By Ogochukwu Isioma
More than 266 Edo returnee migrants have been successfully reintegrated into society under the second phase of the Managing Migration Through Development Project (MMDP 2.0), a collaborative initiative between the Edo State Government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), graciously funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The milestone was celebrated on Thursday during the official closeout meeting of the MMDP Steering Committee held in Benin City, where top government officials, international organizations, development partners, civil society actors, and community stakeholders gathered to reflect on the project’s impact and future direction.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Edo State Governor, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on International Development Partners, Hon. Collins Edomaruse, praised the IOM and the Italian Government for their unwavering commitment to migration governance and human dignity.
“Today, we celebrate a remarkable journey—a journey that has seen over 266 returned migrants reintegrated with dignity and purpose,” Edomaruse stated. “This collaboration has not only renewed hope but has transformed lives across our dear state.”
Since its formal launch on December 5, 2022, the MMDP 2.0 has empowered the Edo State Migration Agency through the establishment of an ICT database, the creation of a child-friendly space, and the provision of vital donations to shelters.
Additionally, three more shelters in the state received strategic support, while solar-powered boreholes were installed across five communities, extending the project’s developmental impact.
Hon. Edomaruse highlighted the project’s alignment with Governor Okpebholo’s development agenda. He further acknowledged IOM’s contributions to EdoJobs, which received support through innovation-centered interventions designed to provide economic alternatives and sustainable reintegration pathways for returnees.
“To the IOM, your commitment to humane and orderly migration governance is commendable. We thank the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for investing in Edo people—a gesture of true global citizenship,” the Special Adviser remarked.
Calling for sustained momentum, the Special Adviser urged all stakeholders to deepen collaboration, foster community ownership, and scale sustainable reintegration efforts that provide not just a second chance for returnees, but a significantly better one.
“Let us continue building on the strong foundation that MMDP 2.0 has laid,” he said. “May this closeout meeting be not an ending—but the beginning of a new and brighter phase for migration and development in Edo State.”
The MMDP 2.0, backed by Italy’s Directorate General for Italian Citizens Abroad and Migration Policies, is widely regarded as a model for migration-development partnerships in Nigeria.
With its closeout in Edo State, stakeholders are optimistic that the lessons and frameworks developed under the project will inspire future efforts in safe, humane, and development-oriented migration governance.
