Group Trains Niger Delta Youths against Illegal, Dangerous Migration to Europe

A non-governmental organisation, the Africa Tide Union, has embarked on a one-week intensive training workshop for selected youths from the states of the Niger Delta region with hope to preach against illegal migration to Europe.

The programme tagged: ‘Destination European: Inform4Change 2017’, is organised by the German Foreign Ministry in partnership with NIDO Germany and Bayelsa State Government, is expected to address irregular/illegal migration by productive young Nigerians who despite the obvious and well documented dangers of the exercise, continue to embark on journeys across the Sahara Desert, Mediterranean Sea and other dangerous routes to Europe.

The training workshop would focus on youth empowerment while discussing skill sets needed by young Nigerians to survive in the present economic situation of the world bearing in mind the European realities.

In a statement signed by the President of the union, Dr. Rosalyn Dressman, the NGO announced that more than 1,000 youths from Bayelsa State and other states in the region are expected to participate in the week long programme, which includes media workshop that would feature public relations, digital communication and personal development that enhances inter-cultural, generational and professional communication.

Already, a team of experts from the African Tide Union in Germany and Nigeria and its partners, Standard Education Foundation, has been in the country since the beginning of the month putting finishing touches to arrangements for the programme which would be rounded up with a one-day international youth conference to be held at the Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa on September 28, 2017.

The statement noted that Nigerian has abundant natural resources to actualise the individual/group ideas and targets, and therefore there would be no need for any citizen to risk slavery or death through irregular/illegal movements.

Dressman added that Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, traditional rulers and other dignitaries from the state would be expected to attend the grand finale which would feature keynote address by a seasoned academician, Prof. Jaison Ossai of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, as well as the presentation of certificate to the trainees.