Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said his government, as part of efforts to encourage safe and regular migration, is building the capacity of youths in the state, equipping them with requisite skills and knowledge to become globally competitive.

According to a statement from the office of Special Assistant, Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, the governor said this in his message to commemorate the 2022 International Migrants Day, marked yearly by the United Nations and its sister agencies to promote safe and regular migration.

The governor, while highlighting the roles of migrants in driving economic development, called for increased action among global stakeholders to protect the rights of legal migrants.

He said: “This year’s International Migrants Day presents another opportunity to review efforts to promote and ensure safe and regular migration globally, ensuring the protection of the dignity and rights of these migrants, who deploy their skills and expertise to contribute to economic growth and development.

“As a government, we understand the need to promote and encourage safe migration and are discouraging illegal migration and making it unattractive by creating better opportunities for youths in the state.

“We are paying critical attention to the education sector, prioritising our basic education level, making sure every child that goes through our educational system learns from a very early age and is confident and globally competitive.”

Restating the need for world leaders and other stakeholders to respect laws and conventions that protect the rights of migrants, the governor commended countries across the world that have shown uncommon kindness in accommodating those fleeing from conflict and creating the space for people from other countries to live and ply their trade in their countries.

UN Secretary General, António Guterres, to commemorate the day, said: “Migrant rights have human rights. They must be respected without discrimination, irrespective of whether their movement is forced, voluntary, or formally authorised.”