From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The project coordinator, Integrated Action to Reduce Human Trafficking and Re-Trafficking and co-founder, Girls Power Initiative (GPI), Grace Osakue, yesterday, said, a total of 3,134 persons have benefited from its project within the period of one year.
She disclosed this while taking stocks of the organization’s activities in the year’s under review in Benin City.
She said all efforts were geared towards tackling irregular migration and reintegrate migrant returnees in the state, hence two communities were recently selected, Oluku in Ovia North East local government area and Idokpa, in Uhunmwonde local government area where some persons were chosen to be trained on skills.
Osakue said after training them on skills, they were given the equipment suitable to what they have been trained on adding that others who went into trades have their stores stocked with goods.
The co-founder, while reacting to whether sanction should be meted to those after being equipped with skills and equipment and later sell off their equipment, she said concerted efforts are usually made to ensure that those selected for the programme are those who really needed them.
She also said there is usually a cordial relationship between those learning the skills and those offering the programme adding that the reason is to ensure that such individuals actually achieve the purpose of learning it.
Speaking also, Mr. Anderson Aisagbonbuomwen, Project Officer, Integrated Action to Reduce Human Trafficking and Re-Trafficking, said beneficiaries were carefully selected and monitored to the finishing points.
He said the empowerment scheme was to be done in three communities, Eyean, Idokpa and Oluku but due to some logistical issues, Oluku and Idokpa were now settled for.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Loveth Efosa, from Oluku community, thanked the GPI for stocking her store with goods such as soft drinks and other items which she sells to take care of herself and the family.
Another, from Idokpa community, Precious Enadaghe, said she was given a bag of rice, Spaghetti and other items to start up her business.
She thanked the Integrated Action to Reduce Human Trafficking and Re-Trafficking and the Girls Power Initiative for coming to her assistance when she needed them most.
