, transit, and destination country for trafficked persons.
Victims are often lured with false promises of jobs, education, or better lives abroad, only to fall into exploitative networks.
“Trafficking is not just a border issue—it starts in homes, schools, and communities. Prevention begins with awareness,” she said.
As trafficking networks evolve, Luna Foundation’s model—merging social media with street-level activism—is proving both timely and impactful.
It shows that with sustained education, empathy, and action, communities can protect themselves and each other from exploitation.