Victoria Mgbanwa
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has advocated for a structured approach to migration that safeguards Nigeria’s security and national interests while maximizing its economic benefits.
Speaking at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, where she hosted scholars from ISDEVCOM and members of its Alumni Association, Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted the need for policies that promote legal and safe migration pathways.
She endorsed the upcoming 6th International Conference of the Institute for Development Communication (ISDEVCOM) at Nasarawa State University, emphasizing the role of communication in addressing migration challenges.
She noted Nigeria could harness labour migration as a development tool by adopting strategies like the Labor Tax model used by the Philippines to fund national projects.
“Migration is not inherently bad,’ the Minister stated. However, there is a need to structure migration to protect Nigeria’s security and national interest.”
As a recognized expert in migration governance, security, and humanitarian affairs, Sulaiman-Ibrahim pointed out Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad through evacuation efforts in conflict zones like Sudan, Ukraine, and South Africa.
She urged parents and guardians to prioritize legal migration channels to safeguard their loved ones.
The Minister praised ISDEVCOM’s conference theme, ‘Japa: Communicating Migration, Diaspora, and Africa’s Development,’ noting Anglophone African nations must take a more prominent role in global migration discussions.
She recalled her intervention at the European Union-African Partner Initiative, leading to Nigeria securing a leadership position in migration policy discourse.
On gender representation, Sulaiman-Ibrahim praised the delegation’s balance and urged the institute to amplify women’s voices in its programs.
“This link to the ongoing national campaign for increased female political participation, emphasizing that while the 74 reserved seats for women in Parliament mark progress, they remain insufficient for true gender parity in governance.”
Chief Uzoma Onyegbadue, leader of the ISDEVCOM delegation and Registrar of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), commended the Minister for her remarkable achievements within a short time in office. He congratulated her on being named Iconic Female Minister of the Year at the Women Recognition Award 2025.
Onyegbadue described the ISDEVCOM conference as a crucial platform for multi-disciplinary discussions on migration. He stressed the need for stronger collaborations between the government, academia, and civil society to tackle illegal migration, particularly its devastating impact on women and children.
The conference aims to bring together scholars, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore solutions to Nigeria’s migration challenges, ensuring migration is leveraged for national development rather than becoming a crisis.”
Victoria Mgbanwa
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has advocated for a structured approach to migration that safeguards Nigeria’s security and national interests while maximizing its economic benefits.
Speaking at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, where she hosted scholars from ISDEVCOM and members of its Alumni Association, Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted the need for policies that promote legal and safe migration pathways.
She endorsed the upcoming 6th International Conference of the Institute for Development Communication (ISDEVCOM) at Nasarawa State University, emphasizing the role of communication in addressing migration challenges.
She noted Nigeria could harness labour migration as a development tool by adopting strategies like the Labor Tax model used by the Philippines to fund national projects.
“Migration is not inherently bad,’ the Minister stated. However, there is a need to structure migration to protect Nigeria’s security and national interest.”
As a recognized expert in migration governance, security, and humanitarian affairs, Sulaiman-Ibrahim pointed out Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad through evacuation efforts in conflict zones like Sudan, Ukraine, and South Africa.
She urged parents and guardians to prioritize legal migration channels to safeguard their loved ones.
The Minister praised ISDEVCOM’s conference theme, ‘Japa: Communicating Migration, Diaspora, and Africa’s Development,’ noting Anglophone African nations must take a more prominent role in global migration discussions.
She recalled her intervention at the European Union-African Partner Initiative, leading to Nigeria securing a leadership position in migration policy discourse.
On gender representation, Sulaiman-Ibrahim praised the delegation’s balance and urged the institute to amplify women’s voices in its programs.
“This link to the ongoing national campaign for increased female political participation, emphasizing that while the 74 reserved seats for women in Parliament mark progress, they remain insufficient for true gender parity in governance.”
Chief Uzoma Onyegbadue, leader of the ISDEVCOM delegation and Registrar of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), commended the Minister for her remarkable achievements within a short time in office. He congratulated her on being named Iconic Female Minister of the Year at the Women Recognition Award 2025.
Onyegbadue described the ISDEVCOM conference as a crucial platform for multi-disciplinary discussions on migration. He stressed the need for stronger collaborations between the government, academia, and civil society to tackle illegal migration, particularly its devastating impact on women and children.
The conference aims to bring together scholars, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore solutions to Nigeria’s migration challenges, ensuring migration is leveraged for national development rather than becoming a crisis.”
