The Adolescent Health and Information Project, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration, has trained 50 policymakers and stakeholders on gender and migration.
The initiative is aimed at promoting safe and regular migration in Kano State and Nigeria at large.
The training, organised under the Resilient Opportunities for Outreach, Trade and Sustainability (ROOTS) Project, focused on travel documentation, border procedures, migrants’ rights and safe practices for people seeking economic opportunities across borders.
Muhammad Lawal-Tijjani, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Kano State House of Assembly, said the initiative would strengthen collaboration between the legislative and executive arms of government.
According to him, the initiative would also improve coordination among stakeholders involved in migration-related programmes.
The director, who spoke at the training on Friday, said the programme would equip relevant stakeholders with the knowledge and practical skills needed to translate policy frameworks into effective programmes and services.
He reaffirmed the assembly’s commitment to supporting policies that protect vulnerable populations, expand opportunities for young people and strengthen community resilience.
Mr Lawal-Tijjani commended AHIP and IOM for promoting collaboration among government institutions and development partners, describing such partnerships as essential to sustainable socio-economic development.
The director urged stakeholders to sustain the cooperation and ensure that the objectives of the ROOTS Project translate into practical interventions capable of improving livelihoods and strengthening communities.
He also reaffirmed the assembly’s readiness to support constructive partnerships and legislative interventions aimed at promoting safe and regular migration, youth empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
Mr Lawal-Tijjani lauded AHIP for recognising the legislature’s role in strengthening institutional governance, promoting evidence-based policymaking and ensuring effective implementation of policies addressing the needs of migrants, returnees and host communities.
Also speaking, Isma’il Musa-Abdullahi, Director of Partnership and Resource Mobilisation at the Kano State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, said migration was not inherently wrong, but stressed the need for prospective migrants to follow legal procedures and obtain reliable information before travelling.
“Migration is not a blame. What matters is how you migrate. That is where we have regular and irregular migration,” he said.
Mr Musa-Abdullahi called for intensified public awareness campaigns to discourage irregular migration and protect Nigerians from the dangers associated with unsafe journeys abroad.
He said many prospective migrants were misled by promises of better employment opportunities, improved living conditions and secure livelihoods in foreign countries, only to encounter difficulties upon arrival.
“When they leave the country, they are told that they will get better employment and enjoy a better life, but when they get there, they encounter numerous problems,” he said.
He urged the Ministries of Information, media organisations and other relevant stakeholders to sustain advocacy and public enlightenment on safe migration and the risks associated with irregular travel.
According to him, increased public awareness will help reduce the number of people embarking on dangerous journeys without adequate information or preparation.
Mr Musa-Abdullahi expressed concern over the deaths of migrants, including children, during dangerous journeys through deserts and other harsh environments.
He said some migrants faced extreme heat, hunger, thirst and other life-threatening conditions, particularly when travelling through remote areas without adequate food, water or assistance.
The director advised Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad to use regular migration channels, obtain proper guidance and make adequate preparations.
(NAN)
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