First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on Nigerian youths to avoid becoming easy targets for human traffickers and criminal elements by embracing the virtues of patience and hard work.

The First Lady made the remarks during a meeting with the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajia Binta Lami Adamu Bello, and top management officials at the State House, Abuja.

According to a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady said “the get-rich-quick syndrome is not helping matters. Even our religious institutions are doing prosperity preaching, even the Bible talks about work.

“The social media is also not helping. Nollywood as well”, she said.

She described the increasing cases of human trafficking as disheartening, particularly the recent raid on a baby factory in Abuja where 19 pregnant young girls were rescued.

Senator Tinubu pledged her full support for NAPTIP’s efforts to combat trafficking, starting with mobilizing the wives of state governors to raise awareness and strengthen advocacy.

Earlier, Hajia Binta Lami Adamu Bello had sought the First Lady’s support for NAPTIP’s renewed campaign against human trafficking and gender-based violence.

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She stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that “trafficking in persons is the second largest transnational organized crime in the world after drug trafficking. It is also a huge menace in Nigeria and requires the buy-in and active engagement of critical stakeholders to fight it.”

Despite NAPTIP’s recent successes—including the rescue of 21 young victims taken from Niger State en route to the Republic of Niger—the Director General highlighted significant challenges, such as resource mobilization and legal gaps.

She outlined skills acquisition, awareness advocacy, provision of adequate shelter, and legislative support as key areas where intervention from the First Lady would be invaluable.

In a separate engagement, the First Lady also met with the newly elected national executives of the National Council for Women Societies of Nigeria (NCWS), led by its National President, Princess Edna Azura.

The delegation expressed gratitude for her continued support, particularly in the wake of the passing of their former president, Hajia Lami Adamu Lau.

Senator Tinubu commended the council for its unity and urged its leadership to maximize opportunities within the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to better serve women at the grassroots level.

She reaffirmed her commitment to building stronger families through the initiative, emphasizing that empowerment programs at sub-national levels remain a top priority.

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