Hundreds of desperate young Nigerians die yearly in the Sahara Desert or at sea while making irregular journeys to Europe. The desperation to reach Europe at all costs, irrespective of the risks, is a major social problem in Africa’s most populous country.
Besides the desire for Europe, Nigerians also love football. Taking advantage of football’s popularity in the country, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is using football as a means of achieving behavioral change toward safe migration. One instance is a Football tournament the IOM organized with the aim of achieving social cohesion and social reintegration and ensuring the returned migrants are well-settled in their communities both physically and mentally.
Original article published at IPS by Sam Olukoya