Stakeholders' Engagement in Addressing Child Trafficking in Nigeria: Evidence from an Action-Oriented Research

Akanni I. Akinyemi, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
Mojisola Sodeinde, International Centre For Migration Policy Development
Tosin Oni, Obafemi Awolowo University
Ivanka Hainzl, International Centre for Migration Policy Development
Oladimeji Ogunoye, Obafemi Awolowo University
Oluseun Adejugbe, The Challenge Initiative
Oluwatobiloba Shadare, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
Adeniyi Bakre, International Centre for Migration Policy Development
Rhoda Johnson, International Centre for Migration Policy Development

Nigeria contributes about 1.6 million cases of trafficking in 2023 and ranked 38 out of 160 countries. Achieving the SDG-16.2 goal towards ending all forms of violence against children requires holistic approach of stakeholder's engagement. The study utilized a mixed-method cross-sectional research design in 5 states. Key findings confirmed that awareness about mode of recruitment is well-known across all stakeholders – mostly through financial inducement where parents/caregivers are paid by agents to take their wards away. About 10% of in-school held the belief that trafficked-children were better off on their return after many years of servitude/slavery because they have some resources more than their peers. Respondents emphasized the roles of community factors and economic as sustaining factors for child-trafficking. About 83% of students reported that they learned about issues of THB in their schools. However, this has not significantly impacted their interest in engaging the act. These compounding factors have fostered a more enabling environment for the persistence increase in child-trafficking. The study concluded that intervention towards addressing child-trafficking should focus on community level engagement that are culturally appealing and acceptable to local actors. Also, to promote education and make it more attractive to young people at rural communities.

Keywords: Migrant Populations and Refugees, Children, Adolescents, and Youth

See extended abstract.