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.
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