Reducing Unemployment, Poverty and Promoting Empowerment through Skills Acquisition (TVET): A Case Study of Returnee Migrants

Abstract

This paper explains recent statistics and phenomena related to returnee migrants in Edo state, Nigeria. The significance of this paper is that it creates awareness on causes and motives behind irregular migration leading to repatriation (returned migrants). Based on data gathered from most research participants (returnee migrant) – the quest to improve one’s socioeconomic living conditions are the motives behind most Nigerians’ migration journey (regular or irregular) to western countries (i.e., Europe, Canada, USA, etc.). The socioeconomic imbalance in Nigeria is mainly caused by the high rate of unemployment and poverty; thus, the majority of Nigerians are of the opinion that migrating to western countries, is a potential pathway to an improved socioeconomic living condition. This paper further suggests – skill acquisition (TVET) as an approach to reduce unemployment and poverty; thus, economically improving the socioeconomic living conditions of the majority of Nigerians.