The Solidarity for Women in Distress (SOLWODI), Germany, in collaboration with Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI), Edo State, Patriotic Citizen Initiative (PCI), Lagos, and Advocacy for Inclusion and Support Initiative (ADIS), Edo State, organised a two-day training on Mixed Migration and Regular Pathways to Germany.

The event, which took place on June 27 and 28, in Benin City, the Edo State capital, was coordinated by May Ekido, the Coordinator of GPI Edo State.

The training aimed to provide a platform for networking, learning, and unlearning, with a focus on irregular migration, regular pathways to Germany, and prospects in Nigeria.

The training brought together experts and stakeholders in the migration space to address the pressing issue of irregular migration.

In her opening remarks, May Ekido emphasised the importance of the training, given the dangers and consequences of irregular migration. Ekido noted that the issue of irregular migration affects not only individuals but also societies as a whole, and that African nations should be concerned when presidents suggest building walls around their countries to prevent migration.

The event was attended by distinguished participants, members of the press, and representatives from SOLWODI, PCI, ADIS, and GPI. The Participants were carefully selected based on their work with returned migrants or intending migrants.

The two-day training was a significant step towards addressing the complex issue of migration, and the organisers were grateful to the participants for their undivided attention.”

At the training, participants were enlightened on the need to migrate for positive reasons and the benefit of entrepreneurial development for youths’ sustainability.

In their remarks, the Germany-based representatives of SOLWODI, Charlotte Becker and Daniella Lutz, said since it was founded in 1945 in Kenya, the NGO has sustainably rendered counseling and special returnee projects to women and refugees who suffered violence and trafficking.

Charlotte and Daniella said when vulnerable targets such as the youths are properly educated on the worsening hazards of illegal migration, many will be careful to avoid the dangerous trend.

The SOLWODI representatives stated that they also give support and couseling to the vulnerable and terrified targets while trying to integrate them in Germany.

Speakers at the lectures drawn from non-governmental organizations including representatives of GPI, PCI and ADIS also spoke on combating the ugly trend of irregular migration.

Participants, including an official of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Joy Osei, while commending the training, said, “I have learnt a lot from the training, especially about the asylum seekers and support given to them in Germany.”

Evans Ehireme, a representative of Network Against Child Trafficking Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), while supporting the organisers laudable initiative said: “NACTAL as a network is a body of organizations that have come together to fight and combat irregular migration in forms of human trafficking, smuggling of migrant.”