Victor's Apprenticeship

Victor left Nigeria and came to Ireland to seek asylum in 2007. He began living in an accommodation centre, but he worried after some time that his application would not be approved. He wanted to return to Nigeria but did not know how he could afford it. Victor began searching online and found that IOM could assist him through voluntary return.

He contacted IOM Ireland to discuss his options, and decided to ask for assistance in order to return to Nigeria. IOM staff also told him that he could apply for the reintegration grant, so that he could start a business or enrol in a training course. Victor decided to research the possibilities and applied for the grant after he returned to Nigeria.

In Nigeria, Victor was supported by his family and friends while he thought about what to do with the grant. Initially, he considered trading clothing in a stall on the local university campus. While investigating this plan, however, he learned that a tailor in the busy market area was looking for apprentices. Victor then decided to use the reintegration assistance to pay for an apprenticeship. With the grant, he was able to pay the fees and purchase the materials required for his training period. Victor is hopeful that the investment in learning such a useful trade will lead to a sustainable business for him in the future.