NAPTIP And IMSU Alumni Call For Government Support For Vulnerable Children.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Rivers Command, has partnered with the Imo State University (IMSU) Alumni Association, Rivers Spectacular Chapter, to call for increased government support for vulnerable children in Nigeria.
The appeal was made during a joint visit to the Handmaid Children’s Home in Port Harcourt on Friday, where both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children from trafficking and exploitation.
Mrs Comfort Udofia, Assistant Chief of NAPTIP, Rivers Command, highlighted the challenges the agency faces in its efforts to combat child trafficking. According to her, the lack of operational vehicles, adequate office space, and shelters for rescued children has significantly hampered their mission.
“We don’t have a shelter to keep the vulnerable children we rescue from traffickers. We also lack vehicles for our daily operations,” she said. “We are currently partnering with Handmaid Children’s Home as one of our temporary shelters, but we need sustainable livelihood support for these children to get them off the streets.”
Udofia also issued a stern warning to parents who allow their children to be trafficked for financial gain, urging families to remain vigilant and prioritise the safety of their children.
Echoing these sentiments, Mr Christian Kanu, Chairman of the IMSU Alumni Rivers Spectacular Chapter, described the visit as part of the group’s corporate social responsibility and dedication to societal wellbeing.
“We decided to partner with NAPTIP on this visit to give back to society, impact lives, and especially show love to vulnerable children during this Easter season,” Kanu stated.
He stressed the importance of collaborative action in bridging social welfare gaps and appealed to government agencies, private organisations, and well-meaning Nigerians to support initiatives aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children.
As part of their outreach, the alumni group donated essential items including a generator, a bag of rice, tubers of yam, cartons of noodles, vegetable oil, tomato paste, toothpaste, tissue paper, and other basic necessities to the children’s home.
Dr Grace Okpara, Executive Director of Handmaid Children’s Home, expressed gratitude for the donations and echoed the need for greater support. She appealed to the government and philanthropists to assist in securing a permanent site for the facility.
“We have limited space, so we can’t accommodate all the vulnerable children,” she explained. “We are working to trace and reunite them with their families. Some of them don’t even know where they are from, as they were rescued from traffickers en route to other countries.”
Dr Okpara also urged the government to provide support for school fees, vocational training, and medical care to help the children rebuild their lives.
The visit served as a reminder of the importance of community partnerships and sustained governmental support in protecting Nigeria’s most vulnerable.
