Youth Empowerment and Reintegration: Introducing YERP to Oyo State Stakeholders

Jul 21, 2025 - 11:58
Jul 21, 2025 - 12:35
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Youth Empowerment and Reintegration: Introducing YERP to Oyo State Stakeholders

Ibadan, July 2025.

On July 16 and 17, 2025, a stakeholders’ consultation was held in Ibadan to officially introduce the Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Project (YERP) to reintegration actors and organisations operating in Oyo State. The event was organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) Southwest Zonal Office, with support from the Danish CAPACITY Programme.

The workshop was intended to do one thing clearly: present the project and start a practical conversation around what it means to support returnees and rural youth in ways that are realistic, context-aware, and rooted in local systems. The tone of the meeting was calm, deliberate—no grand speeches or unrealistic promises. Just a willingness to begin, even if there are still questions.

What YERP Proposes

YERP is designed to support 700 individuals—a combination of returnees and young people in rural communities—by addressing some of the underlying pressures that often lead to irregular migration. The project model includes:

· Access to up to 10,000 hectares of land, allocated by the Oyo State Government

· Training in climate-smart agriculture

· Formation of agricultural cooperatives to support shared livelihoods

· A reintegration approach that is gender-sensitive, trauma-informed, and grounded in long-term social stability

While the project is still in its early stages, the discussions made it clear that local implementation will depend heavily on how adaptable and inclusive these plans turn out to be.

Participants and Atmosphere

The consultation brought together stakeholders from government, international organisations, and civil society, including:

· Southwest Zonal Coordinator, NCFRMI

· Representatives of ICMPD, GIZ and IOM

· Officials from the Oyo State Government

· Members of the Reintegration Committees from Lagos and Ogun States

· A range of local NGOs and community-based actors

The mood throughout was thoughtful. Presentations were followed by honest questions—some about land, some about how returnees would be identified, and others about how long the project might realistically last. There were no easy answers, but no avoidance either. The organisers listened. So did the participants.

Oyo State Reintegration Committee Inaugurated

One of the most tangible outcomes of the workshop was the inauguration of the Oyo State Reintegration Committee, with ACG Segun Adegoke appointed as Chairperson. Shortly after the formal announcement, a brief internal session was held to begin outlining next steps.

During that session, four members were nominated to serve on a subcommittee responsible for early coordination efforts:

· Prof. Ruth Adio-Moses

· Engr. Ako Eyo Oku

· Mr. Abe Oluwafemi

· Mr. Wasiu Jimoh Ola

Their responsibilities include stakeholder mapping, liaising with relevant ministries and organisations, and preparing for the committee’s first full meeting, which is scheduled to take place on 24 July 2025. For now, the committee can be reached via its newly created email address: rc.oyostate@gmail.com

A Few Shared Reflections

While the event remained largely administrative in tone, several key reflections were echoed throughout:

· Reintegration isn’t one-size-fits-all. Returnees and rural youth often face different, but overlapping, challenges—social exclusion, economic instability, limited access to land or mentorship.

· Land and training are important, but without follow-up support, even good interventions risk falling flat.

· Civil society actors—particularly those working at the grassroots—remain essential in bridging gaps between policy and reality.

· Trust and coordination matter. Projects can only go so far without local actors who understand the landscape.

There was no attempt to oversell the project. What stood out, instead, was a quiet willingness to begin. And perhaps that’s what this moment called for—not bold declarations, but steady, honest coordination.

�� Photos and highlights from the consultation can be viewed here:
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Ako Eyo Oku Ako is the Co-Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees of Eureka Learners Foundation. She has over 20 years of experience in both public service and civil society engagement. She is an alumnus of a number of international fellowships and youth leadership programs. Ako is passionate about Lifelong Learning, Capacity Building and Positive Social Impact.