Tony Elumelu: Human trafficking is evil, it strips our youth of dignity and denies them opportunity
Tony Elumelu Foundation commits to support National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
In recognition of the growing concerns around human trafficking in
Africa, The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), an African founded and funded
21st century philanthropic organization committed to youth empowerment
and entrepreneurship development, hosted the Director General of
Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
(NAPTIP), Julie Okah-Donli.
According to Okah-Donli, UNESCO ranks human trafficking as the third
most lucrative criminal enterprise in Nigeria. Thus, agencies like
NAPTIP need good laws, sustained funding and equally important, critical
support from local and global stakeholders to execute the urgent war
against human trafficking. “We can no longer wait for government alone
to fight this war. Many victims are on standby, anxious to be fully
reintegrated into society. At the agency, we are desperate for
assistance to empower and rehabilitate these millions of victims in
need. Thus, we are identifying and approaching organizations like the
Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) for support.”
She continued: “We need to refurbish and rehabilitate our existing
shelters, facilitate periodic provision of food, clothing and medical
consumables and shelter for victims. We also need assistance in the
development of standard skills’ acquisition centres in strategic
locations for the training of vulnerable persons, as well as rescued
victims.”
In response, Mr. Tony Elumelu CON, Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation,
commended Okah-Donli for her accomplishments at the agency, including
the conviction of over 325 persons, and successful rehabilitation of
more than 12,000 victims. He also added that she was a former staff of
leading pan-African bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA). “She is an
alumna of the United Bank for America (UBA), Africa’s global bank, thus
we are not surprised at what she has become. We predicted that she
will attain such great heights because of the passion she has always had
for human trafficking,” he said
On behalf of the Foundation, he pledged commitment to the war against
human trafficking. “We support what you are doing and we stand behind
you. The Tony Elumelu Foundation believes in the empowerment of our
youths and as we all know, they cannot be empowered if they are not
free.” “We stand with you in eradicating human trafficking in Nigeria
and will engage extensively with you as you work to restore dignity to
mankind, protect the dignity of our youth and ensure no one can take
undue advantage of them.”
He also made an appeal to the government to increase budgetary
funding to the cash-strapped agency. “I call on the Federal Government
to make more resources available to support you. As private companies,
we pay taxes to the Federal Government and we want to see a more
judicious use of the taxes paid.”
Elumelu also urged other private sector players to join the agency to
fight human trafficking, assuring them of the credibility and
competency of NAPTIP and its DG whom he could vouch for. “If she
succeeds, we will all succeed. Let us come together to make sure our
youth, our future leaders, are not trafficked.”
Group CEO, United Capital Plc. Oluwatoyin Sanni (left); Founder, The
Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu; and Director General of
NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli during the visit of DG to the foundation in
Lagos on Thursday;
No comments
Your comments and Encouragement are welcome