The Initiative For Youth Awareness on Migration Immigration Development and Reintegration [IYAMIDR] has congratulated Rev. Frank Omobude on his appointment as Special Adviser II to the Edo State Governor on Human Capital Development.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, IYAMIDR Executive Director, Solomon Okoduwa, described the appointment announced by the Edo State Government on August 18, 2026 as “a bold statement of intent by the Edo State Government to place people, capacity, and dignity at the center of governance.”
Okoduwa, on behalf of the Board, Management and members of IYAMIDR, extended appreciation to His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for what he called “this visionary decision.”
“By appointing Rev. Omobude, you have chosen a leader tested in service, compassion, and administration. Your commitment to strengthening Edo’s human capital development agenda gives hope to thousands of young people, returnees, families, and communities across the State who believe that with the right leadership, potential can be transformed into prosperity,” he said.
The group noted that until his new appointment, Rev. Omobude served as Chairman of the Edo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, where he “brought order, transparency, and pastoral care to the coordination of Christian pilgrimage activities.”
“That same spirit is what Edo needs now as we confront the challenges of unemployment, irregular migration, and the reintegration of our people,” Okoduwa added.
Linking the appointment to IYAMIDR’s mandate, the Executive Director said human capital development must go beyond skills and certificates to include values, faith, mental wellbeing, and opportunities that stop youth from embarking on dangerous journeys.
He said Rev. Omobude’s appointment aligns perfectly with IYAMIDR’s vision “to create awareness among youth on safe migration, to protect the rights of migrants, to support immigration that is orderly and dignified, and to drive development and reintegration that restores purpose to every Edo son and daughter at home and abroad.”
IYAMIDR also proposed a 5-point agenda for collaboration with the new Special Adviser:
- Youth Skills and Livelihood Development: Scaling vocational training, digital skills, and entrepreneurship programs tied to Edo’s local economy.
- Safe Migration Education: Sensitization in schools, churches, and communities on the risks of irregular migration and pathways for regular migration.
- Returnee Reintegration: Trauma-informed support, psychosocial care, and startup grants for returnees.
- Diaspora and Faith-Based Engagement: Mobilizing mentorship, scholarships, and investment from Edo people in the diaspora and faith institutions.
- Data and Monitoring: Building a human capital dashboard to track youth employment, training outcomes, and migration trends.
In an emotional charge, Okoduwa said: “Edo has lost too many of its brightest to desperate journeys. Too many mothers have wept. Too many dreams have been deferred. This appointment tells those mothers, those youths, those returnees, that Edo has not given up on them.”
He added: “Rev. Frank, as you assume office with immediate effect, go with our prayers, our support, and our readiness to work. The road ahead will demand courage, compassion, and creativity. But we believe that with God, with the Governor’s backing, and with the people behind you, Edo’s human capital will rise.”
IYAMIDR is a non-governmental organization committed to youth empowerment, safe migration advocacy, and the sustainable reintegration and development of Edo people at home and abroad.
