By Longtong Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has urged the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to support the Federal Government’s vocational skills acquisition program as well as promote trade test certificate issued by the ministry for skills export.
A statement by the ministry’s director of press, Samuel Olowookere noted that the Minister sought for the partnership recently when he received on courtesy visit the Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration, Ms Enira Krdzalic.
While calling on IOM to do more in the area of advocacy, publicity and sensitization through the newly established Migrant Resource Centre under the 10thEuropean Union Development Project, the minister observed that many skilled youths took the part of irregular migration which is dangerous due to lack of information.
According to him “irregular migration is one of the worst problems we have. Some of these migrants have skills and vocations that can actually put them on the part of regular migration, but because they lack the information and knowledge, they veer off and undertake the part of irregular migration which has caused them a lot of hazard.”
Ngige added that, the ministry’s partnership with IOM will afford skilled Nigerians the opportunity to work abroad as regular migrant with relevant documents thereby reducing the spate of irregular migration and the dangers it posed to the youths.
Earlier in her remarks, the Chief of Mission for IOM, Ms Enira Krdzalic said her organization is partnering with the Ministry to promote gainful employment opportunities as government alone cannot generate all the needed jobs.
She said, IOM has assisted the ministry in upgrading the National Electronic Labour Exchange Portal (NELEX), including establishment of six job centers in Lagos, Asaba, Awka, Bauchi, Kaduna and Abuja; as well as the establishment of Migrant Resource Centre for easy dissemination of information to intending migrants.
