Lagos – From 9 to 19 March 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized a series of newly-designed business skills and management training in Lagos, Nigeria. The 10-day training is part of a new project providing needs-based and comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration support to Nigerian victims of trafficking voluntarily returning from Libya and other countries along the central Mediterranean route.  

This training approach aims to provide more comprehensive counselling sessions,and equip returnees with a deeper understanding on how to prepare themselves – including psychologically - to establish, expand and manage a small business. The training sessions also serve as opportunities for returning migrants to meet one another and share experiences. It is an intensive two-week workshop aimed at psychological first aid and business development.  

So far, nearly 200 beneficiaries have successfully participated in the extended business skills training. 

“This training gave us all it takes to build a business, to become something and to give something back to the nation so that people understand you can still make it in Nigeria,” said a returnee. 

The training covers topics on how to generate and kickstart returnees’ business, as well as on improving existing projects for those who have already set-up small business in their communities. The training combines modules such as business plan development, business partnership, financial planning, marketing, and buying and stock control.   

Under the UK-funded programme, the most vulnerable 350 returnees will receive complimentary counseling and reintegration support. 

“We are very pleased with the positive feedback we have received thus far from the beneficiaries who attended the training,” said Saskia Kok, IOM Nigeria Head of Migrant Protection and Assistance.  

The project, entitled “Strengthening Protection and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Nigeria Through a Victim-centered Approach” runs until March 2021. 

The project, funded by the UK Government, aims to contribute to the sustainable rehabilitation and reintegration of Nigerian victims of trafficking.  It runs parallel and is complimentary to the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration. The latter has facilitated the return of close to 16,500 migrants. So far, more than 10,000 10,000 returnees have participated in the five-day business training under the Joint Initiative. 

For more information please contact Jorge Galindo at IOM Nigeria, Tel: +234 906 273 9168, Email: jgalindo@iom.int.