By Philomina Attah and EricJames Ochigbo
Abuja, May 20, 2026 (NAN) The Vatican and African stakeholders have pledged support for the Pathways to Freedom Africa Network (PFAN) initiative against human trafficking and cyber slavery across Africa.
The stakeholders made the pledge on Wednesday during the closing ceremony of PFAN’s inaugural summit held in Abuja.
Participants included representatives from the Vatican, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria, were united in addressing trafficking and exploitation across vulnerable communities.
The summit, with the theme ‘Inclusive Strategies for Ending Human Trafficking; Reaching the Most Marginalised,’ attracted religious leaders, development experts and advocacy groups.
The programme was convened by the Justice Development and Peace Commission Initiative (JDPCI), Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, alongside the GrowEdo UK Support Group.
Cardinal Fabio Baggio, Undersecretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, said the Vatican welcomed PFAN’s establishment.
Baggio said the Catholic Church remained committed to protecting vulnerable people through grassroots interventions supported by Catholic teachings and global religious organisations.
He explained that the Church regularly collaborated with local churches, congregations and humanitarian institutions to confront social injustice and exploitation worldwide.
“For us, it is a wonderful pleasure when partnerships can be established even with other organisations and entities,” Baggio said.
He added that such partnerships reflected the urgency and importance of combating human trafficking and related abuses affecting vulnerable communities across Africa.
“From the part of the Vatican’s Dicastery, I can assure you of all the support that will be needed,” he said.
He assured stakeholders that support required to strengthen the network and ensure effective operations across Africa would be fully provided by the Vatican.
Archbishop Augustine Akubeze of the Archdiocese of Benin City also expressed satisfaction over the inauguration of PFAN in Abuja.
Akubeze pledged to engage the Edo government toward supporting the initiative through training programmes and other critical interventions against trafficking.
“I am very happy to be at the inauguration of PFAN.
“I commit to get the Edo State Government to partner with PFAN on training and any other aspect of the work,” Akubeze said.
He said stronger institutional collaboration would improve preventive measures, rehabilitation efforts and public awareness campaigns against human trafficking across affected communities.
The Christian Blind Mission (CBM) International also pledged support for PFAN through its extensive humanitarian and disability inclusion networks across several countries.
Mr Innocent Alobu, Programmes Coordinator of CBM International, said the organisation had collaborated with Catholic dioceses and JDPCI for over four decades.
Alobu explained that CBM’s thematic focus areas aligned closely with challenges associated with trafficking, exploitation and the marginalisation of vulnerable persons.
He noted that collaboration with PFAN would improve visibility and encourage collective action toward tackling trafficking and protecting affected populations.
“We will continue to partner with JDPCI and PFAN which is bringing all other countries together.
“Working with this platform will bring a better visibility and a collective effort to address these needs,” he said.
Alobu disclosed that CBM maintained offices in more than 54 countries, creating opportunities for stronger international cooperation against trafficking networks.
“CBM will be happy to partner with PFAN because we also have our network with offices in over 54 countries,” he said.
He stressed that persons with disabilities remained highly vulnerable to exploitation and required stronger institutional protection and support systems.
“We are happy to partner and to ensure that Persons With Disabilities are removed from that point where they are always in dire need,” he said.
Stakeholders at the summit emphasised that regional partnerships and coordinated interventions remained essential toward dismantling trafficking networks operating across African borders.
They also urged governments, religious bodies and civil society organisations to intensify efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable people from exploitation and cyber slavery. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)