05.04.2007
From March 12-13, the Rule of Law Initiative's Africa Division and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP), with funding from USAID, jointly sponsored a two-day counseling skills workshop in Lagos, Nigeria, for 30 NAPTIP rehabilitation officers representing each of the TIP shelters in Nigeria. The purpose of the training was to build the capacity of the rehabilitation officers to deliver recovery assistance to trafficking victims.
Workshop attendees included the head of the NAPTIP Counseling & Rehabilitation Unit, the Cognizant Technical Officer for USAID, the Political Affairs Officer from the U.S. Consulate, the Director of the Rule of Law Initiative's Africa Division, and the Chief of Party for the Africa Division's Nigeria operation.
The training program was conducted by Professor Omoluabi from the Department of Psychology at the University of Lagos, a recognized authority in the field of refugee and forced migration studies.
The training sessions covered many topics, including the following:
- Concepts And Characteristics Of Trauma
- Identification Of Trauma In A TIP Victim
- Interview Techniques In Counseling
- Rapport Establishment With The Victim
- Counseling Methods
- Self-Efficacy Techniques For Counselors
The workshop was enthusiastically received by the counselors, who all said that the training by Prof. Omoluabi would better enable them to support and assist victims at their respective NAPTIP shelters. DVD copies of the training were provided to all participants to use as a resource at their shelters.