By Peter Dansu The Centre for Youths Integrated Development, CYID, has converted its facility in Badagry, Lagos State, from an entrepreneur...
By Peter Dansu
The Centre for Youths Integrated Development, CYID, has converted its facility in Badagry, Lagos State, from an entrepreneurship hub into a fully fledged Youth and Migration Resource Centre, in response to the growing social and economic struggles confronting young people in the border community.
The Director of CYID, Mr. Aihawu Victor, said the shift followed years of hands on engagement with youths who accessed the centre, revealing that business training alone could not adequately address the depth of challenges many of them faced.
According to him, a large number of beneficiaries were battling unemployment, displacement, return migration and limited access to basic support services, realities that demanded broader intervention beyond skills acquisition.
Victor explained that Badagry’s unique position as a border town and transit corridor made it a natural magnet for returnees, migrants in transit and vulnerable youths searching for temporary relief and guidance.
He noted that the centre often received young people who could barely afford daily transportation, return migrants trying to rebuild their lives after difficult experiences, and individuals passing through in need of a safe space to pause, reflect and rethink their next steps.
“These experiences showed us that the centre had already evolved into a place of transition and rebuilding. The new name only reflects the reality of what we have been doing,” Victor said.
He stressed that youth development in border communities cannot be separated from migration realities, adding that skills without support systems frequently collapse, while opportunities without access remain out of reach.
The repositioning, he explained, is focused on restoring dignity, ensuring sustainability and creating practical pathways forward for vulnerable youths.
To strengthen the new direction, CYID also unveiled the Jopen Legacy Creative Impact Lab, a three month skills and innovation programme aimed at equipping young people with creative, digital and entrepreneurial competencies, while rebuilding confidence, discipline and a sense of responsibility.
The initiative is expected to serve as a lifeline for many young people in Badagry and surrounding communities, offering not just training but the holistic support needed to navigate life’s complex transitions.
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