The International Organization for Migration (IOM) not too long ago marked 25 years of operations in Nigeria, celebrating a partnership that has supported thousands and thousands of individuals, strengthened nationwide establishments and helped communities rebuild their lives.
This occasion, which was held on October 28, in Abuja, attracted the Nigerians within the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), whose CEO Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, made a powerful assertion that migration when correctly channeled generally is a supply of monumental contribution of the Nigerians within the Diaspora to the nation’s economic system.
In a particular video message marking the milestone, Nigeria’s Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, congratulated IOM on 25 years of service and partnership with Nigeria, recognising its contributions to supporting displaced communities, defending susceptible populations and selling secure and common migration.
“On behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I warmly congratulate the International Organization for Migration on 25 years of service and partnership in Nigeria. Over the past quarter of a century, IOM has been a trusted partner, supporting communities affected by displacement, assisting vulnerable populations, promoting safe and regular migration, and helping build resilience across our great nation,” mentioned the Vice President.
“Migration is not only a challenge to be managed; it is an opportunity to be harnessed. By embracing new skills development, expanding pathways for safe and regular mobility, and creating opportunities for our young people to contribute productively at home and abroad, we can unlock the full potential of migration as a driver of development. We must also continue to engage and empower our diaspora, whose skills, investments, innovations, and global networks are invaluable assets for Nigeria’s growth and prosperity.”
The anniversary celebration in Abuja was additionally attended by Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, Executive Governor of Borno State; Dr Bernard Mohammed Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; senior authorities officers, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of United Nations companies, growth companions and different nationwide and worldwide stakeholders.
At the occasion, IOM offered Migration Vision @25, developed with the Government of Nigeria and companions to information migration cooperation over the subsequent quarter-century. The imaginative and prescient comes as Nigeria’s massive and youthful inhabitants makes entry to expertise, jobs and secure migration pathways more and more essential to the nation’s growth ambitions.
Nigeria’s migration panorama continues to be formed by battle and insecurity, climate-related disasters, environmental degradation and financial pressures. These challenges have contributed to displacement and elevated vulnerabilities in affected communities, whereas irregular migration can expose folks to exploitation and different safety dangers.
At the identical time, Nigeria’s quickly rising and predominantly youthful inhabitants presents alternatives to harness migration for expertise growth, labour mobility and financial development. Ensuring that migration is secure, orderly and common, whereas increasing alternatives for younger folks and supporting displaced populations to rebuild their lives, stays central to the nation’s migration and growth priorities.
Since 2014, IOM has offered humanitarian help to greater than 2.5 million folks, supported practically 500,000 displaced folks with shelter, helped greater than 737,000 folks acquire entry to secure ingesting water and facilitated the secure and voluntary return dwelling of over 72,000 Nigerian migrants.
The partnership has additionally centered on serving to folks regain livelihoods and communities strengthen their financial foundations. IOM-supported financial restoration initiatives have generated or restored greater than 75,000 jobs by way of expertise growth and start-up assist, strengthened greater than 2,150 small companies, and educated greater than 12,700 folks in expertise linked to market demand.
Working with the Government, IOM has additionally supported six main nationwide migration insurance policies and frameworks and helped strengthen border administration programs at 33 areas throughout the nation.
“Nigeria has an opportunity to help shape the future of human mobility across West and Central Africa”, mentioned Sylvia Ekra, IOM’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “By investing in skills, expanding safe and regular pathways, and strengthening cooperation between countries, we can create a region where people are able to move with dignity and where migration opens opportunities for individuals, communities and economies alike. IOM is proud to be a longstanding partner of Nigeria and the region and will continue to partner with all actors to ensure no one is left behind”.
Reflecting on IOM’s journey, Chief of Mission Sharon Dimanche mentioned the anniversary was as a lot concerning the folks of Nigeria because it was concerning the group’s achievements.
“Twenty-five years ago, IOM began its journey in Nigeria with just two staff members working from a small office in Lagos. Today, our work reaches across the country, but the real story is not how much IOM has grown. It is the millions of lives touched through this partnership and the extraordinary resilience of the Nigerian people. When we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2051, the children born today will be 25 years old. Our ambition is to help create a future where fewer people are forced into vulnerability and more people have the opportunity to thrive.”
The Migration Vision @25, anchored in three pillars, Mobility, Opportunity and Resilience, envisages Nigeria as a number one African hub for secure and productive migration, a globally aggressive supply of expertise and expertise, and a rustic the place migration contributes extra on to financial development and nationwide growth.
The imaginative and prescient additionally requires stronger migrant safety, expanded common migration pathways, higher diaspora engagement, sustainable reintegration and lasting options for displacement-affected communities.
As IOM enters its subsequent quarter century in Nigeria, the group reaffirmed its dedication to working with the Government and companions to avoid wasting lives, strengthen establishments, construct resilient communities and harness migration as a driver of nationwide and regional prosperity.
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