M.I., Joke Silva Named UN Ambassadors

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
( UNODC) on Tuesday named two Nigerian
celebrities as its `Goodwill Ambassadors’, in the
fight against human trafficking and smuggling of
migrants in Nigeria.
The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Angela
Atangana, introduced the ambassadors as
renowned actress, Ms Joke Silva and Hip Hop
artist, Mr Jude Abaga, popularly known as M.I . on
Tuesday, during the launch of “I am priceless”, a
campaign against human trafficking and
smuggling of migrants.
The campaign entitled ‘Promoting better
management of migration in Nigeria, by
combating and reducing irregular migration that
occurs, inter-alia, through trafficking in persons
and smuggling of migrants’ is sponsored by the
EU in partnership with the National Agency for
the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other
Related Matters (NAPTIP) and the Nigerian
Immigration Service.
Atangana said the UN had a tradition of enlisting
individuals in art, academia, literature, sports and
entertainment, to raise awareness of the aims,
objectives and priorities of the organisation.
“It is in this vein that the UNODC would like to tap
into Nigeria’s talent in music, film and theatre, to
amplify advocacy and sensitisation efforts on
trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants,’’
she said.
Atangana said that Silva would be the goodwill
ambassador against human trafficking, while M.I
would be the goodwill ambassador against
smuggling of migrants.
UNODC’s hope is that they would use their wide
fan base to spread the word, and through them
a great reduction in human trafficking and
smuggling of immigrants can be recorded.
In a country where a large youth percentage
wishes to leave the country by every possible
means, Atangana urged the ambassadors to
reach out to the youths and vulnerable segments
of the society, so people could understand the
dangers and implication of traveling through
irregular means.