Natasha Akpoti-uduaghan, the Senator representing Kogi Central, has urged the Economic Community Of West African States, ECOWAS, move it center of attention from stopping youth migration, but to understand and work on the negative reasons behind the migration.

She was speaking at the ECOWAS Parliament Session, on Saturday, July 6, she stressed on the need to address the reasons why young people are leaving their country.

She gave examples of successful Nigerians who have made notable participation internationally, which includes Silas Adekunle, a 31-year-old robotic engineer, and Abigail Marshall Katung, the Mayor of Leeds.

Natasha Akpoti-uduaghan said: “Today, Nigerians are making our country proud internationally. One example is Silas Adekunle, who at the age of 31 became the world’s highest-paid robotic engineer.

“Not long ago, we celebrated Lord Mayor Abigail Marshall Katung, a Nigerian woman who migrated to the UK and grew to become the Mayor of Leeds, the UK’s second-largest city.

“This global economy means that young people may need to leave their country in search of better opportunities. Immigration isn’t all bad; however, it’s the intent and context that matter. I exist today because my father left the shores of Nigeria to Ukraine (then USSR) in search of greener pastures both academically and economically.”

Natasha added, “As a mother of eight, I struggle to encourage my children to return to Nigeria and contribute to the development of their home country. This personal experience makes me better understand why millions of young people in Nigeria and West Africa choose to migrate in pursuit of better jobs and financial prospects.”

She proposed some solutions to ECOWAS leaders that they should, “encourage Africans in the diaspora to transfer knowledge and opportunities to their home countries, like the Ethiopian cotton industry and Indian technology industry.

“Encourage trade amongst African countries to keep jobs within borders and strengthen the collective economy.

“Encourage startups, especially in the tech sector, with access to finance, market access, angel investors, fiscal incentives, and tax waivers to boost the young entrepreneurs’ ecosystem.

Senator Natasha further said that, “By tackling these issues, ECOWAS can build a more favourable environment for young people to grow in their home countries, which will reduce the need for migration.”