The Parliament of the Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed concern over the excessive charge of youth leaving the area in quest of greener pastures principally via irregular means even because the regional parliament maps out methods to halt the development.
This was the crux of dialogue on the ongoing First Strange Session of the ECOWAS Parliament 2024 presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, in Abuja on Wednesday, as Members of Parliament brainstormed on doable methods to put money into the abilities and capability of the West African youth and discover their potential for the good thing about the sub-region.
LEADERSHIP experiences that in what’s now popularly often known as the ‘Japa Syndrome’, expert Nigerians had been leaving the nation for Europe and different developed international locations in quest of greener pastures.
The dialogue by the sub-regional lawmakers adopted the presentation made on the plenary by Teresa Boteli (Coverage and Liaison Officer) of the Worldwide Organisation (IOM) concerning the rising charge with which West African youth had been leaving the area in droves principally to Europe and North America utilizing harmful routes.
In accordance with the IOM, the damaging journeys undertaken by migrants expose them to quite a few dangers, together with human trafficking, exploitation, and dying (an estimated 5,000 migrant deaths – IOM 2023 figures). It mentioned additional that whereas migrants contribute to cultural change and variety in host international locations, additionally they face vital challenges by way of integration, discrimination, and authorized hurdles of their vacation spot international locations.
Regardless of the hazards (human trafficking, exploitation, lack of life), irregular migration in direction of North Africa and Europe persists. An estimated 300,000 West African migrants typically use perilous routes via the Sahara Desert and throughout the Mediterranean Sea yearly, as reported by the IOM in 2023.
This surge, in keeping with the World Financial institution, is brought on by excessive youth unemployment charges, which stand at a mean of 12.8% throughout West African international locations. The Nationwide Bureau of Statistics of Nigeria reported a 19.6% charge of youth unemployment in 2023. Additionally, the pursuit of upper schooling and vocational coaching that’s not available in house international locations motivates many West African youth emigrate to Europe and North America, in keeping with the UNDP in 2021.
These alarming figures compelled the Members of Parliament to react strongly to this dire scenario and referred to as for concerted efforts to halt the development.
Main the pack within the dialogue was the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Jibrin Barau, who blamed the scenario on the myriad of conflicts ravaging the sub-region, together with financial crises and youth unemployment.
Barau, who can be the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, famous that conflicts all over the world, such because the warfare in Ukraine, have contributed to the disaster in West Africa. He referred to as for concerted efforts by all of the international locations involved to cease the scourge.
Additionally, making his submission, the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s Home of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, referred to as for pressing must create jobs. He mentioned: “there have to be the political will on what needs to be finished on financial growth, job creation, battle decision. We should develop the stable mineral sector via worth addition in order to scale back the dependence on oil and gasoline.”
One other Nigerian MP, Awaji Inombek Abiante, famous that the matter referred to as for severe introspection into the foundation causes of why West African youths had been leaving the area in droves in quest of greener pastures in principally Europe and North America.
He acknowledged that the regional leaders have failed the youth with poor governance coupled with corruption in excessive locations, which diminished alternatives within the area. He additionally mentioned that electoral corruption has compounded the disaster because the area is now replete with leaders who should not accountable to the folks, resulting in huge poverty regardless of the ample assets of the area.
Abiante mentioned that the answer lies in altering the governance system by “electing credible folks in workplace that will probably be accountable to the folks to offer prudent administration of their assets.”
For his half, Hon. Orlando Diaz from Cape Verde mentioned there have to be a deep and detailed method to this scourge whilst he warned that if pressing steps weren’t taken, the scenario may worsen within the area.
Hon. Mabinty Fatmata Funna from Sierra Leone mentioned that creating extra employment alternatives in member-states to scale back youth migration throughout seas was an enormous problem that requires a complete method.
She highlighted some methods that member-states may think about to handle the problems to incorporate; selling entrepreneurship, which may create extra job alternatives for younger folks.
She mentioned: “Governments can present coaching, entry to finance, and mentorship to encourage younger folks to begin their very own companies.
“Funding in schooling and abilities growth and offering coaching programmes which are aligned with market wants might help younger folks purchase the abilities wanted to entry job alternatives in rising sectors.
“We are able to diversify our economies past conventional sectors like agriculture and mining. Investing in sectors akin to know-how, renewable power, and manufacturing can create new job alternatives for younger folks.”
The parliamentarian identified that the area should enhance the enterprise surroundings by simplifying rules, lowering forms, and enhancing entry to finance to encourage funding and entrepreneurship, resulting in job creation.
She posited that SMEs are a serious supply of employment in lots of economies, stressing that offering assist to SMEs via entry to finance, coaching, and market linkages might help create extra job alternatives for younger folks.
“Creating infrastructure akin to transportation, power, and telecommunications can create jobs within the development and upkeep sectors, in addition to assist the expansion of different industries.
“Enhancing commerce and cooperation amongst ECOWAS international locations can create new market alternatives and stimulate financial development, resulting in extra job alternatives for younger folks.
“Resolving conflicts and selling peace and stability are important for creating an surroundings conducive to job creation.
“Leveraging the alternatives introduced by the digital economic system, akin to e-commerce, digital providers, and on-line platforms, can create new job alternatives for younger folks,” she added.
