TALKAM Human Rights Courses Launched at High-Level Policy Dialogue to Strengthen Action Against Violent Crime in Nigeria
DEVATOP Centre for African Development, in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), officially launched two online human rights courses under the TALKAM Human Rights platform during a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Ending Violent Crime in Nigeria. The event, held on December 3, 2025, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, brought together government officials, civil society organizations, development partners, and key stakeholders committed to addressing human rights abuses across the country.
Themed “Strengthening Multi-Sectoral Action to End Violent Crime in Nigeria,” the forum provided a strategic platform to introduce the new courses focused on Human Trafficking and Sextortion. Developed by DEVATOP in partnership with NAPTIP, the courses aim to strengthen public awareness, build capacity, and encourage citizen participation in combating human trafficking, gender-based violence, and other forms of violent crime. The launch marked a significant milestone in expanding accessible, digital learning tools designed to empower advocates, institutions, and the general public with prevention strategies and response mechanisms. Representatives from DEVATOP, alongside NAPTIP’s Director-General and other senior officials, guided participants through the learning interface, highlighting how the platform can serve as a resource for public education, advocacy, and institutional training. Stakeholders were encouraged to integrate the courses into their outreach and capacity-building initiatives to broaden their impact nationwide.
Participants at the Dialogue commended the introduction of the digital learning platform, noting that it promotes equitable access to human rights education and complements ongoing government efforts to adopt multi-sectoral approaches to tackling trafficking and violent crime. The initiative was also recognized as an opportunity to sustain learning beyond traditional physical workshops, enabling continuous engagement and knowledge sharing.
Speaking during the unveiling of the TALKAM Human Rights Courses, the Executive Director of Devatop Centre for Africa Development stated that through the TALKAM Human Rights App, 199 cases of human trafficking, child abuse, gender-based violence, and online sexual abuse of children and adults were reported in 2025. He noted that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and other human rights organizations utilized the TALKAM digital case management platform to receive referrals and successfully resolve 99 cases. He further emphasized that the partnership with NAPTIP has been instrumental in rescuing and supporting victims.
Joseph also acknowledged the Foreign Bridge Aid Fund support hosted and managed by Panorama Global, and funds from Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH) across various interventions, including the use of the TALKAM App to promote access to justice, support for children trapped in domestic servitude, and survivor empowerment initiatives. He stated that, this support enabled DEVATOP provide direct service delivery to survivors, empower vulnerable women and youth and trained and enrolled over 97 human rights case managers to effectively use the TALKAM digital case management system to swiftly receive and respond to reported cases of abuse across 20 states in Nigeria, as well as in Ghana, Liberia, and The Gambia. Joseph commended DEVATOP’s donors for their continued belief in and support of the organization.
The event resulted in increased awareness of the TALKAM platform’s potential to support reporting, prevention, and protection efforts through structured online learning. Several ministries, departments, and non-governmental organizations also expressed interest in leveraging the courses for staff training and beneficiary engagement, signaling new partnership opportunities for scaling the initiative.
