NAN-H-94
Training
By Adekunle Williams
Lagos, Feb. 15, 2018 (NAN) Some Nigerians who voluntarily returned from Libya have commended the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for its assistance toward their reintegration into the society.
They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, at the end of a four-day reintegration programme organised by the IOM in Lagos.
NAN reports that the IOM and the European Union had on Monday kicked off a four-day training for 62 Nigerians who voluntarily returned from Libya.
The returnees, comprising 25 males and 37 females were trained on micro-business, among others.
Mr Abraham Tamrat, the IOM Lagos Programme Coordinator in-charge of Migration Management, said the purpose of the training was to re-integrate the returnees into the society.
One of the returnees, Mr Iyke Peter, lauded the IOM for opening them up to opportunities with business support programmes.
The 42-year-old man, who is married with two kids, said the training had positive impact on the lives of the returnees.
“The programme is more like re-integration, re-orientation and rehabilitation in some way. We have been trained to be hopeful and see reason to keep hope alive.
“Our mindsets have been redefined. The training has made us to understand that no one is a failure except if the person has made up his or her mind never to move forward anymore.
“The programme has also given us some business orientation; basically on how to start up a business, having a business idea, managing it for benefits of ourselves and our community,” he said.
Peter said quite a number of them returned to the country not knowing where to start from, but the training had made them not to lose hope and avoid indulging in social vices.
He said after the training, they would be established in whatever business they opted for.
Peter said the IOM would equip and assist them in their various businesses, but they would not be given cash.
He said during the training, the IOM facilitators brought people with the same business ideas who are living in the same communities together to ensure proper monitoring.
Peter told NAN that he was in Libya for nine years.
He said that he left the country in search for greener pastures.
“I left my wife in Nigeria for good nine years in search of a greener pasture, and as at then, she was pregnant for my second son.
“I voluntarily returned to the country in 2016.
“I left the country because having graduated from the university, it was very difficult to secure a job that I could use in feeding my family,” he said.
Mr Anthony James, an indigene of Anambra State, told NAN that the IOM had made him to see that there was still hope for him to start his own business and take care of his immediate family.
“This training gave me more insight on how to manage my own business. I have now been enlightened on how I can go into the business that will impact on my life and the society, and also contribute to the development of the society.
“In this training, I have learnt how to put business in an environment where the business will be moving and successful.
“I have not been engaged in any enlightenment programme like this before, but by coming to this training, I have more experience now,” he said.
James said that the organisation was ready to assist them by setting them up in their various micro businesses.
He said he would like to go into selling of beverage in his home state of Anambra.
“I love the business because it is selling well in my area, and this training has taught me how to put business in a right place.
“In my area, many people patronise the provision sellers, and every morning before going to their respective places of work or school, many people drink tea,” he said.
James said he travelled to Libya because they were very poor in his family.
“We are very poor in our family and my background is very poor.
“I tried to travel out because a friend advised me that by travelling out of the country, my family is going to change positively,” he said.
Another returnee, Miss Favour Mike, a 19 year-old, said she hoped to use the training to make her life better, and also contribute to the well being of her family.
“With what I have learnt so far in the four days training, I am now exposed to business ideas to get people’s needs and not just our needs.
“The training is all about knowing the needs of the people in our community and making the world closer and easier.
“From this, we can also help ourselves indirectly,” she said.
Mike said the organisation had tried a lot by putting them through, on how they could stand on their own and become successful entrepreneurs.
“I learnt they will assist us to set up our various businesses and I will like to go into my own personal business, which is selling hair accessories.
“I have the idea of hair accessories business and it is selling in my area very well because a lot of ladies need latest hair fashion accessories,” she said.
NAN reports that the 62 participants received their certificates from the lead trainer, Mr Osita Osemene, the Executive Director, Patrotic Citizens Initiative.
Osemene said the training would impart on them positive thinking and give them the ability to move ahead, for them to be relevant and useful to the society. (NAN)
WAC/BOLA/SOA
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Oluwole Sogunle