United States President, Barack Obama has appointed a Nigerian journalist and Anti-Human Trafficking advocate, Bukola Love Oriola as a member of the advisory council on Human trafficking.
In a statement by the office of the Press Secretary, White House, Obama who appointed Oriola and 10 others said “They bring their years of experience and expertise to this Administration, and I look forward to working with them.”
Oriola founded The Entian Story in 2013, a non-profit organization which advocates for survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse after her personal experience when she relocated to the US from Nigeria.
The statement added that “In 2009, Ms. Oriola published her book Imprisoned: The Travails of a Trafficked Victim and began producing Imprisoned Show. Ms. Oriola has owned and managed Bukola Braiding and Beauty Supply since 2007. She was a reporter and researcher for Century Media Limited in Lagos, Nigeria from 2003 to 2005. Ms. Oriola received an A.S. from The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo.”
Oriola while responding to her appointment said “Please join in thanking God on my behalf. I regard the appointment as an opportunity to do more than I have been doing in advocating against Human Trafficking in the United States and in other parts of the world.”
Oriola was also a victim of Human Trafficking, In 2005, she went to the United States from Nigeria on a two-month work permit in order to cover a New York City meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, she married a U S citizen who subjugated her to a life of unfree labour, confiscating all of her earnings. She was imprisoned in his home for two years.