By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu has met with the European Union, EU, and 48 countries to discuss the crisis and illegal migration concerning Young Migrants in Netherlands.
Edu noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu is giving young Nigerians productive opportunities with pioneering innovative ideas through different startup initiatives.
Speaking at Hague, Edu said that the Thematic meeting is about the Rabat Process on Migration, Youth, and development to discuss the disturbing migration issues involving young migration from Africa and the global.
According to the Minister, youth migration and development is important for Youths between the age 15- 25 years make up 16% of the world’s population as a growing mobile population that could play a significant role in fostering positive development.
She said, “In Nigeria, like in other parts of Africa, the youth have developed a robust startup ecosystem, attracting over 2 billion USD in investment between 2015 and 2022.”
“In 2022 alone, 107 startups in Nigeria, founded by persons between the ages of 25 and 35, attracted over 800 million USD in investment.”
Furthermore, she stated, “In Egypt, startups raised 791 million USD and South African startups raised 993 million between 2015 and 2022 according to Disrupt Africa’s 2022 startups report.”
She expressed delight as the Youths exhibit dexterity in technology, creative industry , education, medicine, science, leadership, and sports.
Speaking on the Japa (migration of skilled people) syndrome in Nigeria, Dr. Edu noted that the majority of the migrants encounter challenges when they migrate to other countries.
“In Nigeria, the Japa Syndrome, which refers to young highly skilled workers and university graduates, migrating in their numbers searching for better education, better-paying jobs, and self-actualization, to Europe and North America, has become a hot-button topic, especially when you consider that in 2022, diaspora remittances to Nigeria, stood at $21.9 billion.”
“These young migrants are faced with diverse challenges in their quest for new opportunities and avenues for expression, such as the dangers of human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, sexual abuse, poor living conditions overseas, organ trafficking, modern- day slavery and other forms of exploitation.’
She called on the developed countries to support the middle and low-income countries to create jobs and an enabling environment for their youths in their country as a way of reducing the pressure on this young person’s to migrate and seek greener pastures elsewhere.
Netherlands Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paul Huijts, said the meeting was focused on a shared commitment to promote meaningful participation opportunities for young people to address the root causes of irregular migration.
Huijts commended President Tinubu for the appointment of Dr Betta Edu, a young professional in his Cabinet to oversee the Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation which also supervises the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internationally Displaced Persons, saying unbroken cooperation on migration, and solutions for intelligence growth of young people cannot be needed at any time other than now.
“As part of our commitment to actively support young people, we need to engage in dialogue and change the best practices so that our efforts continue to address their needs.”
“Let us listen to challenges that young people in our countries face like, poor education, unemployment, low number of youth and women’s leadership and involvement in national international decision-making.”
” For Nigeria, President Tinubu is indeed changing the picture of leadership and increasing daily the youth and women’s inclusion in governance.”
The European Union Commission’s Director General for International Partnership, Erica Gerretsen, said that the programme was to engage participants to increase their voice in leadership policies and decision-making.
“Giving Voice also means building narratives to get positive story about migration of young people and the potentials they have to contribute to the development of their country rather than seeking illegal migration.”
“We are leading by example by strengthening the institutional engagement in the European institutions.”
“Our EU boards for international partnerships, is a group of 25 young people from around the world, which was established in 2021, to advise on youth participation and empowerment, as well as helping to use our policies to change the narratives in countries “she explained.”
Other participants at the meeting were the Morrocco foreign Affairs on Africa Cooperation and abroad, Fouad Kadmri, Monica Zanette of International Centre for Migration policy Development (ICMPD), including the Nigeria Ambassador to Netherlands, Dr Eniola Ajayi among others.
