In commemoration of the 2022 International Migrants’ Day, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour’s Migrants Resource Centre, in Lagos Southwest Nigeria, hosted an inter-school competition to ignite conversation around migration and related issues.
The Competition which centred on this year’s theme ‘it takes a community’ also aimed at dissuading irregular migration amongst the younger population.
The Federal Commissioner, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim who was represented by the Southwest Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Ola Erinfolami stated that the Commission would not rest on it’s oars in the fight against irregular migration.
Earlier, in 2021, the Commission set up Migration Clubs in five schools in Lagos, with a view to arming students with accurate information on migration themes, to enable them make informed decisions when faced with the lure of human trafficking, smuggling of migrants or other forms of irregular migration.
Speaking on behalf of the Migrants Resource Centre, Mr. Kingsley Uwaoma commended the Refugee Commission for the initiative and collaboration, noting that a large percentage of returned migrants fall within the school age, as such, any efforts geared towards the particular demographic would go a long way in stemming the tide of irregular migration in the country.
The schools, Aunty Ayo Secondary School, Ireti Grammar School, Government Secondary School, Victoria Island Secondary School and Kuramo High School thrilled audiences with performances in poetry, drama and spoken word after which prizes were given to the top three schools and consolation prizes to the rest.
The students expressed delight at the initiative, stating that the Migration Clubs had opened their eyes to the antics of human traffickers and smugglers and that they had become advocates for safe, orderly and regular migration in their homes and schools.
In attendance were representatives from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Child2Child Network.
The international Migrants day is set aside by the United Nations to recognize the impact of migration on development as well as draw attention to the plights of migrants across the world.
