As the United Nations Celebrates the annual International Migrants Day and considers how governments and citizens can collectively reimagine human mobility following the unprecedented challenges born by CoronaVirus pandemic, coupled with decades of lingering issues with irregular migration, the Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Cllr. Celia Osakwe-Hibbert has recognised the contributions migrants are making across the globe, citing herself as an example.
However, Hon. Osakwe-Hibbert unequivocally pleaded with young people to shun all forms of unplanned journey to Diaspora.
She further acknowledged that the Government must also play a role to reduce the appetite for youth migration, as there are growing concerns of young men and women being stranded or even found dead in pursuit of the so-called greener pastures abroad.
According to her, at the State level, the current Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has been exploring strategies such as ‘Wealth Creation’ initiative in order to provide avenues for meaningful engagement of Imo youths in order to curb irregular migration.
This is even as the United Nations on the global level has pledged to re-commit themselves to the principle of cross-border and regional cooperation enshrined in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration to build prosperous, healthy and resilient communities.
The Imo SA Diaspora Affairs also appreciated the efforts of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and all her fights at the national level to improve situations for Nigerians living abroad.
Hon. Osakwe-Hibbert also acknowledged agencies like Rarduja International, I.O.M, NAPTIP, and several others who are at the forefront of battling irregular migration.
