British High Commission Celebrates Return of 99 UK-Trained Nigerian Scholars

By: Michael Mike

The British High Commission has welcomed home 99 Nigerian graduates who recently completed postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom under the Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarship programmes.

The welcome-home ceremonies, held in Abuja and Lagos, brought together scholars who earned master’s degrees, PhDs and fellowships across diverse fields. Of the returnees, 30 studied under the Chevening Scholarship, while 69 benefited from the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship schemes.

At the events, the graduates reflected on their academic experiences in the UK and outlined plans to apply the knowledge, skills and global networks gained to Nigeria’s development. They were also presented with completion certificates and formally inducted into Nigeria’s Chevening and Commonwealth alumni networks.

Speaking at the reception, British Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs Gill Lever (OBE), congratulated the scholars on their achievements, noting that many graduated with distinctions. She described the scholars as future leaders and encouraged them to pursue excellence while serving as strong links between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

“I am delighted that talented Nigerians have had the opportunity to study in the UK and are now returning home equipped to make a positive impact,” she said, urging them to take advantage of the networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities offered by the alumni community.

The British Council was represented by its Director of Programmes in Nigeria, Mr Chikodi Onyemerela, who praised the scholars for successfully completing demanding academic programmes. He encouraged them to remain good ambassadors of their UK institutions and to deploy their expertise to tackle challenges across key sectors in Nigeria, while sustaining partnerships with institutions in the UK.

Some of the returning scholars also shared their aspirations. Chevening Scholar, Nankur Pontip Ramdur, a graduate of Terrorism, International Crime and Global Security from Coventry University, said her studies strengthened her commitment to peace and security. She revealed plans to continue community and school outreach on responses to sexual and gender-based violence, alongside work on a book aimed at expanding the initiative’s impact.

Similarly, Commonwealth Scholar, Chimdi Ekwueme, who studied Health Policy, Planning and Finance at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said studying in the UK broadened his perspective by placing Nigerian experiences within global policy conversations, while providing practical insights relevant to the local health sector.

Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships are flagship UK government-supported programmes that provide opportunities for outstanding individuals to study in the UK and develop leadership potential. Nigeria currently boasts one of the largest alumni communities, with over 4,500 beneficiaries across both schemes contributing to national development in public service, academia, business and civil society.

British High Commission Celebrates Return of 99 UK-Trained Nigerian Scholars

Entrepreneur Calls on Government to Rethink Youth Employment Strategy

By: Michael Mike

As Nigeria battles rising youth unemployment and mounting economic pressure, a fashion entrepreneur, Abdusalam Lukman, popularly known as Embroidery Chief, has made a bold case for embroidery and digital garment design to be adopted as a core pillar of the country’s youth employment strategy.

Speaking in Abuja at the launch of a large-scale embroidery warehouse, Lukman argued that Nigeria can no longer rely solely on conventional academic pathways to job creation, insisting that practical, technology-driven skills offer faster and more sustainable solutions.

The new facility is projected to empower over 1,000 youths with modern embroidery and digital design expertise, positioning them for immediate employment or entrepreneurship.

Lukman described embroidery as an untapped labour-intensive industry with strong links to Nigeria’s booming fashion and creative sector.

According to him, formal government recognition and integration of embroidery into youth empowerment programmes could unlock thousands of jobs nationwide while easing pressure on the overstretched labour market.

He said: “Nigeria must start creating jobs locally and intentionally,” adding that: “Embroidery is not just sewing; it is technology, design, and production combined. It attracts young people, creates value quickly, and does not require years of university education to be productive.”

He called on the government to support structured training, certification and easier access to funding for industrial embroidery equipment.

Lukman explained that trainees at the warehouse are exposed to the full production chain — from operating and maintaining advanced industrial machines to digitising complex designs — enabling them to become job creators rather than job seekers.

Beyond employment, Lukman highlighted the macroeconomic implications of strengthening local embroidery production. He noted that many embroidered garments and fashion accessories are currently imported, draining foreign exchange that could be conserved through local manufacturing.

“If we produce locally what we currently import, we reduce pressure on foreign exchange and strengthen the economy at the same time,” he said.

The initiative’s training model blends free skills acquisition for machine owners with a monthly intake of selected applicants through an online process, while a growing digital community of over 500 members connects trained designers and machine operators with fashion businesses across the country.

The event also drew support from industry stakeholders and public figures, including Alhaji Aminu Yahaya and popular entertainer Real Warri Pikin, who urged lawmakers and government agencies to back local embroidery machinery distribution, maintenance and production. They stressed the need for backward integration to reduce dependence on imports and position Nigeria as a regional production hub.

Speakers at the launch agreed that with the right policy support, embroidery could evolve from a niche craft into a structured industrial subsector capable of driving employment, boosting GDP contributions and expanding Nigeria’s influence in the West African fashion market.

As debates continue over how best to tackle youth unemployment, Lukman’s proposal adds momentum to growing calls for government to shift focus toward practical, skills-based industries that combine technology, creativity and local production.

Entrepreneur Calls on Government to Rethink Youth Employment Strategy

Liberia Reviews Migration Policies Ahead of Global Migration Forum

By: Michael Mike

The Liberian government has convened a national workshop in Monrovia to assess its migration governance framework ahead of the International Migration Review Forum scheduled for May 2026.

The meeting brought together government officials, civil society organisations and international partners to carry out a voluntary national review of Liberia’s implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), adopted in 2018.

Speaking at the workshop, the Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Jeddi Mowbray Armah, described migration governance as a key national priority. He said sustained support from development partners has helped strengthen institutional capacity, improve coordination among agencies and promote evidence-based policymaking for Liberians at home and in the diaspora.

Since the end of its civil wars in 2003, Liberia has worked to rebuild migration systems shaped by significant cross-border movement and a large diaspora population across West Africa, Europe and North America. The country has increasingly focused on diaspora engagement as a development tool, while also addressing return and reintegration of migrants and cooperating with neighbouring countries including Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire under regional free movement frameworks such as the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The workshop followed an earlier capacity-building training held in July 2025 by the United Nations Network on Migration, which attracted wide participation from government ministries and institutions.

IOM’s Chief of Mission to Liberia ad interim, Mr Dongyuk Park, said effective migration governance depends on strong policies and institutions. He noted that the International Organization for Migration is supporting Liberia to translate global commitments into practical benefits for communities and citizens.

The European Union, which is backing Liberia’s voluntary national review through the GCM Demand-driven Facility, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening migration governance. EU Ambassador to Liberia, Ms Nona Deprez, said the bloc and its member states remain actively engaged in advancing the objectives of the Global Compact for Migration, including reducing irregular migration, promoting international cooperation and supporting sustainable reintegration.

She added that the EU is supporting Liberia through financial assistance and targeted technical support delivered via IOM and the UN Network on Migration to enhance coordination and institutional capacity.

Liberia is expected to submit its voluntary national GCM review as part of preparations for its participation in the International Migration Review Forum, a global platform for assessing progress on the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration later this year.

Liberia Reviews Migration Policies Ahead of Global Migration Forum