Nigeria to Export Talent Through Structured Migration – Tuggar
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, says the country’s future migration policy is geared toward exporting skilled talent through structured, legal pathways—not mass emigration.
He made this known during high-level bilateral talks in Berlin with Germany’s Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, as both nations deepened their strategic partnership on energy, trade, and migration.
Tuggar emphasized Nigeria’s demographic advantage, noting that the country’s projected population of 400 million by 2050 presents a significant opportunity to develop and export human capital.
“With over 220 million people and projections to reach 400 million by 2050, Nigeria’s focus is not to export people, but to export talent,” Tuggar said.
“We are committed to working with partners like Germany on structured pathways for job creation and to address the root causes of irregular migration.”
Germany acknowledged Nigeria as a key partner in sub-Saharan Africa and expressed readiness to expand cooperation in renewable energy, vocational training, and economic diversification.
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“For both Germany and the European Union, Africa is the continent of the future. Nigeria plays a vital role in this vision,” said Minister Wadephul.
“There are tremendous opportunities for cooperation in critical minerals, energy transition, and private sector engagement.”
The ministers reviewed progress in the German-Nigerian Energy Partnership, launched in 2008 and strengthened in 2021 with the establishment of a hydrogen office in Abuja.
Tuggar also highlighted Nigeria’s vast mineral resources, positioning them as potential drivers of Germany’s industrial and green transition.
“Nigeria is well-positioned to support Germany’s transition goals. If developed through value-added partnerships, our critical minerals can spur sustainable growth on both sides,” he added.
The two nations agreed to deepen collaboration on legal migration, skills mobility, and economic development, ensuring that migration frameworks are mutually beneficial.
During his visit, Minister Tuggar also met with German officials, including the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Svenja Willem-Alabali Radovan, and Nicolas Zippelius, Chair of the CDU Parliamentary Group on Development Affairs.
In a separate meeting with Professor Lanz Rolla, founder of the Berlin Global Dialogue, Tuggar was formally invited to the 2025 edition of the event, set for October—further affirming Nigeria’s growing influence in global governance and development discourse.
