Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Barrister Julie Okah – Donli, inaugurated the committee on Wednesday in Abuja.
She said that the need to close the existing knowledge gaps amongst Law Enforcement Agencies in the Country and those within the West African region on issues involved in the fight against human trafficking as a national and international crime with huge implications for national security and sovereignty has made it necessary for such an Academy to be established.
She added that an enabling environment for the smooth take-off of the Training Academy has already been put in place with the successful development of a standard Training Policy, Training Curriculum, Training Modules, and Trainers’ Guide by the Agency through the European Union and ECOWAS sponsored project entitled: Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa (FMM West Africa).
The project was implemented by the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
“The Steering Committee is to see to the successful establishment of a standard Regional Training Academy that will offer solutions to all institutional needs and satisfy the requirements around the spheres of Human Trafficking and other related matters.
“This is to ensure the effective continuous capacity building of NAPTIP Personnel and other relevant stakeholders within the country and the West African region, as well as meeting the needs of National and International Researchers in the field of Human Trafficking,” she said.
She explained that the Agency is the first of its kind in the world with a huge mandate of preventing the crime; prosecuting offenders; protecting and assisting rescued victims as well as partnering with all stakeholders to curb the menace has over the years provided a learning ground for various stakeholders within and outside the country.
“Many of our partners from the West African region have over the years relied on us to provide training on how best to fight the scourge bearing in mind our many years of experience in the fight against human trafficking,” she said.
and then