Head of MRC Lagos, Barr. Maureen Highlights Its Efforts In Promoting Safe Migration, Ensuring Employment Opportunities
By Abraham Asiyanbi, Iyiola Samuel, Oyindamola Olaiya, Opeyemi Olaitan
The Head of Migrant Resource Centre (MRC), Lagos, Barrister Maureen Ovie in collaboration with GIZ-Centre for Migration and Development (ZME), has today during the 4-Day Training/Workshop for all graduating Higher National Diploma (HND II) students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, emphasized its crucial role in promoting safe migration and ensuring employment opportunities for the Labour Force in Nigeria in alignment with the ILO’s Decent work Agenda.
Barr. Maureen disclosed this during opening remarks on a title ‘Safe Migration Advocacy/Employability Training Session and Possibilities Of Work, Study and Vocational Training in Germany at the Education Trust Fund (ETF) hall of OSPOLY.
She noted that in partnership with GIZ through the ZME project of migration and development, they’re aimed at seeing teaming youths are better informed on the regular, safe, and orderly migration pathways, adding that all hands must be on desk to collectively tackle the menace of surge and scourge of irregular migrations and its antecedent ill-effect.
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| (Barrister Maureen Ovie) |
“Our Employability Training Program, designed in tandem with local and global employers, equips young people and graduates with essential soft skills for navigating the job market. Also recognizing the prevalent trend of youth migration, our initiative aims to curb irregular migration, providing vital information to make informed decisions and protect individuals from exploitation.
“Our activities and free services geared towards reducing irregular migration and job creation are made possible by partnerships and sponsorships by International Labour Organisation, International Organisation for Migration, and GIZ,” Barr. Ovie emphasized.
She added that partnership on ZME projects meets the expectations of the government in established structure for employment promotion, migration, and reintegration advice, stating that there are four MRC advisory centers located in Abuja, Lagos, Benin and Nasarawa.
“Significant number of Nigerian youths have lost their lives in the course of irregular migration and so these centres are a success story of the Federal government commission to it's citizens, with the support of these international bodies, we have supported Nigerian returnees in their sustainable reintegration and will continue to do so,” she revealed.
She maintained that “we have successfully sensitized and trained over 20,000 persons, comprising undergraduates, graduates, and job seekers, returned migrants, Corp members, market women, congregation of religious gatherings (churches and mosques) and members of the different local governments and communities.”
In an exclusive interview with press men, Barrister Maureen Ovie expounded the essence of MRC to students and the country, why graduates should up-skill themselves in order to be in high demand.
She revealed that MRC has been to different institutions in South-West and OSPOLY has been chosen to benefit from the opportunity. Barrister Maureen then admonished the students not to be in too much of hurry, noting that nothing comes easy. She added that “My advice to the youth is, calm down. You have a whole lifelong ahead of you, just for you to systematically plan your life and execute it so that you don't take a decision that will ruin you. So please, calm down.”
However, the Rector of OSPOLY, Mr. Kehinde Alabi, during his speech lauded the members of Migrant Resource Centre, the National Electronic Labour Exchange, and TEMI Foundation for Women and Youth Development and urged the graduating students of the Institution to take full advantage of the unique workshop opportunity while maintaining that students should absorb every bit of knowledge and insight that the program offers as he described the training as a critical step in shaping their future.
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| (OSPOLY RECTOR, MR. KEHINDE ALABI) |
In the same vein, the Component Manager for GIZ-Centre for Migration and Development, Lagos, Ayomikun Olugbode said GIZ has been in existence in Nigeria since 1974 commissioned by the German Federal Ministry For Economic Cooperation Development in Germany which has three centers in Nigeria, Lagos, Abuja and Benin.
Ayomikun Noted that GIZ has supported over 300,000 Nigerians into employment and over 62,000 Nigerians were counseled at each of the trade centers, adding that Centre for Migration and Development basically is to fill the capacity of our partners, specifically center and social supports, to provide trainings or skills that are relevant for migration, while also providing regular migration advice to Nigerians who want to migrate Germany or any other country.
Nevertheless, the students of Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) and Faculty of Financial Studies (FFS) asked diverse questions while answers were adequately provided and gifts were awarded to students who answered questions correctly.
Some of the dignitaries who attended the 4-Day 4-Day Training/Workshop include the Rector of OSPOLY, Mr. Kehinde Alabi; Deputy Rector, Dr Gboyega Seun Oyeleke; Registrar, Mr. Abiodun Oyedele Oloyede; Bursar, Mr. Sunday Ademola Afolabi; Director of Work and Services; Engineer John Akin Abiola; Head of Library, Dr Folashade Babatunde; Director of Career Service; Mr. Adekunle Olalekan A; Dean of Faculties; The GIZ, represented by the Component Manager, Mr Ayomikun Olugbode; Chief Operating Officer, TEMI Foundation, Adeyeye Ayotemide and others.
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