A three-day capacity-building workshop on safe migration has opened in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The programme is tagged “Safe Migration for All: Developing Capacity and Promoting Awareness for Regular Migration Pathways in Nigeria.”
The workshop, which started on Tuesday, is organised by the CSO Migration Network, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Nigerian-German Centre for Migration and Development, the German Development Cooperation and the German Agency for International Cooperation, GIZ.
Welcoming participants drawn from academia, CSOs, NGOs, government, the media, and other stakeholders, the Executive Director of CSOnetMADE, Dr Emeka Obiezu, said the workshop aimed to equip participants with the necessary tools of awareness creation as they provide alternatives to travellers that it is their right to migrate if they so wish, but migration should be done safely.
“The overall objective is to enhance the knowledge and capacity of key stakeholders to promote regular Migration Pathways, reduce irregular Migration and improve reintegration outcomes for returnees, contributing to better Migration governance in Nigeria,” Dr Obiezu said.
Mrs Tolulope Olaya who represented the German Development Cooperation and GIZ Nigeria, said that migration has always been part of human experience shaping societies, economies and cultures worldwide.
She believes, however, that migration must benefit everyone – the migrant, countries of origin, and host communities alike.
“Today, migration is a dynamic, complex phenomenon driven by various factors, including economic opportunities, environmental challenges and insecurity.
“Here in Nigeria, as in many parts of the world, migration presents both a challenge and an opportunity when it offers pathways to better livelihoods, empowerment and prosperity.
“We are gathered here today because we share a collective vision to ensure that Migration especially from Nigeria, is safe, orderly and regular,” she said.
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She added that her organisation has partnered with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to establish the Nigerian-German Centre for Migration NGC in Lagos, South-West Nigeria, Benin, South-South, and Abuja in north-central Nigeria.
The NGC serves as an advisory centre for individuals interested in migrating to Germany, Europe or within the region for work or professional development.
She said that the workshop focused on capacity building and raising awareness of safe Migration Pathways, which is a vital step towards realising the vision.
According to a 2020 United Nations data, there are around 281 million international Migrants worldwide, representing 3.6 percent global population.
The report stated that the figure has been steadily increasing over the past decades with Asia and Europe hosting the highest number of international Migrants.
It said that the population of international Migrants varies by region with a higher concentration in countries with advanced economies and lower in regions with lower economic development.
The workshop ends on Thursday.
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