Illegal migration: UNDP Unveils New Development Initiative For Edo Youths

By Alltimepost.com

[dropcap]U[/dropcap]nited Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has unveiled a capacity development programme, called “Managing Migration for Development” to be launched in a month’s time.

This initiative is in response to calls on development partners for a joint effort at tackling the migration crisis in Edo State by the Edo State Government, according to UNDP.

Country Director UNDP, Samuel Bwalya, said the objective of the broad based programme is to help deal with the current challenge of Human Trafficking and illegal migration by empowering Edo people with skills and trainings.

Bwalya who led a session at the Edo Exco Retreat in Abuja, where he made the disclosure, said the UNDP’s programme was the product of a series of engagements by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, with the UNDP on ways to bring to an end to human trafficking and illegal migration in the state.

Obaseki’s engagement with development partners is one of the several initiatives designed to rehabilitate, reintegrate and empower returnees to become wealth creators and employers of labor.

Also at the event, the Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita and representative of the Department for International Development (DFID), led sessions at the ongoing Executive Council retreat organized by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

L-R: Head of Service, Edo State, Mrs. Gladys Idahor; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita during the Edo EXCO Retreat in Abuja.

The Edo State Government has as a top priority, the retooling of the civil service in the state for optimal service delivery which has led to different initiatives and projects to achieve this object.

The presence of Mrs. Oyo-Ita is part of ongoing strategies to tap from her wealth of experience in fast-tracking reforms in the state.

Besides, the state government is in partnership with the UNDP to train civil servants at a purpose-built facility in the Government House, Benin City. Dr. Nguyan Feese of DfiD also made presentation at the retreat.

According to Edo State Government, these partnerships are geared towards addressing challenges in service delivery and automate governance.

The three-day retreat is being attended by top government functionaries in the state, comprising commissioners, Special Advisers and other top-ranking government appointees.

It assessed the progress made in the state since the administration came on board, review work plans of the different ministries and set agenda for the year 2018.

In attendance are the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, his deputy, Rt. Hon. Phillip Shaibu; Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., Head of Service, Edo State, Mrs. Gladys Idahor, among many others.