Nigeria’s minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has called for the global recognition of Nigerian and African qualifications as a vital step in creating sustainable legal migration pathways and unlocking the full potential of Africa’s youth.
At the opening of the first Rabat Process Thematic Meeting on “Youth, Education, and Innovation” in Abuja, Yilwatda proposed developing a harmonised migration-ready skills framework to ensure African certifications are accepted internationally. Nigeria is hosting the meeting, with the Kingdom of Spain as co-host.
“We must develop a harmonised migration-ready skills framework to ensure qualifications in Africa are recognised globally,” he said, stressing that aligning African educational systems with international standards would help position the continent’s youth for competitive participation in the global labour market.
Building on this demand, the Minister outlined transformative proposals for Rabat Process partners to reduce irregular migration and empower young people through structured, collaborative innovation.
This was as the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, disclosed that the European Commission would present, later this year, a visa strategy, which will include measures to support the arrival of top students, researchers and trade workers from third countries. “And all these initiatives always consider the necessity to avoid possible brain drain in countries of origin. Of course, this is a critical dimension. And they particularly benefit young people, who are the main subject of our meeting today and tomorrow,” he stated.
Mignot said the EU is also looking forward to launching a future talent partnership in Nigeria, in combination with other measures like the signing of the EU-Nigeria Re-Admission Agreement.
The Minister called for the creation of Youth Innovation Hubs across Africa and Europe, particularly in regions that serve as primary migration sources and transit points.
These hubs, he said, should be designed as “spaces where digital skills, entrepreneurship, and migration literacy intersect,” serving as both economic incubators and awareness centres.
Yilwatda also advocated establishing a Joint Youth Mobility and Innovation Fund co-financed by the European Union, the African Union, and private sector partners. The proposed fund would support youth education, seed start-ups, and assist returnees in reintegrating into their home societies.
“Let us scale what works,” he said. “Let us share data. Let us match skills with global demands. And let us put our young people in the room—not just as recipients, but as designers of their solutions and destiny.”
In addition to these proposals, Yilwatda emphasised the importance of circular mobility—legal migration that allows individuals to move, work, and return with dignity—to curb irregular migration’s dangerous incentives.
“As chair, Nigeria is committed to bringing fresh perspectives to the table and championing a migration narrative that is safe, orderly, and empowering,” he declared.
He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to driving the Rabat Process toward “meaningful action, grounded in evidence, policy coherence, and a people-first strategy.”
Correcting widespread misperceptions, the Minister noted that most African migration, particularly from Nigeria, is regular. “Over 80% of migration from Africa to Europe is regular. Most migration from Nigeria is regular. Less than 20% is irregular; that is where our focus should be.”
He urged partners not to distort the reality of African migration, but to build systems that reflect its true character, as a contributor to development and a source of cultural and human capital.
He pointed to various domestic programmes already working to close the opportunity gap for young Nigerians, including the National Youth Investment Fund, N-POWER, and the Digital Skills for All Programme. Additionally, through the National Talent Export Programme and expanded technical education, Nigeria is preparing thousands of young people for global competitiveness.
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