ActionAid Nigeria, in partnership with the German development agency GIZ, has celebrated the graduation of 130 beneficiaries under its ReConnect Project, an empowerment initiative designed to support returnee migrants, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable Nigerians.
Funmi Olukeye, ActionAid’s director of People and Culture, who represented Dr. Andrew Mamedu, the country director, ActionAid, at the Lagos graduation ceremony, said the project aims to equip participants with practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills to enable self-reliance. “Poverty is man-made, and it can be eradicated when we take deliberate action. This project empowers individuals to take control of their lives,” she said.
Funded by the German government through GIZ, the ReConnect Project is being implemented in Edo, FCT, and Lagos. The Lagos beneficiaries underwent three months of intensive training in hairdressing, dressmaking, tie-dye (Adire) making, catering, and bag production. Each graduate also received start-up tools to begin their small businesses.
Olukeye explained that the program’s selection process ensured inclusivity across youths, women, older adults, and persons with disabilities, with agencies such as NAPTIP and the Institute of Migration providing psychosocial support for reintegration.
For beneficiaries, the training has been transformative. Abdulgafar Adebimpe, a person with a disability, said, “This program restored my confidence. I trained in catering and hotel management, and I’m ready to start something meaningful.”
Prince Eric Akhabue, who trained in Adire making, said, “We are bringing innovation into Adire. It is no longer for the elderly, we want to make it Nigeria’s signature fabric.”
Sandra Dickson, a fashion trainee, added, “I was skeptical at first, but the instructors were professional. In three months, my skill level has greatly improved.”
Speaking for GIZ, Ismaeel Lawal, senior business development service expert with GOPA Worldwide Consultants, said the project combines technical and business knowledge. “Without entrepreneurship capacity, your skill is inadequate. We taught participants how to understand markets, develop business plans, and attract support,” he explained.
Representing the Nigeria Immigration Service, Chris Ejunka, assistant controller of immigration, commended the initiative as vital to Nigeria’s migration management efforts. “We help stranded Nigerians abroad return home and coordinate their reintegration with agencies such as NAPTIP, IOM, and the Refugee Commission,” he said, urging citizens to follow safe migration procedures.
Olukeye reaffirmed ActionAid’s commitment to tracking graduates’ progress and promoting cooperative groups for accountability. “With more funding and collaboration, we can empower more Nigerians and continue changing lives,” she said.
For the 130 Lagos graduates, the ReConnect Project marked not just an end, but the beginning of new opportunities built on hope, inclusion, and self-reliance.
