2016 Profile of Joseph Osuigwe Chidiebere

 Joseph Osuigwe Chidiebere holds a Bachelor of Education in Mathematics. He is an anti-human trafficking advocate, author and researcher. He has been in the forefront of combating human trafficking in Nigeria through advocacy and training. Joseph has educated over 5000 young people and stakeholders on how to prevent human trafficking.

In 2013, he was posted to do his one year mandatory national youth service in  Lugbe, a rural community in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.  While teaching at the women rehabilitation centre operated by Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour, he was contemplating of doing a project on preventing human trafficking due to his interest in promoting human rights.  When he interacted with some of his students who were survivors of sexual exploitation, he was aggrieved by the rate at which young people fall victims to exploitation. This propelled him to initiate a personal community development project on eradication of human trafficking and other related matters.

He approached United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and other non-government organizations who joined his to train over 2000 teenagers, women and educators in 5 communities on how to eradicate human trafficking. He also counseled some of the teenagers who have experienced different forms of exploitation. He often used 80 percent of his monthly allowance for his projects. Recognizing the role of education in preventing human trafficking, Mr. Osuigwe provided educational supports to 90 schools in 85 communities in Nigeria.

Inspired by the testimonies of beneficiaries and compelled by the urgent need to equip and engage young people to combat human trafficking, Joseph formed a team of young people to continue the anti-human trafficking project in 2014. They were faced with obstacles and challenges but at the same time were convinced that it is possible to build a nation without human trafficking and where young people are equipped for national development.

In 2014, he trained over 1900 teenagers in Abuja on how to combat human trafficking, violence against women and rape.

During his 2015 anti-human trafficking awareness, he realized that there are few people at the forefront of combating human trafficking, and this led him to start a pilot project on The Academy for Prevention of Human Trafficking and Other Related Matters (TAPHOM), a platform that uses training, advocacy, research, media and publication to prevent human trafficking. Through TAPHOM, Joseph has equipped young people to be at the forefront of combating human trafficking. During the first phase of the pilot project, 120 young people (women, educators, community volunteers, survivors, legal practitioners, medical professionals and media personnel) were selected from 6 states and trained as anti-human trafficking advocates. They were expected to engage in advocacy and social action against human trafficking in their various communities. From his evaluation or assessment, the trained advocates have impacted the lives of 6000 people in their communities. 

In 2016, Joseph and his team rescued, Amina, a 17 years old girl who was trafficked from Abuja to Kano.

Joseph is leading one of the greatest movements of young people against human trafficking. He initiated Board of Volunteers against human trafficking to engage more volunteer in combating this monstrous crime. Millions of people have been sensitized through his TV and Radio programmes.

In August, 2016,  he received award from National Your Service Corps fro his anti-human trafficking projects.

In September, 2016, he presented his research paper (online) at 13th International Human Trafficking Conference at University of Toledo, Ohio state, USA. 

Devatop Trains NGOs and Volunteers On Research methodology and How To Write Report, Article, and Press ReleaseTraining on Research Writing, Press Release and Article

Devatop Centre for Africa Development hosted a one-day training programme  on research methodology, report,  and article writing  for volunteers and Non-governmental organizations in Abuja.  

The program which held on 10^th June, 2017 was an avenue to equip volunteers and Non-governmental organization with writing skills. The Presenters/Resource Persons included Mr Arinze Egemonye (a Supporter and Advisor to Devatop Centre for Africa Development) who taught on Research Methodology, Report Writing, Relatioship Management and Skills Development while Mr Tahajudeen Suleiman (Director of Project, International Centre for Investigative Journalism) who facilitated on “How To Write Press Release and News Article”.

According Joseph Osuigwe, the Executive Director of Devatop Centre for Africa Development, “writing is essential skill in an organization because there are so many things to write on, such as articles, press release, report, grants, and letters. Organizations who have staff with effective writing skill have better chances of securing grants, getting visibility online, and attracting supporters. So many organizations are doing great work, but they don’t have published articles and press release to show this. These organizations need to equip their staff with writing skill, which will enable them to make the world to know what they are doing.”

Participants in attendance included Jemila Abdulazeez, Abdul Shedu,  Mohammed Sabo Keana,  Ibrahim Hayatudeen,  Cynthia O. Ifeanyi,  Igiebor Jacob Joan,  Gideon Tobi Okon, Rita Charles Charity Dowe, Etuwewe Patience and representatives from various NGO’s, organizations such as Africa Health Television, The End Almajiri Foundation, Stand Up Against Cancer, Humane Heart Foundation, Tessy Foundation, and Dorothy Njamenze Foundation. 

The training which had 17 people in attendance was practical and interactive. The participants were also engaged in a break-out session  with various forms of Presentation to showcase their hands-on level of understanding during the sessions. Training materials were also distributed to all participants to enhance their understanding of how to write press release, report and articles.

Towards the end of the training, emphasis was made on the need for youth to develop themselves further and endeavor to engage in other self-development activities to enable them acquire other vocational  skills towards building a better youthful society. This will in turn reduce high level of dependence on white collar jobs.

Devatop Centre for Africa Development is a youth-based non-profit organization with focus on combating human trafficking, violence against children and other forms of human rights abuses. Devatop has consistently engaged young people in fighting trafficking in persons, and donated over 5500 books to schools and internally displace persons.

To contact Devatop.

www.devatop.org       info@devatop.org,   08141849616