Migrant Rights: Nigerian-Polish Initiative

This JMDI-funded project is designed to enhance the protection of the rights of migrants in Poland.  A partnership between the Rule of Law Institute Foundation (FIPP) in Poland and the NGO Human Support Services (HSS) in Nigeria, the Polish partners have recently returned from a visit to Nigeria.

As part of a 4-day preparatory visit in December 2009, the FIPP Programme Coordinator Mr. Wisdom Ejebugha met with the Nigerian partner to elaborate action plans for the project. Local television media were invited to cover and report the events of the visit, including a press conference, which was covered by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 5 and the Guardian and Punch newspapers.

Answering questions, the Program Coordinator spoke about the dangers of illegal migration from Nigeria abroad and highlighted the need to educate every young person in the country and 'other potential' migrants about the dangers of illegal migration from Nigeria and the potential negative impact upon Nigeria's image abroad. He called on Nigerians to use this great opportunity, emphasizing that the knowledge to be acquired will be indelible in their minds and will reduce the loss of lives associated with traveling illegally to countries overseas.

HSS' Project Director, Mr. Emeka Nsofor expressed gratitude that the European Union through the EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative had decided to support the project 'Migrant Rights: Nigerian-Polish Initiative' and giving them the opportunity to be a partner in the project. Reiterating the readiness and commitment of the partners to ensure that the project will positively affect the lives of Nigerians in both Poland and Nigeria, he expressed confidence that the project will have a valuable impact on the lives of beneficiaries and Nigerians in particular.

Training on rights, roles and obligations of migrants

The Nigerian-Polish Initiative project is holding a 2-day training session on 25-26 March 2010 on the roles, rights and obligations of migrants resident in Poland (see Programme Agenda attached below). Critical issues for migrants such as residence permits, insurance and licenses will be discussed. To participate in the training contact: Michał Cios (Project Assistant)
Tel: + 48 81 743 68 05 extension: 28
Fax: + 48 81 743 68 05
Email: mcios@fipp.org.pl

For more information on the project and its current activities visit the project website at: www.nigerianpolishinitiative.org

The project website also provides information for migrants, as well as access to legal advice.

'Migrant Rights: Nigerian-Polish Initiative' is funded by the European Union through the EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI).