07/09/2026
What happens when someone leaves Nigeria believing a better job is waiting for them abroad, only to arrive and find themselves stranded?
That was the experience of Shehu Adewale, a Nigerian from Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
In 2020, Shehu travelled to the UAE after an agent promised him a job, accommodation and a monthly income of over ₦500,000. He paid ₦1.2 million, sold his car and belongings, and borrowed money to make the journey.
But when he arrived, the agent switched off his phone and blocked him.
Shehu was stranded at Dubai airport and later spent three days sleeping outside in Deira with his bags.
His story, reported by Punch Newspapers, reminds us that international recruitment is not just about connecting people to jobs. The process matters. The standards matter. The people involved matter.
So, how do we make international recruitment safer, more ethical and more responsible?
It starts with conversation, collaboration and bringing the right stakeholders together.
This is why EAPEAN, in partnership with GIZ and MRC, is bringing Private Employment Agencies together for an Information Session on:
International Recruitment in Nigeria: Partnerships for Safe, Ethical and Inclusive Labour Mobility
📅 15 September 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM
📍 MRC Office, Ikoyi, Lagos
Keynote Speech:
Positioning Nigeria for Responsible International Recruitment: Opportunities, Standards and Shared Responsibility
Private Employment Agencies, come with your questions, experiences and ideas.
Register here:
https://forms.gle/dRkbCqzwgxddKQEUA
