Lagos, IOM Deepen Strategic Partnership on Migration and Human Trafficking Prevention

Lagos State continues to reinforce its leadership in global diplomacy and structured migration governance as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently hosted Ms. Dimanche Sharon, Chief of Mission for the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM), on a courtesy visit to the State House.

The meeting focused on deepening collaboration in critical areas such as migration management, human trafficking prevention, returnee reintegration, and youth empowerment. It reflects the Sanwo-Olu administration’s enduring commitment to addressing migration challenges with empathy, innovation, and alignment with international best practices.

“Lagos is a hub of movement,” Governor Sanwo-Olu remarked, emphasizing the State’s central role as a key origin, transit, and destination point within the West African migration corridor. “We must lead in building humane, structured responses to migration challenges, and I’m glad we share that vision with the IOM.”

This visit marks a renewed strategic partnership between Lagos State and one of the world’s leading intergovernmental migration agencies. With global mobility on the rise and irregular migration patterns increasing, the collaboration comes at a critical time.

A central point of discussion was the prevention of human trafficking—a persistent global issue that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, especially women and children. Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated Lagos State’s readiness to collaborate with international partners to not only curb trafficking, but also ensure that returnees are reintegrated with dignity and equipped for economic independence.

Recognizing its youthful demographic, Lagos State views youth empowerment as a cornerstone of sustainable migration management. The State is actively investing in education, entrepreneurship, vocational training, and innovation to provide young people with alternatives to irregular and dangerous migration routes.

Through its Office of Diaspora Affairs, Lagos has launched several initiatives aimed at engaging its global citizens and supporting returnees. These include job placement programs, diaspora mentorship schemes, and access to verified investment opportunities, all designed to foster belonging and stability, even after a return from abroad.

This IOM visit also aligns with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s broader foreign relations strategy, which prioritizes cultural diplomacy, diaspora engagement, and leveraging global partnerships for local development. As Lagos continues to emerge as Africa’s model megacity, it is setting new standards for subnational governments in managing migration proactively and humanely.

The Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu, remains unwavering in its commitment to advancing migration policies that uphold human rights, protect the vulnerable, and harness the developmental potential of migration. With the support of organizations like the IOM, Lagos is well-positioned to lead the continent in reframing migration, not as a crisis, but as a pathway to inclusive growth and international cooperation.