First Lady Calls for Reorientation Towards Hard Work, Patience.....Expresses Concern Over Rising Human Trafficking Cases
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in its fight against human trafficking.
She made this pledge during a meeting with NAPTIP’s Director General, Hajia Binta Lami Adamu Bello, and other top officials at the State House in Abuja.
Senator Tinubu expressed deep concern over the alarming rate of human trafficking in Nigeria, particularly the recent raid on a baby factory in Abuja, where 19 pregnant young girls were rescued. She urged youths to embrace the values of patience and hard work rather than falling prey to traffickers and criminals.
“The get-rich-quick mentality is a major problem. Even religious institutions promote prosperity preaching, but the Bible emphasizes the importance of hard work,” she said. “Social media and Nollywood are also contributing to this mindset.”
To bolster NAPTIP’s efforts, the First Lady pledged to collaborate with the wives of state governors to enhance awareness and advocacy on human trafficking.
Earlier, NAPTIP’s Director General, Hajia Binta Lami Adamu Bello, solicited the First Lady’s support in the agency’s renewed campaign against human trafficking and gender-based violence (GBV). She described human trafficking as the second-largest transnational organized crime globally, after drug trafficking, and a growing menace in Nigeria.
She highlighted NAPTIP’s recent successes, including the rescue of 21 young victims from Niger State en route to the Republic of Niger. However, she also pointed out the agency’s challenges, including resource mobilization and legal gaps. She appealed for intervention in areas such as skills acquisition, public awareness, shelter provision, and policy support.
In another engagement, the First Lady received the newly elected national executives of the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), led by its National President, Princess Edna Azura.
The delegation visited to express gratitude for her support, particularly following the passing of their immediate past National President, Hajia Lami Adamu Lau.
Commending their unity, Senator Tinubu encouraged the NCWS to leverage the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) programs at the subnational level to improve the welfare of their members.
Reiterating her commitment to strengthening families through the RHI, the First Lady emphasized the importance of collective efforts in nation-building.
SIGNED
Busola Kukoyi
SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Friday, 7th February 2025
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