Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative Commemorate Human Trafficking Day 2018.

 Dr. Ama Onyerinma

Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative organised a seminar in collaboration with the Oyo State Government, to mark Human Trafficking Day 2018 on July 30th. 

The NGO used the platform to sensitise students, NYSC members, Independent Defense Safety Corps, Security Personnel's, people with special needs,  and market women on the dangers of human trafficking...

The keynote speakers of the event were the first lady of Oyo State Dr (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi, Dr Pamela Jackson-Ajayi, Mr Abraham Tamrat, Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, Mrs Bukola Ogunmuyiwa, Mrs Dolapo Oyedipe, Mr Abiodun Odude, Mrs Kenhinde Akomolafe, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.

Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya the commissioner for women affairs, in her welcome address said: “Human Trafficking involves the recruitment, transporting or  harbouring  of people into a situation of exploitation against their will, through the use of violence, deception or coercion.

Dr Soji Adetona who represented Dr Pamela Jackson-Ajayi spoke about health and wellness. He advised that we should know our numbers so we can prevent sickness before it escalates. Knowing your number basically means going to medical centers to do screenings so you check your body massage index, blood pressure, blood sugar, liver testing, cholesterol levels and other lipids.

The commissioner of police sent a representative to educate us on safety and security. Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN also sent a representative who talked about understanding violence against women.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Toye Arulogun, said the state government was alive to its responsibility of reducing the vulnerability of potential victims and developing strategies to address the root causes of trafficking.

Mrs. Oyedipe

Mrs. Oyedipe represented the first lady of Oyo state. She read the first lady's speech and expressed her gratitude to have worked with Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative and encouraged the public to kick against women trafficking.

Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya the commissioner for women affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare & Poverty Alleviation.

Miss Temilolu Jiboye

Temilolu Jiboye represented Mrs Bukola Ogunmuyiwa the president of Sickel Cell Aid Foundation (SCAF), and spoke about the need for everyone knowing their genotype so that they can choose the right partner and avoid having children with sickle cell. SCAF team brought their crew to do free genotype test at the seminar hall.

NAPTIP spoke to the audience about who they are, what they do, and sensitised the people about the laws that makes one a human trafficker and the penalty if caught in the business of human trafficking in Nigeria. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons is an agency set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2003 to tackle human trafficking and other related matters in Nigeria. The hot line to call if anyone notices any form of human trafficking is 07080601801 (Toll free for Airtel lines)

Also speaking, The Founder of Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative, Dr. Ama Onyerinma, said human trafficking could single-handedly destroy the essence of humanity.

Prince Gbenga Oguntayo, Mrs. Oyedipe, Dr. Ama Onyerinma, Peter Armand Boyo.

The Cut - Dr. Ama Onyerinma

The cut is deep and painful.

The scar is permanent.

The flashbacks cause anguish, despair and anger.

The psychological implication is lifelong.

The stigma stings like a bee and the wound raw.

Human Trafficking is a cut that runs deeply into the core of your Being.

Human Trafficking strips you of the dignity of humanity leaving a walking corpse open to the vultures of the earth.

You can dress up the body but the scar is permanently embedded because you cannot trust another person particularly those who knowingly inflicted such pain.

The stigma reopens the wound because the cut of human trafficking can never fully heal.

The Traffickers come in various robes brandishing stories of grand lives.

Some traffickers are family members whilst others are supposed honourable members of the community or exploiters seeking an income from the sale of a precious being.

The victims are generally women, children, disenfranchised youth and the physiologically challenged whom are relegated to marginalised lives in society.

Laws alone cannot stop the third most lucrative illegal business in the world.

The network is intricate and the spoils of the toxic trade is intoxicating for those cold-hearted traffickers who can only think of their financial gains.

Awareness, advocacy and education are crucial on all levels.

The laws like the trade must be enacted and enforced internationally.

We can minimise the cut when we value and treasure lives.

When we start to recognise our children, mothers and family members are not a commodity to be cut up with scars from beatings, hunger, sexual violence, chains, branding for sale and death.

We must stop The Cut by speaking up in our home, schools, community and society.

We cannot, as a nation, continue to be the world’s supplier for human beings traded like commodities on the stock market.

We cannot continue to allow our citizens to languish in sores and scars because The Cut runs deep and is permanent.

The scab if it dries, leaves a scar which is physically and psychologically damaging.

The stigma is a necklace and the flashback is a recording like the march to hell without an escape chute.

This event held at Ibadan Civic Center, Agodi GRA, Ibadan Oyo State.

Posted by @pocarlee