The Centre for Youths Integrated Development (CYID) has announced the renaming of its long-standing Entrepreneurship Centre in Badagry to the CYID Youth and Migration Resource Centre.
The change reflects what the Centre has gradually become over the years — a place not only for business ideas, but for young people trying to find their footing, returnees starting again, and individuals on the move who need guidance, skills, and a safe space to pause and plan their next steps.
Badagry’s location tells part of the story. As a historic border town and transit corridor, it sits at the intersection of opportunity and risk. Many young people here are unemployed, disconnected, or considering unsafe migration simply because they see no alternatives. CYID’s work in the community has made it clear that entrepreneurship alone is not enough. Skills, support, shelter, and structure all matter.
Why the Centre Was Repositioned
The move from an entrepreneurship centre to a Youth and Migration Resource Centre grew out of experience on the ground. CYID found that meaningful youth development in border communities must bring together:
• practical and creative skills people can actually earn from,
• clear pathways toward self-reliance,
• honest conversations and guidance around migration, and
• safe spaces where people can learn, rest, and rebuild without fear or stigma.
This new identity simply puts a name to work that has already been happening — work shaped by listening to the people who walk through the Centre’s doors every day.
A Place to Stay, Not Just to Learn
As part of the transformation, CYID has added a four-bedroom halfway house within the Centre.
The space supports:
• returnees and people on the move who need short-term accommodation, and
• trainees who want to participate in the skills programme but cannot afford daily transportation to and from the Centre.
For many participants, this removes a quiet but powerful barrier. Training is no longer limited to those who can pay transport fares every day. The goal is simple: no one should miss an opportunity to learn because of distance, cost, or temporary hardship.
Launching the Jopen Legacy Creative Impact Lab
To mark the rebranding, CYID has launched the Jopen Legacy Creative Impact Lab — a three-month youth empowerment and skills programme focused on creative, digital, and entrepreneurial training.
The Lab honours the humanitarian legacy of Dr. Bernward Jopen, a German national based in Gräfelfing, Bavaria, Munich, and his wife Dr. Barbara Jopen, whose steady, behind-the-scenes support has opened doors for young Nigerians for nearly a decade.
The programme is practical by design. Participants learn by doing, with a strong focus on:
• hands-on, market-relevant skills,
• creative and digital routes to self-employment,
• mentorship, discipline, and personal responsibility, and
preparing for life after training, not just the training itself.
This is not a one-off project. It sits within CYID’s long-term commitment to building skills, confidence, and stability at the community level.
Leadership and Direction
Speaking on the development, Aihawu Victor, Founder and Director of CYID, said:
“We have learned that policy discussions alone don’t change lives. People need real spaces, real skills, and real support systems.
This Centre is about meeting young people where they are and walking with them as they rebuild — whether they are returning, staying, or trying to figure out their next step.”
His remarks reflect nearly two decades of CYID’s work with youths, entrepreneurs, migrants, and vulnerable communities in Nigeria and beyond.
Looking Ahead
Today, the CYID Youth and Migration Resource Centre serves as:
• a practical skills and learning hub rooted in the community,
• a place of temporary shelter and guidance for those in transition,
• a meeting point for partnerships with public institutions and civil society, and
• a model that can be adapted in other border and transit communities facing similar challenges.
At its core, the Centre is about dignity — giving people time, tools, and space to find their way forward.
