The Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated on Wednesday that Nigeria is a significant source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking in Africa. She made this remark during the 2025 annual academic summit organized by the University of Abuja’s Faculty of Social Sciences, themed “Illegal Migration and Girl-Child Trafficking in 21st Century Nigeria: Changing the Mindset through Quality and Functional University Education.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted that factors such as poverty, economic hardship, lack of education and skills, cultural and gender norms, and weak law enforcement contribute to illegal migration and trafficking in Nigeria. According to the Global Slavery Index (2023), Nigeria ranks among the top ten countries with the highest number of trafficked individuals, with an estimated 1.4 million Nigerians currently victims of modern slavery. Notably, women and girls constitute the majority of these victims. Over 60% of Nigerians attempting irregular migration are women and girls, many trafficked for forced labor or sexual exploitation.
Reports indicate that more than 50,000 Nigerian women are trapped in forced prostitution across Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that over 80% of Nigerian women arriving in Europe through irregular routes are potential trafficking victims. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that Nigeria accounts for nearly 50% of all human trafficking cases in West Africa.
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The minister emphasized the urgent need for policy changes, awareness campaigns, and systemic interventions to combat human trafficking and illegal migration. She stressed that improving access to education is crucial for breaking the cycle of trafficking and illegal migration. Quality education must be practical, relevant, and empowering to equip young girls with the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed choices about their futures.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim urged universities to integrate human trafficking awareness and migration literacy into their curricula. She also called on students, youth organizations, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and civil society organizations to promote peer education and advocacy.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to advancing initiatives that enhance education, skills development, and economic empowerment for vulnerable girls, she noted that the ministry is working to strengthen legal frameworks for better protection laws for women and children. “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.
