A Nigerian delegation with representatitves from the Nigerian President's office, the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment completed an exchange visit to Brussels, Belgium and Szczecin, Poland in late October 2024.
The study visit is one of the activities under the Nigerian TechPro4Europe project, a technical assistance initiative that focuses on understanding and addressing the operational challenges European companies face in international recruitment, including through piloting mobility schemes that target technical professionals from Nigeria.
Learning from experiences in the private sector
The Brussels leg featured a technical meeting of 22 participants, including European Commission officials, representatives from Member States such as Ireland and Denmark, and private sector representatives. Discussions centred on the TechPro4Europe project's achievements, Nigeria's initiatives in skills development and workforce mobility, and private sector engagement. Eryk, a leading European company, showcased its successful programme integrating Nigerian technical professionals into its workforce through apprenticeships.
Nigerian trainees share their experiences in Poland
In Szczecin, Poland, the Nigerian delegation met with over 40 participants, including Polish and Danish companies, business associations, and current Nigerian apprentices at Eryk. This phase offered delegates firsthand insights into the apprenticeship programme's implementation, featuring a dedicated session where apprentices and mentors shared their experiences.
Apprentices emphasised the positive, welcoming environment and valuable mentorship they received, while noting initial language challenges. Their mentors praised the apprentices' strong learning motivation and highlighted effective communication and change management as key success factors.
The exchange visit demonstrated the strength of Nigerian-European workforce partnerships, particularly through private sector engagement. This collaboration addresses mutual workforce needs while promoting legal migration pathways and creating lasting socio-economic benefits for both regions.
Related content
Watch a 1-minute clip about an individual's experience with the apprenticeship
Download the TechPro4Europe Project Infonote