Strengthening Nigeria's Migration Coordinators

Migration Coordinators, government representatives and EU stakeholders at the SUSTAIN training, Statement Hotel, Abuja.

Inside the SUSTAIN Project training in Abuja, building practical capacity for skilled labour mobility between Nigeria and Europe

Abuja, Nigeria  |  26 August 2026

On 26 August 2026, Seefar Foundation and the SUSTAIN Project hosted a one-day training for Migration Coordinators at the Statement Hotel in Abuja. The session brought together the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment , the European Union Delegation, the International Labour Migration Desk, members of the National Technical Working Group on Labour Migration, and social partners from across Nigeria's labour migration ecosystem.

Delivering the welcome remarks on behalf of Seefar Foundation and the SUSTAIN Project, Emeka Anene, Manager, Nigeria, thanked the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment for its continued partnership, and acknowledged the support of the European Union through the Migration Partnership Facility, under which SUSTAIN is implemented.

Building fair, demand-driven pathways between Nigeria and Europe

SUSTAIN focuses on strengthening sustainable and mutually beneficial skilled labour mobility pathways between Nigeria and Europe, particularly Germany and Ireland. The project is guided by a core principle: labour mobility should be properly managed, demand-driven, and beneficial to everyone involved: Nigerian professionals seeking opportunities, European employers looking for skilled talent, and the institutions responsible for facilitating and regulating migration.

“As migration coordinators and labour mobility practitioners, you occupy an important position within the migration ecosystem. You are often among the people who help translate policies, procedures and opportunities into practical guidance for migrants and other stakeholders.” Emeka Anene, Manager, Nigeria – SUSTAIN, Seefar Foundation 

Responding to a fast-changing labour migration landscape 

The international labour migration landscape is changing rapidly. Skilled workers are increasingly exploring regular migration pathways, while countries such as Germany and Ireland are developing mechanisms to attract talent and address labour and skills shortages. Understanding these pathways, including the requirements around qualification recognition, certification, language and visas, is becoming ever more important for those working in the field.

Rather than simply providing information, the training was designed to strengthen the practical capacity of those who support, coordinate or advise on labour mobility processes day to day.

Certification and visa pathways for Ireland and Germany: hands-on training via the Seefar Academy platform 

Participants worked through the practical realities of skilled worker certification processes and visa acquisition pathways for Ireland and Germany, and had the opportunity to engage directly with the relevant modules on the Seefar Academy platform. Upon successful completion, participants received a Certificate of Completion endorsed by the SUSTAIN Project team.

As the Seefar representative noted, the value of the day went beyond the certificate itself: the aim was for participants to leave with greater confidence and practical knowledge they could apply immediately in their day-to-day work supporting migrants and other stakeholders.

Toward a coordinated Nigeria-Europe labour migration system 

The training reflects SUSTAIN's broader ambition: building a labour migration system in which Nigerian STEM professionals, European employers and the institutions that connect them can move forward together, with coordinators equipped to guide that process safely and effectively.

SUSTAIN is implemented by Seefar Foundation in partnership with ICMPD and the Migration Partnership Facility (MPF), and is co-funded by the European Union.