By Kenechukwu Ofomah, Awka
The Civil Society Network on Migration and Development (CSONetMADE), Anambra State Chapter, has urged the state government to participate actively in the forthcoming South East Migration Dialogue (SEMD 2026), seeking stronger government commitment towards safer, more orderly and structured migration.
The group formally invited the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Ibezim, to participate in the dialogue scheduled to hold in September in Umuahia, Abia State.
The delegation, led by the Anambra State Coordinator of CSONetMADE, Eucharia Onyemaobi, was received at the Office of the Deputy Governor by Dr Vincent Okechi Egbuna, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor.
Speaking during the courtesy visit, Onyemaobi said the 2026 dialogue was conceived following the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of the Revised National Migration Policy, stressing the need for the policy to move beyond the federal level and be effectively implemented across states in the Southeast.
According to her, the event, organised by CSONetMADE and hosted by the Wife of the Governor of Abia State, will attract more than 50 diplomatic missions, international organisations, development agencies and subnational governments from different parts of the world.
She said the dialogue would focus on promoting safe, ethical and structured migration pathways for people in the Southeast.
Onyemaobi identified five key pillars of the dialogue as bilateral partnership development, legislative reforms, institutional infrastructure, regional coordination and community ownership.
She also highlighted the proposed Abia State Migration Agency Bill, describing it as Nigeria’s first subnational migration legislation and a framework that could be replicated by other states in the Southeast.
The CSONetMADE coordinator described Anambra as strategically important to migration discussions in the region, noting that the state has a significant diaspora population across major global destinations, including Houston, London and Guangzhou.
She, however, lamented that despite Anambra’s extensive global connections, many families continue to fall victim to fraudulent recruitment agents, while some professionals migrate through irregular channels.
According to her, this has resulted in lost opportunities for diaspora investment, skills transfer and sustainable development.
Onyemaobi said Anambra’s participation in SEMD 2026 would provide the state with direct access to diplomatic missions and emerging visa pathways, opportunities to adapt proven legislative frameworks for migration governance, as well as stronger mechanisms for combating human trafficking and migrant exploitation.
Responding, Dr Egbuna acknowledged the growing importance of effective migration governance, assuring the delegation that the Anambra State Government remains committed to embracing policies capable of improving the welfare and opportunities of its citizens.
He said the state would be willing to key into relevant Federal Government initiatives that promote orderly migration, protect citizens and harness migration for development.
Also present during the visit were the Supervising Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Nkeiru Mokwe; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Supervising Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs Ifeoma Agbaizu; Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Engr. Dr Florence Indigo-Ibenta; CSONetMADE member, Amaka Madu; and media consultant, Kenechukwu Ofomah.
Tags: #Migration #Anambra #Southeast
