We Are Priceless, a book written by multiple award-winning investigative journalist, Ms. Juliana Ebere Francis, will go a long way in supporting the ongoing efforts by the government to stem the tide of trafficking in persons.
The chairman of the Police Service Commission, PSC, Dr. Solomon Arase, made this declaration on Thursday in Lagos where he chaired the public presentation of the book, We are Priceless.
He said although much interventions were already being made by the government through the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, among other agencies, in recent past to bring an end to the menace of trafficking in persons, the book would serve as a good instrument to achieve the goal.
He said the book touched on the real essence of the problem and if well utilized would achieve a great success.
The former Inspector General of Police suggested the use of the book in schools across the country in order to be able to pass the message about the danger of trafficking in persons, and how to avoid being victims.
Describing his state, Edo, as deserving special attention in the case, he bought copies of the book and promised to distribute them to schools.
The reviewer of the book, Mr. Femi Adesina, spokesman of former president, Muhammadu Buhari, was full of praises for the author, Juliana Ebere Francis, for writing the book.
He described the book as simply unputdownable and a display of the mastery of the use of language in the conveyance of the essence of the book.
Guests took turns to speak on the focus of the book, campaign against trafficking in persons, and praised the author for doing a good job.
We Are Priceless tells the story of five children who courageously freed themselves from sexual slavery which they were deceived into by people their parents and guardians trusted.
“The novel reminds us of how vulnerable children continue to be sacrificed on the alter of wealth via the selfish quests of adults who should protect them. It is a campaign tool for all sectors, showing the realities of human trafficking and urging Nigerians to join the fight to checkmate the menace,” the author writes.
A foremost crime and security reporter in Nigeria, Juliana Ebere Francis is from Amaoba-Oboro, in Ikwuano local government area of Umuahia, Abia State.
She graduated from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State where she studied Literature in English.
Her journalism career started in 2002 with The Sun newspaper as a trainee reporter.
She is the Chief Executive Officer of Youthslens Initiative Development, a non-governmental organisation; publisher of youthslens.com, publisher of securitynewsalert.com, Deputy Editor, The Eagle Online; Media Head, Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, ACVPN, and a media consultant.
