Nigerian mum emerges as UEL’s most outstanding graduate in Anthropology and International Development field

A 24 year old Nigerian British, Rebekah Eve Odutola (nee Jones), on Wednesday emerged the most outstanding graduating student in Anthropology and International Development field at the University of East London in the United Kingdom.
The mother of one, a Nigeria by marriage graduated with a first class Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development: The Third World with NGO Management at the University of East London.
Rebekah’s undergraduate dissertation which addressed sex trafficking in Edo State of Nigeria also emerged as the best academic project of the year in the Anthropology and International Development field. As announced by the orator at the event: “This is Rebekah Odutola and Rebekah is also the winner of the best undegraduate dissertation prize for the Anthropology and International Development field”
Rebekah’s dissertation was titled: “What role do socio-cultural dynamics play in sex trafficking? Cultural and social influences on trafficking in women for sexual exploitation from Edo State, Nigeria”
The dissertation revealed that although some of Edo women who fell victim of sex trafficking had no idea of what awaits them, some did and were influenced by materialism and other factors. It also noted that the demand for sex commercialization abroad continues to be a strong reason for the continuation of sex trafficking.

Rebekah and husband, Frederick

When asked how Rebekah did it as a wife and looking after a 1 year old, she replied, “I initially wanted prove to all those that asked me to quit while expecting my baby that I could finish but with my top grades all along, I thought I could as well finish on a high note”.
“My most fervent thanks are firstly given to God, my parents, for never accepting anything less than my best efforts, my husband Frederick Odutola, for not allowing me to quit when it seemed impossible and for supporting me on all levels and my daughter for always inspiring me. “, Rebekah concluded.
See video below:

Extracts from Rebekah Odutola’s Dissertation Conclusion
Another factor which drives the phenomenon that this work has highlighted is the increased concentration on materialism and wealth accrual at the expense of traditional values. With the concepts of development and consumerism advocated by the West, traditional beliefs ideas surrounding poverty evolved and opulence and visible wealth were increasingly perceived as signs of success. The pressure to attain prosperity provides a breeding ground favourable to traffickers, who lure victims with deceitful promises of wealth. Accordingly, the rampant trafficking from Edo State is supported by multifaceted factors (such as gender discrimination and materialism) and cannot be ascribed to material deprivation alone, although economic poverty is undeniably a predominant push factor in the process.
Trafficking also continues to flourish on account of the unabated demand for commercial sex in receiving countries. Technological advancement has abetted the expansion of trafficking through the facilitated consumer access to forms of commercial sex, notably online pornography which has become a tolerated part of the culture of European receiving countries. The globalization of pornography has resulted in many women being trafficking for the purpose of pornography production in which they are exploited to perform degrading and dehumanizing sexual acts. The normalisation of the sexual objectification of women in pornography, together with the degradation and portrayed violent treatment of their bodies in mainstream media, reduces women to commodities and potentially engenders the notion of entitlement to access their bodies. The manifestation of such insidious attitudes, which treat gender discrimination and violence against women with levity, perpetuate and buttress the process of trafficking in which degradation, violence and female commodification are inherent.