Nigeria Showcases Leadership on Migration Governance at IMRF 2026 in New York
Nigeria received strong international recognition at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) 2026 in New York, where the United Nations designated the country a “Global Compact Champion Country” for its leadership in migration governance and in promoting regular migration pathways. Nigeria participated actively throughout the forum as part of a broad national delegation representing government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, and migration stakeholders working to strengthen migration governance systems in the country. The head of programme at GIZ-Centres for Migration and Development (ZME), Sandra Vermuijten, participated in the forum, representing development partners invited to form the Nigerian delegation to the event. The forum brought together migration stakeholders to review progress in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
Nigeria’s Evolving Leadership Narrative
Across plenary discussions and side events, Nigeria was increasingly positioned as an emerging example of structured migration governance and institutional coordination within Africa.
Discussions throughout the forum highlighted Nigeria’s growing efforts to:
- Promote safe, orderly and regular migration pathways;
- Strengthen labour mobility systems and skills partnerships;
- Enhance migrant protection and reintegration frameworks;
- Foster diaspora engagement and development cooperation; and
- Improve coordination among institutions responsible for migration governance.
Several discussions also reflected a notable shift in migration discourse, with migration increasingly framed not only as a security concern, but also as a development, labour mobility, and regional cooperation issue.
ZME Co-Organises Official Side Event on Regular Pathways
As part of the forum, the Centres for Migration and Development (ZME), implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-organised an official side event headlined: “From Commitment to Impact: Strengthening Regular Pathways.” The event was organised together with the Nigerian government, the UN Network on Migration Country Team, and CSOnetMADE.
The side event convened representatives from government institutions, civil society organisations, trade unions, international organisations, and development partners, including the European Union (EU), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
Participants exchanged practical experiences and perspectives on strengthening regular migration pathways, improving migration governance systems, enhancing labour mobility frameworks, and promoting rights-based approaches to migration in Nigeria.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of:
- Ethical recruitment and migrant protection
- Skills recognition and labour mobility partnerships
- Reintegration and social inclusion systems
- Inter-ministerial coordination and policy coherence
- International cooperation and shared responsibility
Showcasing Long-Term Partnerships
Nigeria’s participation at IMRF 2026 also provided an important platform to showcase the impact of long-term partnerships supporting migration governance reforms and labour mobility systems in the country. The forum highlighted the role of collaboration among Nigerian institutions, international organisations, development partners, and civil society actors in advancing more coordinated, development-oriented approaches to migration governance. Nigeria’s visibility throughout the forum further reinforced ongoing efforts to position migration governance as an important component of sustainable development, labour mobility, youth inclusion, and regional cooperation.
Looking Ahead
As migration dynamics continue to evolve globally and across Africa, platforms such as the IMRF remain critical for strengthening dialogue, partnerships, and collective action on safe, orderly, and regular migration. Nigeria’s strong participation at IMRF 2026 reflects the country’s increasing engagement in shaping international migration discussions and advancing practical solutions for migration governance and labour mobility systems within the region and beyond.
Author: Oluwole Olubanji, Communication Advisor ZME, GIZ Nigeria
