NWA Verona - Nigerian Women Association

LABORATORY ACTIVITIES FOR THE VULNERABLE YOUTHS AND YOUNG PEOPLE
AWARENESS RAISING COMBATING IRREGULAR MIGRATION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NIGERIA AND EUROPE
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTITIONERS OF NIGERIA (C-ISOWN)
DATE: 18TH -19TH & 22ND APRIL, 2025
VENUE: PROTEA HOTELS, IKEJA LAGOS
THEME: “Countering Irregular Migration through Training and Professional Qualification of Nigerian Youth”

SUMMARY REPORT
Combating human trafficking requires a multifaceted approach, encompassing prevention, prosecution, and protection of victims. This involves addressing root causes, educating the public about trafficking, and ensuring that victims receive support and justice. It also requires strong international cooperation, robust legal frameworks, and a commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, hence the Project.

OBJECTIVE:
The EYEFON 2 therefore identifies the qualified vocational training of young people and their professional inclusion in the labor market, and as a virtuous mechanism, to offer them a decent future and counteract irregular migration.
The specific objective of the project is to improve access to training and job opportunities, by fostering equity mechanisms for 850 boys and girls (16-25 years old), including the most vulnerable groups, and related services.
The mission is the effective awareness-raising and information mechanisms on the risks related to irregular migration and trafficking through the involvement of over 3000 key-actors such as social workers, civil society groups, community and religious leaders, government officials, parents/guardians of adolescents and young people called to act as agents of change in the city of Lagos and subsequently in 6 states of Nigeria (Osun, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Kano, Sokoto, Abuja - Federal Capital Territory).

In April, NWA Verona carried out three days of activities related to the sensitization and awareness components under Result 2 (R2) of the EYEFON 2 action. These activities focused on sensitizing potential migrants, youth, and households about the risks associated with irregular migration and human trafficking. The initiatives undertaken during April include:
- A2.1: Training of Trainers (ToT) for social workers in 7 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- A2.2: Engagement with community leaders and media representatives for awareness campaign preparation
- A2.3: Implementation of awareness campaigns on the risks of irregular migration and human trafficking.

EYEFON 2 - Project Monthly Report - April 2025

The EYEFON 2 Project is a continuation of the successful EYEFON 1 initiative focused on addressing the challenges of irregular migration and human trafficking in Nigeria, in collaboration with various local and international partners. The project is implemented in selected Nigerian states to raise awareness, provide education, and support vulnerable communities and potential migrants.

Overview of April 2025 Activities

During the month of April 2025, the project concentrated on sensitization campaigns, capacity building, and the implementation of monitoring tools to assess the impact of activities. Particular emphasis was placed on engaging social workers, community leaders, and youth groups to disseminate critical information and prevent irregular migration.

Key Objectives

• To raise awareness among potential migrants about the risks associated with irregular migration.
• To strengthen the capacity of social workers and community leaders in combating human trafficking.
• To promote collaboration between local organizations and international partners for effective intervention.

DAY 1 - THE 18TH OF APRIL, 2025
REGISTRATION:
Registration started at about 9.00am each day, the NWA President, Senior Trainers started arriving, the market women leader the six states’ coordinators, and other stakeholders.
The Moderator of the event Mr. Femi Abe welcomed all the special guests of honor, reiterating that the event would not be completed without their presence.
OPENING REMARK:
The President of NWA, SW Oluwakemi Victoria Ajibola gave an opening remark, stating the need to end irregular migration and how the EYEFON 2 project will go a long way to combating undocumented migration.(9.45am)
In her welcome remarks, SW Oluwakemi Victoria Ajibola, President, Nigeria Women Association, Verona, Italy, thanked everyone for their acceptance to be part of this very important training. She shared the trajectory that victims of human trafficking pass through and the effort Nigerian Women Association have made to help victims of irregular migration in Italy in collaboration with the Italy Interior Ministry and other Organizations.
She appealed to social workers (State Coordinators) to give serious attention and commitment because they are the key agents of change in the EYEFON 2 PROJECT, and this project will run for 3 years, and the coordinators are key drivers in their respective states.
At 9.55am- there was introduction of the C-ISOWN trainees, Coordinators and attending Social Workers.
At 10.05am- there was a tea break for all speakers, guests and participants.
At 10.35am- Elina Paolini, a representative of the Association’s Lead Partners of the EYEFON2 Project gave a speech on the EYEFON2 Project which focused on raising awareness and providing information on the risk of irregular migration and human trafficking in Nigeria and the collaboration with the Italian partners in fighting the menace.
TRAINING/WORKSHOP:
The training workshop focused on the following areas:
• Critical role of social workers in the awareness campaign and;
• Information dissemination process on the risk of irregular migration and human trafficking in Nigeria.
• Modus operandi of human traffickers. Major and passive recruiters.
• Different types and reasons for human trafficking.
The training prepared and equipped key stakeholders – state coordinators with all the necessary tools and knowledge to be able to organize periodic annual training sessions for social workers in their respective states, engage other stakeholders, and respond to the challenges of irregular migration and human trafficking.
The training challenges and enables social workers to act as key agents in fighting irregular migration and human trafficking by identifying potential victims and perpetrators early.
In addition to the six State Coordinators, the training also had in attendance other stakeholders drawn from different groups: Representatives of Market Women Association across the state, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers – NURTW, Ministry of Women Affairs, Lagos, Community Leaders, Religious Leaders (Christian and Muslim), Youth organizations and the media – NUJ.
The training topics and the Resource persons are as follows:
• Radicalization awareness on Human Trafficking in Nigeria – Prof. John Emaimo
• Advocacy against Human Trafficking in Nigeria – Prof. Oluwayemisi Obashoro-John
• Identifying Human Trafficking skills – Dr. Kemi Ottun Recognizing the signs of human trafficking
• The Evolving Dynamics in Combating Irregular Migration and Human Trafficking - NAPTIP
BREAK-OUT SESSIONS
This was coordinated by Mr. Oni Yakubu, the Osun state coordinator: ‘’Advocating Against humanTrafficking in Nigeria’’ the breakouts were in five groups headed by a coordinator. The following solutions were proffered:
GROUP 1:
• Sensitization
• Targeting communities
• Supporting vulnerable population
• Providing resources and support
• Empowering victims
• Policies regulations
• Strengthening
• Enforcement
• Accountability
• Research
GROUP 2: PARTNERSHIPS
• NAPTIP engagement and ministry of Gender affairs, ministry of youth and social development.
• NGOs, youth movements, secondary schools and higher institutions
• Traditional rulers, market women, religious leaders.
• Sports/recreational centers
GROUP 3
How are we to talk about and what to do concerning human trafficking?
• Sensitization and inclusion of advocacy against human trafficking in educational syllabus
• Anybody coming in and going outside the country should be properly documented
• Offices should be created in the market place to report trafficking cases
• Ministries can post social workers to the markets, because the market is full of non-indigenes, advocacy should be going on the market at every point in time.
• Market is a very important place for advocacy; it is a place of human trafficking and a place of cubing it.
• Having active CDAs (community development associations) is very important.
• Have a particular day dedicated for advocacy, in schools and market places.
• Phone numbers of Authorities against human trafficking should be made public.
• The media, television, radio, and social media should be used to create programs against human trafficking.
• Government must be actively involved to bring down poverty.
GROUP 4:
• Family (key structures), single mothers, communities.
• Policies already in place should be enforced
• Empowerment of all the youths, thereby identifying their needs
• Use of social media for advocacy
• Religious leaders.
GROUP 5:
• Advocacy through schools (secondary schools)
• Periodic engagements
• Follow up with policies (have policies been updated?)
• Engaging community stakeholders
• Use of Technology ( Data analysis and to detect human trafficking hub) •Anonymity of reporting of human trafficking

DAY 2 - THE 19TH OF APRIL, 2025
The second day of the program was for the training of the State Coordinators.
Mr. Femi Abe moderated the program.
9.00am – The program started with the registration of participants.
10.00am – Tea Break
Training Topics and Resource Persons:
1. Types of Trafficking – Dr. Kemi Ottun
2. Recognizing the signs of Human Trafficking – Prof. John Emaimo
3. Risk involved in Human Trafficking – Prof. Oluwayemisi Obashoro-John
4. Actions to combat Human Trafficking – Dr. Kemi Ottun
5. Necessary Supports for Survivors – SW. Oluwakemi Victoria Ajibola
1.30pm – 2.00pm: Break-out/Group Session
Two break-out groups discussed and proposed solutions, and the following communiqué was collated:
1. Social work stakeholders should collaborate with the Federal Government to develop a national policy framework to curb irregular migration.
2. Government at all levels should invest more in the capacity development of social workers.
3. C-ISOWN should consider human trafficking and irregular migration as a sub-theme in the next annual international conference.
4. C-ISOWN should consider using the EYEFON2 project to develop a social media App for reporting irregular migration activities in Nigeria.
5. C-ISOWN should explore better collaboration with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria to facilitate access to legal services on irregular migration issues.
6. Government should establish special courts for prosecuting irregular migration cases to accelerate the judicial process.
2.00pm – 3.00pm - Networking and Lunch
3.00pm – 3.30pm - Closing Remark
The NWA President appreciated all participants and emphasized the importance of joint efforts to combat irregular migration.
Visit to Skill Acquisition Center / Inauguration:
Trainers, the Registrar of the Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners, and some participants visited the Nigeria Women Association Verona Lagos center at No. 15, Inuolotowa Close off Oba Goriola Avenue, New Site, Iba, Ojo, Lagos, for inspection.
SW. Oluwakemi Victoria Ajibola, the Chairperson, led the tour of the facility and inaugurated the skill acquisition program.
Fifteen candidates were present and expressed interest in registering.
Volunteer Grace Edigbue Esq. addressed the public about the EYEFON2 project, the dangers of irregular migration, the importance of a dignified livelihood, and the benefits of the program. She also acknowledged the visionary behind the initiative.

DAY 3 - THE 22ND OF APRIL, 2025
This was the last day of the 3-day program, which involved the implementation of an Awareness Campaign on the risks of irregular migration and human trafficking, and raising awareness for the skill acquisition program in the neighborhood of Iba New Site, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria.
The awareness campaign team set off from the office/center for the skill acquisition at 11.00am in a campaign van.
The team members who participated in the campaign were:
• The NWA Verona, Lagos Chairperson/Project Team Lead
• The foreign partner’s representative, Elena Paolini
• Coordination of NWA
• Media Team
• Band Boys
• Photographers
The team went to strategic areas of the Iba community, distributing the Association’s skill acquisition fliers, T-shirts, and notepads to the community while talking to them about the project and the skill acquisition program.
The entire community responded warmly, appreciated the initiative, and many promised to register for the program.
The team also visited the Iba Local Government Area office to inform them that the program previously communicated by official letters had commenced.
The office is open for inquiry and registration between the hours of 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, and the training program is scheduled to start in June 2025.

NEXT LINE OF ACTIVITIES :
• The session for the youth is one as we did the second in Benin city on 31st May 2025 for the Agro production training, that is also part of the skills training and empowerment centre activities.
• Upcoming road campaign awareness raising in Akwa Ibom State in collaboration with the Diocese of Ikot Ekpene, the Akwa Ibom State Social Work department, and the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator Mr Ignatius Ibanga as Person of reference for NWA EYEFON2 projects.
• The train the Trainers awareness raising annual training session for the Social Workers by their state coordinators (as per part 2.2 EYEFON2 project – Activities).
• Two days annual meeting for Social Workers to share awareness raising and tools of best practices (as per part 2.2 EYEFON2 project – Activities).

REPORT OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE AGRO PRODUCTION YOUTHS TRAINING BENIN CITY EDO STATE
Introduction: Stand up for Agricultural innovation "nurturing the soil, feeding the Nation". Further to the EYEFON2 Project objective to train 150 Youths in the Agro production Sector for which the first batch of trainees were received in Benin City, Edo state by K.O Farms and Agro Service Ltd the company that won during selection and mandated to deliver the 150 training packages of Cassava farming, cultivation and processing to household edible staple food.
Day 1: 31st May 2025
The inauguration of the training session, held at the Igueoyemwen Community in Benin City. The participants were from various sections of the community and include; The Ministry of Agriculture, The Local Government Authority, Community and Traditional Leaders, The Youth and Parents. There was a general introduction of the project, its objective and mission to the community and the project materials were distributed to all.
Day 2: 2nd of June 2025
The induction of trainees started by 12:00m and the students were presented with their syllabus, uniforms and jotters. A total of 64 students were inducted divided into two batches. Currently there are about One hundred (100) Trainees with the first batch of fifty (50) already running the program and the second batch of fifty (50) starting on the 4th of July 2025. The training will be held every Mondays and Fridays between the hours of 3:00pm and 5:00pm.
REPORT ON SKILLS TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT ACTIVITIES
WEEK 1: CATERING AND HAIR DRESSING
DATE: 20TH JUNE 2025
Overview: The skills training and empowerment programs commenced on the 17th of June 2025, at the centre, with active participation of the Trainees, Facilitators and Coordinators. Activities started as scheduled in all the sections.
Training Sections: Catering, Hairdressing and Barbing.
Week 1 Summary
Department No. of Participants Activities Conducted
Catering 8: Introduction to food hygiene, basic kitchen tools, and kitchen safety.
Hairdressing 6: Introduction to salon tools, hair anatomy and physiology, hair types and textures.
The Catering section runs two classes daily - Afternoon and Evening Sessions; to accommodate trainees who are students and will only be available later in the day.
Documentation: Photos: Yes (Attached), Attendance Sheets: Not yet available, records are being compiled and will be shared once complete.
Observations and Notes: Participants showed strong interest and were punctual throughout the week. A few Trainees do not have jotting materials, while some received the materials provided by the association. Trainers noted positive engagement and cooperation from participants.
Next Step: Continue weekly attendance tracking and activity update. Distribute jotting materials to trainees yet to receive. Prepare for week 2 modules.
REPORT ON SKILLS TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT ACTIVITIES
WEEK 2: CATERING, HAIRDRESSING AND BARBING
DATE: 30TH JUNE 2025
Overview: The second week of the skills Training and Empowerment program commenced on the 24th June 2025. Participants continued with training under the catering, hairdressing and Barbing Sections. The week focused on both theoretical and practical sessions with active engagement from trainees.
Week 2 Summary
Hairdressing and barbing activities conducted: Hair-touch up practicals, Rolling, setting and style of hair practical, Weaving of hair practical, Rough curls practical.
Catering activities conducted: Budget and costing in catering, Time and energy management in food production, Storage and preservation of food.
Observations: Hairdressing and barbing: participants were punctual and showed a strong willingness to learn. Catering: Trainees expressed eagerness to learn and are enthusiastic about starting practical sessions.
Documentation: Photos: yes (attached), Attendance: yes (attached).
Next step: The catering section will begin beverage practical in week 3 expected to run for 3 weeks or more. A list of required items or ingredients will be attached to this report for procurement. Continue tracking weekly attendance and activity update.