First Lady Adamawa Pledges Support for Fight Against Human Trafficking in Adamawa

First Lady Adamawa Pledges Support for Fight Against Human Trafficking in Adamawa

In a significant move to combat the rising tide of human trafficking and irregular migration, the Wife of the Adamawa State Governor, Hajiya Dr. Lami Ahmadu Fintiri, has received a high-level delegation from the Symbol of Hope (SoH) Project. The meeting, which took place in her office at the Government House, Yola, focused on strengthening collaborative efforts to protect vulnerable individuals across the state.

Symbol of Hope is a long-term, faith-based initiative of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN), implemented in partnership with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), headquartered in Geneva. The project is dedicated to shielding young people and other at-risk groups from the dangers of exploitation, trafficking, and unsafe migration.

Leading the delegation, Rev. Emmanuel Subewope Gabriel, who also serves as the Country Director of the Symbol of Hope Project in Nigeria, painted a grim picture of the situation in parts of the state. He specifically pointed to the Koma and Toungo axis as areas of concern, where disturbing cases of young girls being trafficked and exposed to various forms of exploitation have been reported.

Rev. Gabriel identified poverty, lack of awareness, unemployment, and limited opportunities as the primary drivers of these harmful practices. He outlined the core mission of Symbol of Hope, which includes creating sustainable pathways out of vulnerability through community awareness campaigns, educational programmes, psychosocial support and survivor care, skills acquisition, and robust youth empowerment initiatives. He also stressed the importance of coalition building with stakeholders to strengthen advocacy and policy engagement.

Responding, Hajiya Dr. Lami Ahmadu Fintiri commended the delegation for their impactful work and for seeking her office’s partnership. Expressing deep concern over the menace of human trafficking, she reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to protecting the rights and future of women and young people in Adamawa State.

“This fight cannot be won by the government alone,” the First Lady stated. She assured the delegation of her readiness to collaborate closely with the organization, emphasizing that collective action, widespread awareness, and the empowerment of youth are crucial to safeguarding their future and curbing the tide of irregular migration in Adamawa and beyond.

The delegation included prominent international and local figures: Rev. Kristin Engstrom, Regional Representative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) for Madagascar and English-speaking West Africa; Mary Campbell, Director of ELCA AMMPARO; Ashenafi Haile, Program Executive for Diakonia at the Lutheran World Federation; Rev. Emmanuel Subewope Gabriel; and Vivian Matthew Roshiya, Secretary and Administrative Staff of SoH Nigeria.

The visit underscored the vital importance of partnerships between faith-based organizations and government institutions in addressing deep-seated social challenges and building safer, more resilient communities.