Berlin/Munich, March 2026 – At the invitation of Social Impact gGmbH that is coordinating the Project, a high-level delegation from Nigeria is visiting Germany from 18 to 20 March to deepen the exchange on the European return and reintegration initiative ARRIVES Projekt. The visit aims to acknowledge the achievements of the project so far, strengthen existing partnerships, and explore further cooperation between European and Nigerian stakeholders.
The project is funded by the European Union through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and implemented in Germany in cooperation with the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge. The funding highlights the importance of coordinated European and international collaboration in the field of voluntary return and sustainable reintegration.
The delegation includes representatives from key Nigerian government institutions and international partner organizations, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Among the senior participants are:
- Amb. Cathrine Udida, Director of Migrants Affairs, NCFRMI
- Mr. Alex Oturu, Assistant Director, NCFRMI
- Mr. Shuaibu Haruna, Deputy Director, SMEDAN.
The delegation is accompanied by representatives from international partner organizations including the International Trade Centre (ITC), IRARA, and Social Impact.
Exchange at Diplomatic and Operational Levels
The visit begins with a meeting at the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin. This exchange with the diplomatic mission will focus on discussing progress in cooperation on voluntary return and reintegration and exploring opportunities to further strengthen bilateral collaboration.
Following the embassy meeting, Social Impact will host the delegation at the Social Impact Lab in Berlin. The meeting will include an internal review of project progress and discussions on the continued development of the ARRIVES project.
Dialogue with German Authorities and Partners
A key highlight of the visit will be a roundtable discussion in Munich with representatives of regional authorities, project partners, and funding stakeholders. The meeting aims to strengthen cooperation between local German authorities, international organizations, and Nigerian institutions.
The discussions will focus particularly on optimizing the full process chain of voluntary return and reintegration, from counselling and preparation in Germany to return and sustainable economic reintegration in Nigeria.
Shared Goal: Creating Sustainable Perspectives
The ARRIVES project aims to support voluntary return from Europe while creating sustainable economic opportunities for returnees in their countries of origin. Through close cooperation between European and Nigerian institutions, the project seeks to further improve return and reintegration processes and strengthen long-term reintegration outcomes.
The visit of the Nigerian delegation highlights the importance of strong partnerships between governments, international organizations, and civil society actors in the field of migration, reintegration, and economic development.
More information about ARRIVES