Page 58 - Grundtvig International Secondary School Yearbook 2019

SEX SLAVERY, A THREAT ARTICLE
TO NIGERIA'S DEVELOPMENT

sexually exploited in Nigeria were deceived into believing that a better life awaited them if they
travelled “overseas”, while the remaining claimed that they were forced. This shows that most
trafficked individuals are not forced but instead sacrifice themselves to liberate their family members
and themselves from the harsh living condition they are experiencing. This has seriously gone a long
way in destroying the reputation of our country, Nigeria in the eyes of other countries. Nigeria is now
seen as a country with the highest number of trafficked persons in Africa.

Also, women and children who have been Nowadays, there is a common
trafficked face a wide range of danger. Some misconception that the
of the trafficked do not even reach their smartphone is perhaps one of
destinations before losing their lives. These the most destructive tools
people being trafficked suffer a lot. invented in the modern world
Sometimes, when they get caught they are and placed almost on the level
sexually abused by them, arrested, detained with the nuclear bombs and
as criminals, and then deported to their other weapons of mass
countries of origin thereby bringing disgrace destruction.
to their families and country. In most cases,
economic crises lead to moral crises which
lead to criminal cases thereby becoming a
vicious cycle.

Apart from ruining the reputation of the country, it has also ruined the lives of the ones who are being
trafficked. Most of them don't come back home because they die in transit. And even when they do
come back, they are infected with diseases such as HIV/ AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Some of them suffer from psychological trauma, such as inferiority complex due to the series of
agonizing experiences they had passed through. These problems reflect in their characters even when
they are set free.

If Nigerians could work together, this problem of sex slavery would be drastically reduced, agencies
like African Women Empowerment Group, AWEG (A Non- Governmental Organization owned by a
Nigerian woman), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Agency for the
Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP), Women Trafficking and
Child Labor Eradication WOTCLEF (created by Mrs. Amina TitiAbubakar in
1999) should be encouraged and properly funded by individuals and the
government. The government and agencies listed above should
createawareness programs which educate people about sexual slavery and its
consequences.

Also, the government should create more job opportunities for the teeming
graduates from the tertiary institutions. The government should also give
loans to individuals who want to set up businesses of their own. Doing this
would help to improve the bad economic situation in Nigeria.

To round this off, I urge Nigerians and our governments to fight against these
hideous acts practiced in Nigeria by adopting the above-listed solutions which
I believe can reduce sexual slavery.

Nmesomachukwu Success Bill

056 Grundtvig Interna onal Secondary School