THISDAYonline

Any time the issue of international sex trade is mentioned, Edo state has always come to be synonymous with the scourge because of the exploit of female indigenes from the state in the illicit trade. Hardly had any week passed without a deportee of the state from abroad.

Although, no survey has been carried out yet to ascertain the number of Edo indigenes abroad, it is said that almost all the families in the city have one or two children mostly females abroad.

The pride associated with this could best be appreciated every Friday usually reserved for burying the dead, when names of such children abroad are relayed as part of the obituary announcement in both the state-owned and private television and radio stations.

According to a recent international survey, Nigeria is ranked third after Russia and Albania as countries with the highest number of non-European Union prostitutes in Europe. A Police source put the number of Nigerian deportees including men and women from USA, Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, among others at 368, with Edo state taking three quarter share.

Against this unsavoury scenarios, as soon as her husband, Mr. Lucky Igbinedion, assu-med office as governor of Edo State, Mrs. Eki Igbinedion made the eradication of prostitution a priority project by setting up the Idia Renaissance. Explaining the raison d'etre to some visiting journalists penultimate week, the Edo state first lady said the choice of Idia for the pet projects was pertinent as Idia, a Benin queen, was known for all that was dignifying to womanhood. Renaissance, of course, is a new birth. The late Benin Queen, according to her, fought along side men to redeem bini people from foreign invasion and was also in the centre for unity, solidarity, social mobilisers of the bini women. Thus, to achieve her dream of a better society for the Edo female indigenes, Mrs Igbinedion, established the Idia Renaissance. She equally established a Scheme Acquisition Centre, which neccessitated the visit organised at the auspices of UNICEF B-Field in collaboration with Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), Lagos.

Thus, the visit was a follow up on the impact of the Edo State Anti-prostitution Bill and the rehabilitation efforts at the Skills Acquisition Centre, Benin. The scheme, is divided into several departments including secretarial and computer, hair dressing, fashion and designing, tailoring and a counseling unit. Mrs. Igbinedion said the counselling session was more vibrant. In this section, students are counselled on sexuality and reproductive health, prevalent diseases in the global circle and how to avoid them, among others. They are also trained on inter-personal relations as opposed to what they were exposed to in their sex escapades abroad. She said that the unit was very necessary as most of the girls needed to be counselled on moral behaviour so as to prepare them for re-integration into the society. She revealed that some of those who were trained there were now training others on moral values and the need to maintain human dignity as epitomised by Queen Idia of the ancient Benin Kingdom. She revealed that the third batch of graduates from the Skills Acquisition Centre, will passed out tomorrow.

Accordingly, not less than 320 students would partake in the convocation ceremony. The graduates include victims of human trafficking, deportees from various countries abroad and many other potential victims who now took solace in the scheme. The students are expected to get a loan of 50, 000 naira through the Edo Micro Credit Scheme, to enable them start the trade they have acquired.

The campaign,she said, has been tough, and challenging adding that with sincerity of purpose, a lot of successes have been recorded as shown by the number of graduating students this year. All the local governments in the state has been sensitised on the image laundry moves. She also revealed that 179 young children have benefited from the associated project under Edo Underprivileged Children Scholarship Trust Fund.

At the Edo State House of Assembly, the Deputy Clerk , Honourable Egbe Evbonomen said, since the passage of the Bill into law, many lawyers were coming to obtain a copy, to be able to interpret and represent their clients fully. He said it was not easy getting the Bill passed into law as those who benefit from sending females abroad mounted strong opposition against it He said the law has been in existence under Law Cap. 48 of Bendel State since 1976. It was only amendmended, adding that it is all embracing. Accordingly, while Sections 223 C takes care of patronage of prostitution by men, Section 223D is against luring/inducement of any male with gratification for purpose of having carnal knowledge of woman. Both are now offences in Edo State. While in the first instance, a culprit is liable to two years imprisonment or a fine of 10,000 naira or both, the second offence attracts two years or a fine of 5, 000 naira.

On the enforcement of the Law, the visiting team of journalists were taken to the office of the Commissioner of Police. There, the Deputy Commiss-ioner, Yahaya Salama said a team of police went to raid "red light districts" in the state. As part of the long term effort, a documentary film on prostitution, has been produced.

Against this background, awareness creation is now needed the more. On a critical view, the trip to Benin, revealed a strong determination and will to act to give the state a better image. Thus, a serious sensitisation campaign is very necessary. This could be done in partnership with donor agencies like UNICEF, and other United Nations agencies.