OSAIF Boss emerges NACTAL Imo Coordinator, assures better, safer society

By Chigozie Uzosike

The Executive Director of Ogechi & Sam Ikeh Foundation (OSAIF), Mrs. Ogechi Ikeh has emerged the Imo State Coordinator of Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL).

The inauguration ceremony took place in Owerri on Thursday with other members of the executives of NACTAL.

The newly sworn in Imo State Coordinator, Ogechi Ikeh noted that the leadership of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), in Imo State will open a new chapter of purposeful leadership, renewed commitment, and collective action in the fight against human trafficking, irregular migration, gender-based violence, child abuse, child labour, and other forms of exploitation.

She assured relevant stakeholders and civil society organisations of a more meaningful and shared commitment to protecting vulnerable persons, promoting human rights, and building a safer and more just society.

“We shall use NACTAL to strengthen our collective resolve to protecting vulnerable persons and defending their rights. Together, we can protect lives and build a society free from human trafficking, abuse, and exploitation”.

Continuing, Ogechi Ikeh said, “The 2021 UNICEF MICS survey found that 22.4 percent of children aged 5 to 17 in Imo State were in child labour. The national rate was 31.5 percent, so we are below average, but we are far from safe”.

“In 2024, NAPTIP Imo reported more than ten missing teenagers, mostly girls, over two years. These are state-level figures and reported cases, not Owerri-only rates. So our first task is to build our own local evidence, because we cannot protect children we cannot see”.

“We will prevent, by teaching children, parents and schools the warning signs of trafficking and exploitative work. We will protect, by building safe reporting and referral routes so that no child at risk is left alone. We will pursue justice, by supporting NAPTIP and the courts through reporting, documenting and following up cases. And we will partner, by uniting government ministerial department and agencies (MDAs), schools, markets, faith leaders and the media behind one agenda”.

“In my first 100 days, I will listen (with the intent to do) and map, meeting members, NAPTIP and the ministries, and identifying our partners and referral points. Then we will build and train, preparing focal persons in schools and markets and agreeing a simple referral pathway. Finally, we will act and report, holding our first state-wide forum, running outreach in schools and markets, and sharing a progress report with all of you”.

“We will be working with the NAPTIP Imo Command, NSCDC, the Ministries of Women Affairs, Education and SDGs, our schools and tertiary institutions, markets and transport unions, traditional and faith leaders, and the media and civil society in ensuring a safer Imo devoid of exploitation”.

The other members of the leadership includes: Mrs Owuamanam Chinagorom Precious and And Amamchukwu MaryJoy as Deputy Coordinators. While Comrade Obinna Edward serves as Secretary of the state.