More than 5,000 Nigerian women are currently stranded in Iraq after traveling to the country as caregivers, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has disclosed.
The revelation was made by the Commission’s Chairman, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Tuesday during a seminar in Lagos titled “Sensitisation and Advocacy Program for Promoting Diaspora Investment Potentials in South-West Nigeria.” The event was organized by NiDCOM in collaboration with G-Consulting International Services Limited.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the plight of these women, many of whom were lured by promises of jobs abroad. She cited a recent case involving a woman who tragically died under mysterious circumstances after being sent to Iraq by her husband to work as a caregiver. The Nigerian Mission in Iraq is now working to repatriate her remains, she added.
“As I speak with you today, there are about 5,000 women stranded in Iraq. A husband sent his wife to Iraq to be a caregiver, and she died. Now the husband is worried about how to bring her body back. We had to intervene, and the mission is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of her mysterious death,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that while Nigeria faces challenges, there are untapped opportunities within the country that citizens can explore instead of seeking greener pastures abroad through irregular migration.
The seminar, attended by participants from the six South-West states, aimed to raise awareness about diaspora investment opportunities in Nigeria. It will be replicated across the country’s geopolitical zones to educate Nigerians about harnessing local resources.
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Dr. Godfrey Ajayi Sunday, Group Managing Director of G-Consulting, announced plans to mobilize over $100 million in funding to support participants in establishing businesses in collaboration with Nigerians in the diaspora. He outlined various sectors with investment potential, including real estate and agriculture, encouraging participants to explore these opportunities.
The seminar’s facilitators urged attendees to abandon irregular migration and focus on building businesses and partnerships in Nigeria, leveraging the country’s vast resources and potential.
This development underscores the ongoing challenges of irregular migration and the need for increased awareness of local opportunities for economic advancement.
