The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s role as a leading source, transit, and destination for human trafficking in Africa.
She made this assertion on Wednesday at the 2025 Annual Academic Summit organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Abuja.
Speaking on the theme “Illegal Migration and Girl-Child Trafficking in 21st Century Nigeria: Changing the Mindset through Quality and Functional University Education,” the minister outlined the deep-rooted factors driving human trafficking in the country, including poverty, economic hardship, lack of education, cultural and gender norms, and weak law enforcement.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim referenced global reports highlighting the scale of Nigeria’s human trafficking crisis:
– “Nigeria is one of the main source, transit, and destination countries for human trafficking in Africa,” she said.
– According to the Global Slavery Index (2023), Nigeria ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of trafficked persons, with an estimated 1.4 million Nigerians trapped in modern slavery—majority of them women and girls.
– “Over 60 per cent of Nigerians attempting to migrate irregularly are women and girls, many of whom are trafficked for forced labor or sexual exploitation.”
– Reports indicate that over 50,000 Nigerian women are trapped in forced prostitution across Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain.
– The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 80 per cent of Nigerian women who arrive in Europe through irregular routes are potential trafficking victims.
– According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigeria accounts for nearly 50 per cent of all human trafficking cases in West Africa.
These figures, she noted, emphasize the urgent need for systemic interventions to tackle human trafficking and illegal migration.
The minister stressed that improving access to quality education remains the most effective strategy in preventing trafficking and illegal migration.
“Education remains the most powerful tool in equipping young girls with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed choices about their futures,” she said.
She further emphasized that universities must move beyond theoretical learning and offer practical, relevant, and empowering education that prepares young women for economic independence.
To strengthen the fight against human trafficking, she urged universities and higher institutions to integrate human trafficking awareness and migration literacy into their curricula.
Additionally, she called on students, youth organizations, religious and traditional leaders, and civil society groups to champion peer education and advocacy on the dangers of human trafficking.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim reiterated the government’s commitment to combating human trafficking through policy reforms and legal protections.
“The fight against illegal migration and girl-child trafficking is a fight for the soul of our nation. If we fail to act decisively, we risk losing an entire generation of young women to exploitation, violence, and despair,” she warned.
She disclosed that the Ministry of Women Affairs is actively working to strengthen legal frameworks, reviewing and enhancing protection laws for women and children to safeguard them from traffickers.
Her remarks reinforced the critical need for multi-sectoral efforts in tackling human trafficking and illegal migration, as Nigeria continues to grapple with one of Africa’s most pressing human rights challenges.