Laraba MUREY
The Federal Government of Nigeria and its partners has said they are working to reduce the 20 percent of Nigerians who migrate irregularly by focusing on education, skills, and innovation for young people.
This was disclosed during the 1st Thematic Meeting of the Rabat Process held on Tuesday, in Abuja, themed “Youth, Education and Innovation: Driving the Future of Migration.”
The event was co-organized by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), under Nigeria’s leadership as Chair of the Rabat Process, a Euro-African dialogue on migration and development. Nigeria and Spain currently co-chair the initiative.
Speaking at the event, Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, insist that over 80% of migration from Africa to Europe is regular, contrary to the dominant narrative.
He insisted that “Migration, when governed well, is not a crisis. It is a contribution to development,” he said.
The minister, while outlining Nigeria’s commitment to promoting safe, orderly, and youth-centered migration said, “Nigeria is proud to lead the Rabat Process as the first English-speaking country in West Africa to chair. We are focusing on the 20 percent that are irregular, and we are doing so through youth-focused, people-first strategies,” Yilwatda said.
Yilwatda pointed to government initiatives such as the National Youth Investment Fund, N-POWER, and the Digital Skills for All Programme as efforts aimed at bridging education and employment gaps for young people.
He also highlighted the National Talent Export Program and technical training initiatives preparing Nigerians for global competitiveness.
He proposed three priority actions: establishing youth innovation hubs across Africa and Europe; developing a migration-ready skills framework to reduce irregular migration; and launching a joint youth mobility forum involving the EU, AU, and the private sector.
Also, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohamed Mohamed, emphasized the urgency and significance of holding the meeting at such a critical time, citing the growing global challenge of irregular migration from Africa to destinations like Lampedusa, Spain, and the island of Malta.
He drew attention to the tragic consequences of these migratory routes, stating that “the Mediterranean is being filled by the corpses of our African youths.”
According to him, this gathering presents an opportunity to collectively find lasting solutions to the issue of irregular migration, especially for the 20% who are not accounted for under legal migration frameworks.
He called on international partners to intensify efforts in tracking the financial proceeds of human traffickers. “By the time you stop the funding, there will be no incentive for them to engage in it,” he asserted.
On his part, the Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described migration as a shared challenge requiring coordinated and human-centered global responses.
While applauding Nigeria’s leadership role, Mignot noted that migrants often serve as scapegoats for socioeconomic shortcomings, stressing that, “It is essential to reaffirm the principles and objectives that unite us in the Rabat Process.”
Mignot outlined the EU’s evolving approach to migration, including reforms to legal migration pathways such as the EU Blue Card, Single Permit directive, and the proposed EU Talent Pool.
“We look forward to launching a Talent Partnership with Nigeria, similar to initiatives with Tunisia and Egypt,” he said.
He stressed the importance of youth as drivers of migration’s future, noting that Nigeria topped Africa in Erasmus+ scholarships in 2024, with 142 recipients.
The envoy also highlighted EU-backed initiatives in Nigeria like the Nigerian Jubilee Fellowship Programme and digital training partnerships, adding that efforts to curb irregular migration include collaboration with NAPTIP and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
“The EU remains committed to a future where migration is safe, legal, and beneficial to all,” he concluded.
Also speaking, Spain’s Ambassador-at-Large for Migration Affairs, Pilar Méndez Jiménez, commended Nigeria’s leadership as chair of the Rabat Process and lauded the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons for hosting the meeting.
She described Spain’s co-chairing of the first Rabat Process meeting in Nigeria as historic, aligning with Spain’s Africa Strategy 2025–2028, which promotes regular migration, development, and equal partnership.
“The agenda speaks directly to shared priorities—youth, education, innovation, and regular migration pathways,”
Mendez also noted the importance of engaging young Africans, especially as the continent’s working-age population continues to grow.
She stressed Spain’s commitment to multilateral migration governance and collaboration, citing initiatives like Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe as avenues for youth empowerment and innovation.
She praised the inclusion of civil society and youth diaspora voices in the Rabat Process and ended with a message: “We hear you. We want you safe. And we want you to be successful.”
