From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos
QNET, a lifestyle and wellness-focused direct-selling company, has launched the “Say NO” public awareness campaign
aimed at educating communities about the dangers of fake job offers used by fraudsters to lure members of the public into human trafficking.
In a press statement during the week, QNET said “people of all genders, ages and backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world. Traffickers use violence, fraudulent employment agencies, and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick, coerce and deceive their victims.”It further stated that across Africa and in Nigeria, reputable companies such as QNET, Coca-Cola and even the West African Development Bank (BOAD) have fallen victim to scammers who use their reputable names to deceitfully promise non-existent jobs to members of the public for purposes of exploitation, adding that the lack of awareness about such scams and about Human Trafficking are, therefore, a key challenge in the fight against the vice.
Addressing the issue of Human Trafficking and its impact on society, Mr. Biram Fall, QNET’s Regional General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, said: “Human Trafficking not only destroys the lives of victims and communities, and it is regrettable that scammers often use the names of reputable companies such as QNet to promise fake jobs.
“We therefore believe that the private sector should support the efforts of states to tackle the vice, and the ‘Say NO’ Awareness Campaign is our contribution. It seeks to empower communities with the knowledge and awareness they need to “Say No!” to the traffickers who want to rob them of their future.“
Addressing the matter, Akeem Ajisafe, Managing Director of Transblue Limited, the Nigerian partner of QNET, said, “the Nigerian government, in collaboration with NAPTIP and other relevant agencies, have shown unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking.
“Their dedicated efforts can be seen in the increased identification of trafficking victims, which showcases a proactive stance in addressing this critical issue. The ‘Say NO’ campaign aims to amplify these efforts by educating the youth in Nigeria on recognizing and avoiding fraudulent job offers.
“Empowering the younger generation with knowledge is essential in fortifying our collective stand against human trafficking, and I believe this campaign will contribute significantly to that endeavour.”****
