AHIP, IOM Train Kano CSOs and Women Groups on ECOWAS Protocol and Migrants’ Rights
The Adolescent Health Information Project (AHIP), in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has organized a three-day training for civil society organizations (CSOs) and women groups on the ECOWAS Protocol and migrants’ rights in Kano State.
The training, held under the Resilient Opportunities for Outreach, Trade and Sustainability (ROOTS) Project, brought together participants from various organizations to strengthen their understanding of migration issues, the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, migration corridors in West Africa, and migrants’ rights and protection.
The ROOTS Project is implemented by AHIP in partnership with IOM with support from the European Union through the Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa Phase II (FM West Africa II) Program.
Speaking during the training, the ROOTS Project Program Manager, Halima Kasim, said the initiative was designed to improve awareness of safe and regular migration pathways while reducing the risks associated with irregular migration.
She noted that many Nigerians embark on migration journeys without adequate information or proper documentation, exposing them to exploitation, abuse, trafficking, and other dangers.
According to Kasim, empowering CSOs and women’s groups with knowledge of migration policies and migrants’ rights will enable them to provide accurate information within their communities and support efforts to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration.
She added that participants were also being equipped with knowledge on existing legal frameworks and protections available to migrants under regional and international agreements.
The event received widespread media attention, with reports published by Prime Time News, Paradigm News, Blueprint Newspapers and Kadaura24, among others. The coverage reflects growing public interest in migration governance, migrants’ rights and community-based efforts to promote safe and regular migration across Kano State.
The training forms part of ongoing efforts by AHIP and IOM to address migration-related challenges in Kano State through community engagement, awareness creation, and capacity building. It also seeks to strengthen local advocacy on migration governance and to contribute to efforts to curb irregular migration and human trafficking.
Participants are expected to share the knowledge acquired during the training with community members, thereby increasing awareness of migrants’ rights, legal migration channels, and the consequences of irregular migration.
The three-day program is one of several activities being implemented under the ROOTS Project to support informed decision-making, community resilience, and sustainable development in migration-affected communities across Kano State.
