By Stella Odueme
The Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim has expressed deep concern over the growing trend of irregular migration among young people in the country.
She showed this concern
during a 2-day Awareness Programme on the the Effects of Irregular Migration of Young people, organised by the Ministry in Benin, Edo State,Southern Zone.
Dr Ibrahim who was represented by Director Education and Youth Development in the Ministry, Mr Kabiru Mohammed noted the alarming rate at which this issue poses significant challenges to the stability and functionality of the societies while highlighting the negative social, economic, and cultural impact of irregular migration among Youth.
She stressed the importance of urgent collaborative efforts to address and mitigate these challenges.
Jamila disclosed that as a result of these challenges, President Bola Tinubu led Administration through the Ministry of Youth Development is working tirelessly in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to curb this ugly trend.
“The ministry has designed various empowerment programmes like the “approved restructured National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), the Presidential Initiative on Youth Cluster, National Youth Skills Programme, Proposed construction of Youth Villages, Construction of Youth Development Centres Nationwide and 30% affirmation action for youth to participate in government among others”, she stated.
The minister recalled that in the recent years, the Country has recorded needless and avoidable deaths of irregular migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe and has also witnessed countless cases of organ harvesting, rape, child labour, kidnapping, prostitution meted out to illegal desert migrants.
A statement byFEDERAL MINISTRY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE
12th September, 2024
Minister of Youth Expresses concern over Irregular Migration among Young People in the Country
Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim has expressed deep concern over the growing trend of irregular migration among young people in the country.
She showed this concern
during a 2-day Awareness Programme on the the Effects of Irregular Migration of Young people, organised by the Ministry in Benin, Edo State,Southern Zone.
Dr Ibrahim who was represented by Director Education and Youth Development in the Ministry, Mr Kabiru Mohammed noted the alarming rate at which this issue poses significant challenges to the stability and functionality of the societies while highlighting the negative social, economic, and cultural impact of irregular migration among Youth.
She stressed the importance of urgent collaborative efforts to address and mitigate these challenges.
Jamila disclosed that as a result of these challenges, President Bola Tinubu led Administration through the Ministry of Youth Development is working tirelessly in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to curb this ugly trend.
“The Ministry has designed various empowerment programmes like the “approved restructured National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), the Presidential Initiative on Youth Cluster, National Youth Skills Programme, Proposed construction of Youth Villages, Construction of Youth Development Centres Nationwide and 30% affirmation action for youth to participate in government among others”, she further stated.
The Honourable Minister recalled that in the recent years, the Country has recorded needless and avoidable deaths of irregular migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe and has also witnessed countless cases of organ harvesting, rape, child labour, kidnapping, prostitution meted out to illegal desert migrants.
Dr. Jamila who educated the participants on the concept of migration emphasised that Youth Development is a cross-cutting National Agenda and all stakeholders have a role to play in arresting the menace of irregular migration, noting that the youth are the legacies of any nation and they play a key role in national development.
In his goodwill message, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Edo State Command, MC Monyei, who was represented by the Assistant Comptroller, Chris Dodoh, said the irregular migration has become a perilous journey for many young people, driven by dreams of a better life but often ending in tragedy.
He said the sensitization and awareness campaign is a vital step in the collective efforts to educate and inform youth about the harsh and uncertain realities of irregular migration. He added that it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to empower young people with the right knowledge that there are legal and safer ways to achieve their aspirations, and their dreams not at the expense of their lives or dignity.
While speaking, Igbon Osedebamen, a participant at the event said one important thing she learned from the programme is the proper classification of migration into regular and irregular migration.
She stated, “I now understand that regular migration can be measured, while irregular migration cannot be measured. As young people, it is time for us to reject this problem in our society that exposes us to a lot of danger and chooses the correct way to migrate.”
A statement by Omolara Esan,
Director of Press & Public Relations, said that Dr. Jamila who educated the participants on the concept of migration emphasised that Youth Development is a cross-cutting National Agenda and all stakeholders have a role to play in arresting the menace of irregular migration, noting that the youth are the legacies of any nation and they play a key role in national development.
In his goodwill message, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Edo State Command, MC Monyei, who was represented by the Assistant Comptroller, Chris Dodoh, said the irregular migration has become a perilous journey for many young people, driven by dreams of a better life but often ending in tragedy.
He said the sensitization and awareness campaign is a vital step in the collective efforts to educate and inform youth about the harsh and uncertain realities of irregular migration.
He added that it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to empower young people with the right knowledge that there are legal and safer ways to achieve their aspirations, and their dreams not at the expense of their lives or dignity.
While speaking, Igbon Osedebamen, a participant at the event said one important thing she learned from the programme is the proper classification of migration into regular and irregular migration.
“I now understand that regular migration can be measured, while irregular migration cannot be measured. As young people, it is time for us to reject this problem in our society that exposes us to a lot of danger and chooses the correct way to migrate.”
