The federal government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to curb the irregular migration of youths in Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim disclosed this when a team from IOM paid her a courtesy visit in her office at the Federal Secretariat complex Abuja.
Dr. Bio-Ibrahim revealed that her Ministry had planned some areas of collaboration with IOM.
“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 grassroot 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 really 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 emphasized.
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.
The team lead and Director General of IOM, De -Boeck Laurent, in his speech 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 the 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 entered into an agreement with the University of Maiduguri and Modibo University in Borno and Adamawa to enable the youths to access formal education.
Maryam Umar Yusuf
Head, Press & Public Relations Unit.
