Joseph Chidiebere Osuigwe is an IgboNigerian anti-human trafficking advocate, educator, and social entrepreneur. He is the executive director of Devatop Centre for Africa Development, a nonprofit organization with focus on combating human trafficking, gender-based violence, providing educational supports to vulnerable children and empowering women and youth.
Early life and family
Joseph Osuigwe was born in Aba, Abia on 26 June 1985. From ages 9 to 14 he suffered child abuse under different homes. He is the first son of the family of two boys. He hails from Umuzeala Ogwara, Ehime Mbano in Imo State, Nigeria.
Educational background
Osuigwe attended primary school in Aba South and secondary school in Ehime Mbano area, before obtaining bachelor of education in mathematics from University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2011. While at the university, he was the general course leader of mathematics, computer science, physics, and chemistry departments from 2008 to 2011. He also served as the president of Lifeline campus. In 2015, he obtained a certificate in Media and Information Literacy from Africa Centre for Media and Information Literacy and United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
During his National Youth Service in 2013 at women rehabilitation centre operated by Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour in Abuja, he published and donated his book titled: Maximizing Your Brain Power...a pathway to becoming an intellectual giant” to more than 90 schools in 85 communities. After interacting with survivors of sex trafficking at the women rehabilitation centre, he initiated a community project through which he trained 1900 young people to work towards eradicating human trafficking in Abuja. He received an award by National Youth Service Corps for his community projects on education and anti-human trafficking.
Career
In 2015, he founded The Academy for Prevention of Human Trafficking and Other Related Matters, a platform that uses training, research, advocacy, publication and media to prevent human trafficking in Nigeria.
Research Work
Joseph has carried out and present research at different national and international conference, including International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference, USA.
Joseph Osuigwe participated in a U.S Exchange program, known as International Visitor Leadership Program in Washington DC and Austin,during which he explored the best practices, innovative approaches, and policies in tackling human trafficking in United States.
