Debbie Ariyo

Debbie Ariyo serves as an Honorary Research Fellow at St Mary's University's Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse. As founder and CEO of AFRUCA (established 2001), she addresses child safeguarding and trafficking in African diaspora communities, while chairing the BME Anti-Slavery Network (BASNET) to advance racial equity in anti-trafficking efforts.

Her academic qualifications include:

• Executive Master in Public Administration from London School of Economics and Political Science
• Master in Urban Policy from University of North London
• Bachelor in French and Education from University of Benin, Nigeria

A specialist in socio-cultural dimensions of child protection, Ariyo designs diaspora anti-trafficking engagement programs and advises on forced migration policy. Her work bridges academic research with community intervention, particularly focusing on Black and African-origin communities in the UK and Europe through BASNET's racial equity framework.

Her distinguished awards comprise:

• Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in Queen’s Birthday Honours 2011
• Churchill Fellowship (2019) for research on Community Engagement Models in Child Trafficking protection

Ariyo secured the Churchill Fellowship grant for field research in Ghana and Thailand, producing policy recommendations for UK interventions. She also established a private scholarship initiative for Nigerian students. Her advisory roles span the UK Modern Slavery Policy Centre, Journal of Modern Slavery (US), and Manchester City Council Children Board.

She leads AFRUCA and BASNET as primary operational vehicles, while contributing as court expert witness, policy advisor, and public speaker on trafficking cases. Her work integrates with St Mary's University through the Bakhita Centre's research framework despite lacking departmental affiliation.