Preamble
The UNIBEN Observatory, Faculty of Social Sciences was initially set up in 2009 within the frame work of the project “Counter Trafficking Initiative: analysis of the evolution of trafficking in persons, grass root social intervention, building social services and networking capacity and promoting direct assistance” . The Observatory was funded by Governments of Italy, Netherlands and Norway and projects were implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP).
The Observatory collected qualitative and quantitative data on problems related to trafficking and the responses at play. IOM’s intervention through the Observatory was systematic with an initial focus on Edo and Lagos States….. READ MORE
After the expiration of the IOM /NAPTIP project, in 2012, the Observatory continued till date as a research/study group in the University of Benin, Benin City.
- A list of publications from UNIBEN Observatory
- Research Reports submitted to IOM under the auspices of the Counter Trafficking Initiative (2009 to 2012)
| FINAL REPORTS FROM UNIBEN OBSERVATORY SUBMITTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM) | |||||
| S/N | Report | ||||
| 1. | The Prevailing Perception of Trafficking, Prevention and Anti-Trafficking Activities among Communities in Edo State, Nigeria. | 76 pages | |||
| 2. | Why Benin City? An assessment of Edo State and Benin City endemic areas | 86 pages | |||
| 3. | Monitoring Activities Related to Non-Governmental Organizations involved in the CTI Project | a) | Monitoring and Evaluation Report of Shelter Services Provided by the Committee for the Support of Dignity of Women (COSUDOW) Benin City. | 53 pages | |
| b) | Evaluation Report on Legal Aid/Resource Referral Services: Network for Justice and Democracy (NJD) Benin City. | 25pages | |||
| 4. | Annotated Bibliography on Human Trafficking with Emphasis on Nigeria | 90 pages | |||
| 5. | Effort in Areas of Previous Assistance: A Compilation and Evaluation of Previous Areas of Assistance in Counter Trafficking Projects in Edo State | 45 pages | |||
| 6. | Town Hall Meetings on Eradication of Trafficking in Persons in the Three Senatorial Districts of Edo State Report And Summary | I. | Proceedings of the Town Hall Meeting Held in Benin City, Edo South Senatorial District, Edo State | 15pages | |
| II. | Proceedings of the Town Hall Meeting Held in Benin City, Edo Central Senatorial District, Edo State | 10pages | |||
| III. | Proceedings of the Town Hall Meeting Held in Benin City, Edo North Senatorial District, Edo State | 12pages | |||
| 7. | Scholarships Students who carried out Specific Studies/Thesis on Trafficking. | i. | Esther Omonigho ASOATA P.G/SSC/ 0816103 M.Sc. Sociology and Anthropology (Social Work) | Socio Economic Factors Affecting Human Trafficking in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria | 82 pages |
| ii. | Ikpomnwonsa Solomon ABUMERE SSC0508124 B.Sw Social Work | Female Trafficking In Nigeria And The Preponderance of the Menace in Benin City, Nigeria. | 40pages | ||
| iii. | Joy Oghogho IDUHON P.G/SSC/ 0816102 M.Sc.Sociology and Anthropology (Social Work) | Socio-Cultural Factor Influencing Human Trafficking among Benin People of Edo State | 76pages | ||
| iv. | Benedicta Osayamen IMUDIA P.G/SSC/ 0816100 M.Sc. Sociology and Anthropology (Social Work) | Poverty and Human Trafficking: An Opinion Survey of Benin Metropolis | 103 pages | ||
| v. | Osasogie Joan OGBEMUDIA P.G/SSC/ 0816105 M.Sc. Sociology and Anthropology (Health and Illness Behaviour) | Assessing the Health Implication of Human Trafficking on the Trafficked Persons in Southern Edo State | 83 pages | ||
Observatory Member’s Publications and Technical Reports on Human Trafficking/ Other Publications of UNIBEN Observatory
Okojie C.E.E., O.Okojie, K.A. Eghafona, G. Vincent-Osaghae and V.Kalu./Franco Prina (2004) Trafficking of Nigerian Girls to Italy-(Il Traffico Delle Ragazze Nigererine in Italia) UNICRI-United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, ITALY
www.unicri.it/wwd/trafficking/nigeria/docs/rr_okojie_eng.pdf
UNODC (2006) Measures to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings in Benin, Nigeria andTogo https://www.unodc.org/pdf/publications/ht_research_report_nigeria.pdf
Eghafona K. A., The bane of female trafficking in Nigeria: an examination of the role of the family in the Benin City society, in Alfred Awaritefe, “Toward a sane society”, Benin City: Roma Publication, Ambik Press Ltd, 2009
Orobator S., (2009) Nigeria: the phenomenon of trafficking and slavery, Report presented at the University of Rome, La Sapienza, Rome, May, 2009
Eghafona K.A. (2017) “The Situation of Modern Slavery in Nigeria”. Centre for the Study of Modern Slavery, St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London, Inaugural International Conference 8-10 February 2017.
Inaugural National Conference of the Salvation Army, Nigeria Territorial Headquarters, Anti-Human Trafficking Community Awareness & Recovery (CAR) Programme. 20-21 February 2018 Modern Slavery in Edo State: Victims Experiences and the Need for Psychosocial Post Trafficking Package
International Conference: Double Gaze: The Trafficking of Nigerian Women. Sala Verde – Cittadella Regionale Loc. Germaneto, Catanzaro Italy25/26 September 2018. “Trafficking of Nigerian Women and Girls: The Nigerian Perspective”
Africa Regional Conference of the Santa Marta Group: Church and State working together to restore Dignity to Trafficked Persons 14th-15th November 2018, Abuja, Nigeria. “Trauma Healing for Victims of Human Trafficking: The Need for Post-Trafficking Psychosocial Package”
Externalisation of borders: detention practices and denial of the right to asylum, 25th to 27th February, 2020, Lagos, Nigeria. “The phenomenon of re-trafficking of women repatriated in Nigeria”.
“INSighT – Building capacity to Deal with Human Trafficking and Transit Route in Nigeria, Italy and Sweden”. November 5th 2020. “The Evolving Dynamics of Voluntary Return: The Role of Family, Community and Associations in the Local Context for Voluntary Return”.
- UNODC PROJECT: “Smuggling of migrants and related organized crime” Nigerian Perspective-UNODC G.N. Vincent-Osaghae (National Consultant) (2010)
- UNODC PROJECT NGAX28: Enhancing Multi Stakeholder Co-Operation to Fight Human Trafficking In Countries of Origin and Destination. A. Eghafona (National Consultant) (2011-2012).
- African Union: Assessment Team to Investigate Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of African Union Mission Troops in Somalia (AMISOM), A. Eghafona (Assessment Team Leader) October to December 2014.
- The Salvation Army, Community Awareness and Recovery (CAR) Project Nigeria, End-line Survey, April 2019.
- ETAHT: The Perception of Edo People on International and Irregular Migration. Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT) Supported by DFID funded Market Development Programme in the Niger Delta being implemented by Development Alternatives Incorporated. Eghafona, K.A. and Sadoh, L.I. (2019).
- The Salvation Army, Mid-Term Evaluation for the Community Prevention and Recovery Project (CPR) Project, Nigeria, August 2021
Academic Publications
- Sadoh L.I., Alenkhe O.A. & AGBONTAEN-EGHAFONA K. (2013). Women’s participation in community meetings: Marginalization and its social consequences for development in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State. Journal of Gender Studies, University of Benin, Vol.3, No.1 &2:157-169
- Sadoh L.I. and Alenkhe, A.O. (2014) Impact of Migrant Remittances on Socio-economic Development in Benin City, Nigeria. Illorin Journal of Business and Social Sciences. Vol. 16(1): 149-160
- Ohonba A. & Agbontaen-Eghafona(2019) Transnational Remittances from Human Trafficking and the Changing Socio-Economic Status of Women in Benin City, Edo State Nigeria,Women’s Studies,48:5,531-549,DOI: 10.1080/00497878.2019.1632605
- Eghafona K.A.(2019) The Contemporary and Sociological Dimensions of Irregular Migrations in A. Ikelegbe, A. Muhammad-Wali and A. Karim (eds) Transhumance and International Migration: Challenges for Governance, Peace and Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, National Institute for Security Studies Abuja : 63-83
- Agbontaen-Eghafona, Ohonba A. & Ilevbare A.E (2021). Una ricerca della schiavitù moderna in Nigeria (An Exploration of Modern Slavery in Nigeria (DOPPIO SGUARDO La tratta delle donne nigeriane per sfruttamento sessuale attraverso i dati dei servizi sociali dedicati della Regione Calabria (Double gaze: The trafficking of Nigerian women. The phenomenon, the date and the social service. The case of Calabria) editors Akinyinka Akinyoade, Francesco Carchedi Marina Galati, Maria Rosa Impalà. Maggioli S.p.A. Maggioli Editore è un marchio di Maggioli S.p.A. Azienda con sistema di gestione qualità certificato
A List of Academic Staff of the UNIBEN Observatory, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City
| S/N | Name of Staff | Department | Position | Area of Specialization |
| 1. | Prof. (Mrs.) K.A. Eghafona | Sociology and Anthropology | Head of Observatory (The position is reserved for the Dean of the Faculty) | Anthropology: Oral Literature and Ethno-Archaeology, Cultural Resource Management, Indigenous Knowledge Systems. |
| 2. | Dr. Lugard I. Sadoh | Sociology and Anthropology | Deputy Head of Observatory | Industrial Sociology and Labour Relations, Development and Globalization Studies, Research Methods |
| All the six Heads of Department (HOD) in the Faculty or their representatives are members of the Observatory | ||||
| 3. | Dr. O. Igbinedion | Economics | HOD Economics | International Finance Mathematical Economics Health Economics Economic Theory |
| 4. | Prof. G. Atedhor | Geography and Regional Planning | HOD Geography and Regional Planning | Synoptic Climatology, Agro–Climatology, Climate change, Vulnerability and Adaptation. |
| 5. | Dr. J. Aihie | Political Science | HOD Political Science | International Relations and Strategic Studies |
| 6. | Prof. D Tonwe | Public Administration | HOD Public Administration | Public Administration, Local Government and Grassroots Activism, E-Governance in Public Sector, Public Policy, Conflict Management, Rural and Urban Management, Research Methodology |
| 7. | Dr. (Mrs.) T.B.E. Omorogiuwa | Social Work | HOD Social Work | Child and family Welfare/ protection, Mental and public health, Counseling, Rehabilitation, Intervention development, Gender studies, International and Developmental social work. |
| 8. | Prof. A. Dokpesi | Sociology and Anthropology | HOD Sociology and Anthropology | Industrial and Labour Studies, Develo Industrial sociology and Labour Relations, Medical Sociology and Anthropology pment Studies, Race and Ethnic Relations, Sociology of Religion, Gerontology |
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE OBSERVATORY | ||||
| 9. | Prof (Mrs.) G.N Vincent-Osaghae | Sociology and Anthropology | Member of the Observatory | Medical sociology, Industrial sociology, Sociology of the family, Gender Studies, Sociology of organizations, Social problems. |
| 10. | Dr. S.O. Ibonor | Social Work | School social work, Community development, Occupational/ industrial social work, Demography/ population studies, Early childhood education Environmental social work. | |
| 11. | Dr. C. Eghweree | Political Science | International Relations and Development Studies | |
| 12. | Dr. U.B. Edegbe | Social Work | Transnational migration, Social development, and Development social work.
| |
| 13. | Mrs. Amen Ilevbare | Sociology and Anthropology | Medical Sociology, Social Anthropology | |
| 14. | Dr. (Mrs) E.E Ogie
| Sociology and Anthropology | Industrial Sociology and Labour Relations, Sociology of Family and Marriage | |
| 15. | Dr. J.S. Longe | Sociology and Anthropology | Globalization and Development Studies | |
| 16. | Augustine Alenkhe | Sociology and Anthropology | Sociological Theory Research Methods Populations Studies
| |
| 17. | Mrs. Mustafa-Shaibu Maryam | Sociology and Anthropology | Industrial sociology and Labour Relations, Medical Sociology and Anthropology | |
| 18. | Mr. O.I. Opelusi
| Sociology and Anthropology | Social Psychology | |
| 19. | Engineer C. I. Mokogwu | University of Benin ICT Unit | University of Benin Webmaster | |
VISION AND MISSION/ CORE VALUES
VISION
UNIBEN Observatory will be the leading social research group, providing first-rate services in field research, dissemination and education in the Edo State environment.
UNIBEN Observatory will provide communities in its environment and beyond evidence-based research that is data-rich.
To achieve this vision within the University of Benin, Edo Sate and Nigeria through the following:
Rigorous research with appropriate use of survey methodology and related techniques to collect quantitative and qualitative data through mixed methods study.
Research Collaboration with interrelated interdisciplinary research with other social research teams in the community.
MISSION
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) Observatory is an engine room for social research with the mission to engage in innovative and cutting-edge social research that improves the lives of people in Benin City, Edo and Delta State and South-South Nigeria as well as Nigeria as a whole. UNIBEN Observatory Mission is also to work to advance rigorous and reproducible research in social sciences, and to build collaborative, multi-disciplinary research networks in Nigeria.
CORE VALUES:
The UNIBEN Observatory seeks to advance social science research to enlighten scholars, decision makers, policy makers, caregivers and families, children and youth and the general public about important social problems facing individuals, communities, and society in order to make the society a better place.
LIST OF PREVIOUS FUND PROJECTS AND FUNDERS
| S/N | Previous Fund Project | Funders |
| 1. | Setting up of the Observatory and the Counter Trafficking Initiative (2009-2012) | International Organization for Migration (IOM) |
| 2. | Smuggling of migrants and related organized crime” Nigerian Perspective (2010) | United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) |
| 3. | Enhancing Multi Stakeholder Co-Operation to Fight Human Trafficking In Countries of Origin and Destination (2011-2012) | United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) |
| 4. | The Salvation Army Community Awareness and Recovery (CAR) Project Nigeria, End-line Survey, April 2019.
| The Salvation Army UK |
| 5. | The Perception of Edo People on International and Irregular Migration | Department for International Development(DFID) |
| 6. | The Salvation Army Mid-Term Evaluation for the Community Prevention and Recovery Project (CPR) Project, Nigeria, August 2021 | The Salvation Army UK |
