The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri–Azi, inaugurated a pivotal two-day Workshop for Public Relations Officers and Public Enlightenment Officers of the Agency in Lagos today, Wednesday, October 18, 2023. The workshop has received substantial support from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, facilitated by the Government of Canada in Nigeria and implemented by the Ark Group DMCC.
In her opening address, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi underscored the paramount importance of Effective and Strategic Communication as indispensable tools in the relentless battle against human trafficking. She emphasized that Strategic Communication plays a vital role in reshaping the narrative of human trafficking, facilitating the formulation of well-informed policy decisions, fostering inter-agency collaboration, and ultimately cultivating a compelling narrative that will induce behavioral change and shift public perception.
The Director General expressed her gratitude to the Canadian Government and Ark Group for their substantial support of the workshop. She called upon NAPTIP’s dedicated officers to redouble their efforts and strategically adapt to confront the emerging trends in human trafficking.
Notable goodwill messages were conveyed during the event by Heather De Santis, the Director General of International and Intergovernmental Relations at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as well as the Director General of the International Policy and Partnerships Directorate at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Over 60 participants, comprising Public Relations and Public Enlightenment Officers drawn from all Zonal and State Commands, along with Liaison Offices of NAPTIP across the country, are actively engaged in the workshop. This initiative represents a significant milestone and strategic management decision aimed at enhancing the capabilities of NAPTIP officers, aligning with the visionary objectives of Director General Prof. Fatima Waziri–Azi.
