As part of actions being taken to expand the country’s presence in Africa.
The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is expanding its presence in Africa, as it plans to open a Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Abuja, Nigeria, which it describes as a move that is aimed at “providing greater protection and support for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the region.“
The establishment of the MWO in Abuja will be able to provide immediate assistance and support to an estimated 6,000 Filipinos in Nigeria, aside from also supporting the needs of OFWs across 12 other West and Central African countries that are covered by the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Abuja.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Mersole Mellejor, and the DMW team recently met with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Labor Minister Dr Muhammad Maigadi Dingyadi to lay the groundwork for enhanced labor cooperation, protection mechanisms, and future labor market opportunities between the two nations.
Secretary Cacdac expressed gratitude to the government of Nigeria for hosting over 6,000 OFWs and for the optimism towards strengthened bilateral ties with the Philippines, particularly in sectors like labor, business process outsourcing, and migration support, while promoting stronger people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar recognized Nigeria’s long-standing relationship with the Philippines and recalled the significant contributions of Filipino teachers to Nigeria in the 1970s.
He also acknowledged the important role of migrants in human resource development and highlighted opportunities for Filipino professionals in Nigeria’s electrical, solar, and emerging industries.
On the other hand, Labor Minister Dingyadi assured its support for the opening of labor office at the Philippine embassy in Abuja, and expressed readiness to discuss a bilateral labor agreement.