Benin-City – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nigeria, in collaboration with the Edo State Migration Agency and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is pleased to launch the call for applications for the first edition of the Short Course on migration to be organized in Benin-City, under the theme “Safe and Regular Migration Pathways for Nigerians”.
The pilot short course will run for 6 days between 7-11 April 2025 and is designed to foster knowledge exchange and build the capacity of young Nigerians on critical migration-related thematic areas such the migration, environment and climate change nexus, migration for sustainable development, migration policy and development in Nigeria.
“We applaud the launch of this initiative which will not only build awareness among young Nigerians but also contribute to shaping a well-informed generation capable of influencing migration policies and advocating for safe migration practices,” said Hon. Chief Lucky Agazuma, Director General of the Edo Migration Agency which is co-leading the roll-out of the short course.
The organization of the short course is part of IOM’s broader strategy to promote safe and regular migration pathways in Nigeria by equipping youths with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed migration decisions. The initiative further contributes to mainstreaming the Edo State Migration Strategy, developed in December 2024 with the support of IOM through the project “Managing Migration through Development 2.0” supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Over the six days, students will interact with experts from IOM as well as state actors including the Edo State Migration Agency, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and academic institutions.
“Migration is an integral part of Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape, and it is crucial to ensure that Nigerians are aware of the safest and most structured pathways to migrate,” said Paola Pace, Chief of Mission ad interim of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Nigeria.
“Through this pilot course, we aim to provide young Nigerians with insights into migration governance, the risks of irregular migration, while co-designing innovative approaches to harness the migration potential in the state”, she added.
The Pilot Short Course will run in Benin-City and is accepting applications until 23 March 2025. Only applications submitted online will be evaluated.
For further information on application requirements, applicants are advised to visit https://nigeria.iom.int/short-course-migration-nigeria or contact Francois-Xavier Ada, Media and Communications Officer at fadaaffana@iom.int.
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