The Nigerian government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to curb the irregular migration of youths in Nigeria.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim when a team from IOM paid her a courtesy visit in her office Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Speaking on intended areas of collaboration with IOM, the Minister said, “We are proposing to collaborate with IOM in the areas of youth sensitization /advocacy on the dangers of irregular migration and advantages of Regular Migration nationwide, specifically at the grassroots level across the six (6) geo-political zones”, She said.
Dr. Bio-Ibrahim further said that the Ministry would appreciate collaborating with IOM in rehabilitating the Ministry’s 42 youth development centres with the view to converting them into centres of excellence.
On the issue of youth policy review, she stated that the Ministry will need some support from the IOM in reviewing its National Youth policy, which is already due this year.
“It will be important for the Director General of IOM to be on board with the Ministry as a partner to support the policy review process because of his wealth of experience and knowledge which will help in guiding the committee through the process”, she emphasised.
Speaking on the planned celebration of International Day of Happiness slated for 20th of March, 2024 by IOM, the Minister noted that the initiative is a very good one as it is centred on projecting a different narrative other than the negative stories and the gloomy sides of life.
Earlier, in his opening remark, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Dunoma Umaru Ahmed pointed out that the Ministry had proposed to allow collaboration with IOM to ensure easy access to the regular migration pathway abroad.
The Permanent Secretary added that the Ministry would also collaborate in the area of Youth Empowerment to build self-reliant skills for intending and returning youth migrants.
In his address, the team leader and Director General of IOM, De -Boeck Laurent stated that the essence of his visit was to affirm their readiness to collaborate with the Ministry in promoting humane and orderly migrations among the youth as a leading organisation within the United Nations system.
Mr. Laurent informed the house that they are working with the private sector on job creation, targeting a specific zone like Maiduguri in Borno state because of concern for the youths in that region. “We are offering the youth some skills so that they can contribute to the development of the construction of the region,” he said.
He further said that his organisation had agreed with the University of Maiduguri and Modibo University in Borno and Adamawa to enable the youths to access formal education.
Dominica Nwabufo
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