Country: Nigeria

Organization: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Innovation: Innovation: This is an operational model. In 2004, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) began a capacity-building programme for the media to report more incisively and responsibly on human trafficking, because of its impact on socio-economic development. Nigeria is a signatory to the convention on the rights of the child, the AU charter on the rights of the child and the ILO convention on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, as well as the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. Nigeria is currently collaborating with other agencies, but such measures need to be strengthened by the media through continuous reporting, in addition to putting in place media-related activities to eliminate human trafficking.

Impact: The media, as agents of change and agenda setters are capable of making the success of eliminating human trafficking, if well informed through special trainings, networking, collaboration and through other exposures, as evidenced in the past few months in the operational model. Such trainings have produced vanguards and advocates in reporting in a systematic, continuous, investigative, analytical, comprehensive and responsible form. With a central agency like NAN, a government agency coordinating the partnership in a country with about 500 media outfits, constant media activities which are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound, are systematically organised to develop media capacity in the reportage of human trafficking.

Tipping Point: Sustained information for 24 months, monitoring and ensuring accountability in government and non-governmental domain, will diminish human traficking. Information updates will also be through periodic media meetings with experts, workshops and seminars. Field trips will spur journalists into into more investigative reports. Media visits will make policy and law makers more alive to their responsiblities. The institutionalisation of merit award will arouse analytical, investigative, resourceful and courageous write-ups. Training of alternate media practitioners at community level and the use of jingles and IEC materials will enhance information flow at the levels of the family, the community and the society. Dearth of funds is a limitation.

Replication: Replication can be done in collaboration with other news agencies in Africa, or with media houses with Development Desks. The merit award component, an attractive and respected aspect of journalism profession can be replicated. The use of alternate media such as community viewing centres, drama groups and `town criers' can be replicated. Development of manuals/press kits can be country-specific, while advocacy visits by a corps of journalists to the parliamentarians, policy makers, students in tertiary institutions, field visists, as well as encouraging children to participate in media-related activities are activities for replication.

Sustainability: The establishment of Development Desks, such as in NAN to address such issues and concerns, is meant to sustain the project, and collaborations can be forged among media establishments with or without the desks. The development of manuals/press kits and the institutionalisation of media merit award are high points for sustainability. The project is a veritable material for mobilising resources owing to its high value in social responsibility, and this can enhance sustainability. Integrating human trafficking curricula in secondary and tertiary levels of educational institutions will ensure sustainability.

Position in the Human Trafficking Mosaic of Solutions:

Factor: Vulnerability of High-Risk Populations

Principle: Creating Value-Driven Communities