The Next2None Support Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch what they describe as Africa’s first international fashion campaign dedicated to combating human trafficking.

Tagged “Threads of Resilience: Fashion for Freedom,” the initiative is designed to bring together global fashion, international cinema and elite sports in a coordinated campaign aimed at preventing human trafficking, empowering vulnerable youths and restoring the dignity of survivors.

The landmark MoU was signed on August 27, 2026, by NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Lami Adamu Bello; Director, Legal and Prosecution Department, Mrs Ijeoma Amugo; Director-General of Next2None Support Initiative, Mr Sam Obu, Esq., popularly known as Chukky; and Mr Frank Nwala.

The partnership was announced on Sunday in a joint statement signed by Obu and Nwala.

According to the statement, the initiative has an eight-year operational timeline, running from 2026 to 2034, with an initial target of reaching 6,000 young people annually across Nigeria.

The programme is expected to scale its interventions to train approximately 1,000 participants in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

It will operate throughout the year and culminate in an annual flagship Global Fashion for Freedom event in Abuja, with the global launch scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.

Tackling the Changing Face of Human Trafficking

Speaking on the rationale behind the initiative, Obu said the architecture of human trafficking had evolved significantly, with traffickers increasingly exploiting digital platforms and social vulnerabilities.

He identified social media, deceptive employment advertisements, fraudulent migration schemes and online relationships as some of the avenues now being used by traffickers to target vulnerable people.

“Human trafficking is no longer just a law enforcement challenge; it is a crisis of poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunity,” Obu said.

According to him, Threads of Resilience is designed to go beyond rescuing victims by creating sustainable pathways to economic independence and dignity.

“‘Threads of Resilience’ addresses this by moving beyond mere rescue. We are creating a sustainable, Nigerian-led international movement that uses creativity, sports, and education to establish pathways to absolute freedom and economic dignity,” he said.

Three-Pillar Intervention

The organisers said the programme is structured around three major pillars: Prevention, Empowerment and Rebuilding.

Under Prevention — Stopping the Cycle, the initiative will use cultural platforms that appeal to young people, including fashion campaigns, school programmes, digital advocacy and community outreach, to educate them about trafficking risks and promote online safety.

The Empowerment — Reducing Vulnerability component will provide physical and digital training in vocational areas such as fashion design, textile production, leather making and garment care.

Participants will also receive training in modern enterprise skills, including e-commerce, financial literacy and branding, with the aim of connecting young people to sustainable livelihoods.

The third pillar, Rebuild — Restoring Dignity, will focus on providing confidential and respectful reintegration support for trafficking survivors, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees.

The support package will include vocational rehabilitation, mentorship, mental health and psychosocial support.

Fashion, Film and Sports to Drive Global Campaign

The organisers said the initiative would use fashion as a vehicle for human rights advocacy, with emerging designers and trafficking survivors expected to showcase collections carrying messages of healing, resilience and freedom.

Next2None and NAPTIP are also seeking partnerships with leading international fashion houses, including Gucci, Balenciaga, Versace and Hugo Boss, to strengthen the global reach of the campaign.

The programme will equally collaborate with Nollywood and international filmmakers to produce anti-trafficking movies, documentaries and awareness skits, while providing young participants with practical training in film production.

Sports will form another major component of the campaign.

According to the statement, the initiative plans to leverage existing grassroots talent-hunt frameworks while pursuing strategic partnerships with international sporting bodies, including FIFA for football initiatives, the International Handball Federation (IHF) for handball tournaments and the National Basketball Association (NBA) for elite athlete ambassadors and sports clinics targeting vulnerable youths.

Eight-Year Programme Targets Sustainable Impact

With NAPTIP providing governmental leadership and technical expertise, including facilitating collaboration with relevant government institutions and United Nations agencies, the organisers said the programme would operate under a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework.

The framework is expected to track key indicators including employment outcomes, survivor rehabilitation, youth participation and funds mobilised for the programme.

The initiative is now moving into its implementation phase, with diplomatic outreach, stakeholder engagement and international partnership mobilisation expected to intensify ahead of the planned 2027 global launch.

Calling for broad-based support, the Media Office of Next2None Support Initiative urged corporate organisations, international development agencies, foundations, philanthropists, brand ambassadors, volunteers and foreign missions to join the campaign.

“We invite corporate organizations, international development grants, foundations, philanthropists, brand ambassadors, volunteers and foreign missions to join hands with us. Together, we can use creativity to educate, skills to empower, and partnerships to rebuild lives,” the statement said.