Thursday, December 7, 2023 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Abuja, Nigeria

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Nigeria in collaboration with Nigeria's National Agency for the Prohibition and Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) officially launched 'Promoting Evidence-based Anti-trafficking Efforts in Nigeria’ on Thursday, December 7, 2023, in Abuja. The effort is a part of the 'Program to End Modern Slavery' (PEMS) funded by the U.S. State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. In 2020, IPA received a $5.6 million award to increase the evidence base on the effectiveness of anti-trafficking interventions around the world. In 2022, IPA received an additional $2.3 million to develop an evidence lab in Nigeria supporting the Nigerian government as it aims to target anti-trafficking programming more effectively within the country.

The official launch informed the public and stakeholders in the anti-trafficking community in Nigeria of IPA’s planned institutional capacity to strengthen NAPTIP's ambitious mandate of increasing the rate of prosecutions and convictions of traffickers, providing comprehensive support to survivors, and increasing general awareness about trafficking through the development and implementation of rigorous research and new evidence to improve programs and policies. The foundation for this partnership was laid in May 2023 when IPA and NAPTIP entered a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), solidifying IPA's commitment to supporting NAPTIP in fulfilling its crucial mandates through strategic collaboration and the implementation of rigorous research and evidence-based approaches—translating new evidence into improved programs and policies. 

Partners:

• National Agency for the Prohibition and Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
• U.S. Department of State - Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
• U.S. Embassy Nigeria
• National Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labor (NACTAL)
• Pathfinders Justice Initiative

IPA Speakers

• Funmi Ayeni, Country Director
• Micah Mendie, Manager, Policy and Embedded Lab

Featured Speakers

• Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition and Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
• David Greene, Charge de Affaires, US Embassy Abuja, Nigeria
• Brianna Gehring, Program Advisor, Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS)
• Abubakar Abdulganiyu, President National Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labor (NACTAL)

Rundown of the Event

• Welcome and Introduction by IPA Nigeria Country Director
• Opening address by NAPTIP Director General
• Goodwill message by Charge de Affaires of US Embassy Nigeria
• Presentation by US Department of State Program to End Modern Slavery (virtual)
• Presentation of Project overview by IPA Nigeria Manager - Policy and Embedded Lab
• Q&A Session
• Symbolic signing and Exchange of MOU between NAPTIP and IPA
• Opportunities for Collaboration and Involvement
• Goodwill messages from Government and Development partners
• Closing Remarks
• Media interviews
• Lunch and Networking session

For more information please contact: Micah Mendie | Email: mmendie@poverty-action.org | Cell: +234 803 942 473

**Please note that photographs and footage taken throughout the event might be used by Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) for marketing and publicity in its publications, website, social media, or in any third-party publication.