Today 3rd of May, 2023 in Benin City Edo State, Caritas Nigeria held a worthwhile ceremony to officially close the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Gmb H-funded Stable, Trained & Empowered Migrants (STEM) project, which was competently implemented by the Caritas Nigeria Migration team in Benin.
Since the project's inception in 2019, a total of 1,388 persons (1,063 returnees, 135 at-risk population, and 190 internally displaced persons) have been reached with various vocational skills training, shelter services, health insurance, and psychosocial support where necessary. These interventions were carried out under Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)'s "Returning to New Opportunities" framework for voluntary return and sustainable reintegration.
Among the 150 attendees at the event were the Catholic Archbishop of Benin, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze; the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu; the Executive Secretary/CEO of Caritas Nigeria, Uchechukwu Fr Obodoechina; the Director of Caritas Nigeria's Migration & Protection projects, Dr. Amana Effiong; the leadership of JDPC Benin and JDPC Uromi, Indrap Learning CEO, Dr. Joe Enegela; representatives of the IOM Nigeria, Nigeria-German Centre for Jobs, Migration, and Reintegration, Naptip Nigeria (Benin), and other government agencies.
In addition, 40 persons, who just completed tailoring and hair-dressing training were presented with certificates and start-up tools, while the Deputy Governor supported each beneficiary with 50,000 NGN. Caritas Nigeria Executive Secretary/CEO also leveraged the opportunity to profusely thank all partners and beneficiaries for contributing to the success of the project.
