Nigeria is set to reap significant diplomatic, economic and development dividends as it prepares to host the first Rabat Process Thematic Meeting under its chairmanship of the influential Euro-African dialogue on migration and development. The meeting, which will bring together over 100 delegates from 57 countries, is scheduled to take place from May 13 to 14, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the federal commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) Alhaji Aliyu Tijjani highlighted the strategic opportunities the event presents for Nigeria as a regional and global leader in migration governance.
“This meeting will not only spotlight Nigeria’s leadership on the international stage but also catalyse new partnerships, investment prospects, and youth development initiatives,” the commissioner said, “It reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to placing youth, innovation and education at the heart of global migration discourse.”
Under the theme “Youth, Innovation and Education – Driving the Future of Migration,” the two-day conference is expected to produce actionable strategies for empowering African youth through education, digital innovation, skills development, and diaspora engagement. These are areas in which Nigeria stands to benefit through increased donor support, technical cooperation, and knowledge exchange.
Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Rabat Process, assumed in January 2025, marks the first time a West African and English-speaking country has led the 57-member intergovernmental platform. This role has already elevated the country’s influence in migration diplomacy, most recently demonstrated when Nigeria presided over the Rabat Process Steering Committee in March.
