The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Edo State Government have called for stronger partnerships to promote safe migration, protect vulnerable persons and help returning migrants rebuild their lives, as the organisation marked 25 years of operations in Nigeria.
Speaking at the anniversary celebration held at the IOM Benin City Field Office on Friday, October 23, 2026, the Head of Office, Aigbeze Uhimwen, Esq., said sustainable migration interventions depended on trust, shared responsibility and sustained cooperation among government institutions, development partners and communities.
The celebration, themed “Celebrating 25 Years of Partnership – A Future of Impact,” provided an opportunity to reflect on IOM’s contributions to migration management and the partnerships supporting its work in Edo State and beyond.
Uhimwen said the Benin City office, which began operations in 2017 and was officially commissioned on March 3, 2018, had supported returning migrants through tailored reintegration assistance, livelihood support, referrals and follow-up services.
“Behind every reintegration intervention is a person, a family and a story of hope,” he said.
He explained that returning home could bring uncertainty and the challenge of starting again, making sustained support and community acceptance essential to successful reintegration.
According to him, the office’s experience had demonstrated that lasting results required access to opportunities, responsive institutions and partnerships extending beyond the delivery of immediate assistance.
Uhimwen also highlighted the commissioning of the Migration Health Assessment Centre in Benin City in April 2023 as a significant milestone in expanding IOM’s services. He said the centre provides migration health assessments for migrants and visa applicants, supporting individual well-being and public health.
He commended government counterparts, civil society organisations, service providers, returned migrants’ organisations and IOM personnel for their contributions, while recognising the courage of returnees working to rebuild their lives.
Looking ahead, he said the organisation would seek stronger collaboration across Edo, Delta and the wider South-South region, with emphasis on sustainable livelihoods, improved referral systems and deeper community engagement.
Delivering the keynote address on “Migration and Development,” Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Edo State, called for greater investment in education, employment, skills development and social protection to address the conditions that expose people to unsafe migration.
She said migration could advance economic growth, innovation and human development when properly managed, but warned that irregular and exploitative routes could expose migrants to trafficking, forced labour, sexual exploitation and other abuses.
She stressed that public enlightenment alone would not adequately address the challenge without practical opportunities for young people and vulnerable households.
“When our young people can access meaningful opportunities at home, they are better positioned to make informed choices about their future rather than risk their lives in pursuit of uncertain promises abroad,” she said.
Anani linked these priorities to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE development agenda, noting that investments in security, healthcare, infrastructure, education and economic opportunities could help create conditions for safer migration decisions.
She commended IOM’s assistance to returning migrants, including its voluntary return and reintegration programmes, counter-trafficking interventions and psychosocial support.
“Reintegration must not end with a person’s return. It must create the conditions for recovery, renewed hope, economic independence, and social inclusion,” she said.
She called for stronger protection and referral services for survivors of trafficking, including access to medical care, counselling, legal assistance and livelihood opportunities. She also emphasised education and economic independence for women and girls as essential investments in preventing exploitation.
The anniversary also highlighted the importance of continuity in IOM’s national leadership. Under Chief of Mission Ms. Sharon Dimanche, the organisation’s next chapter offers an opportunity to deepen the institutional partnerships and people-centred services emphasised by both speakers, building on the foundation established over its 25 years in Nigeria.
Both addresses placed measurable improvements in people’s lives at the centre of future collaboration, with calls for programmes that restore livelihoods, protect dignity and strengthen communities.
The anniversary programme also listed goodwill messages, a dance drama by IOM returnee mentors, a documentary on the organisation’s work in Nigeria, recognition of key partners and an exhibition tour.