Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Urges ECOWAS to Address Root Causes of Youth Migration

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to focus on understanding and addressing the underlying causes of youth migration rather than simply trying to halt it.

Speaking at an ECOWAS Parliament session, she highlighted the need to tackle the factors driving young people to leave their countries. Akpoti-Uduaghan cited examples of successful Nigerians who have made significant contributions internationally, such as Silas Adekunle, a prominent robotic engineer, and Abigail Marshall Katung, the Mayor of Leeds.

She stated, “Nigerians are making our country proud internationally. Silas Adekunle, at 31, became the world’s highest-paid robotic engineer. Abigail Marshall Katung, a Nigerian woman, migrated to the UK and became the Mayor of Leeds. Immigration isn’t all bad; it’s the intent and context that matter. My father left Nigeria for Ukraine in search of better opportunities, and I exist today because of that.”

As a mother of eight, Akpoti-Uduaghan shared her struggle to encourage her children to return to Nigeria, understanding why many young Nigerians and West Africans migrate for better jobs and financial prospects.

She proposed solutions for ECOWAS leaders, including:

• Encouraging Africans in the diaspora to transfer knowledge and opportunities back to their home countries, similar to the Ethiopian cotton industry and Indian technology industry.
• Promoting trade among African countries to retain jobs and strengthen the collective economy.
• Supporting startups, especially in the tech sector, with access to finance, market access, angel investors, fiscal incentives, and tax waivers to boost the young entrepreneurs’ ecosystem.

By addressing these issues, she believes ECOWAS can create a more conducive environment for young people to thrive in their home countries, reducing the need for migration.