News

Germany is increasingly recognising the professional qualifications of foreign workers — a trend seen as vital for addressing the country’s acute shortage of skilled labour. According to new data from the Federal Statistical Office, 79,100 applications for recognition of foreign qualifications were approved in 2024, an increase of 21 percent compared to the previous year. Since systematic recording began in …

A bold new initiative led by the African diaspora in Germany is set to reshape how skilled labour migration between Africa and Europe is managed. The 360° Labour Mobility programme, launched recently in Ghana and Nigeria, creates a structured pathway for African professionals to access job opportunities in Germany. Germany faces a looming demographic crisis. According to the Institute for …

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a sharp increase in the fees for obtaining the Nigerian international passport. The new pricing structure will take effect on 1 September 2025, according to a statement released on Thursday by a spokesman for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). The increment is tied to the rollout of the new “Nigerian Standard Passport,” which …

A Critical Analysis of Systemic Racism in German Family Law The treatment of Black parents and children within Germany’s family law system, exemplified by the ongoing separation of a Black man and his young son, reveals deeply embedded structural inequities that amount to violations of international human rights law, writes Amal Abbass*. Through legal, historical, sociological and intersectional lenses, she …

Former Ghanaian MP and dedicated Pan-Africanist Ras Mubarak is leading a group of activists on an ambitious campaign to mobilize support for a visa-free and united Africa. The Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign, a 163-day, 40,000-kilometer road trip spanning 39 African countries, advocates for the elimination of visa restrictions for African citizens travelling within the continent. Launched on 18 …

Germany has once again ruled out reparations for colonial-era atrocities, a decision that has sparked outrage among Black German advocates and descendants of genocide victims in Africa. The Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland (ISD), a leading Black German advocacy group, condemned the government’s stance as “deeply unjust and historically whitewashing.” The organization said Berlin’s reliance on the legal principle of …

In a welcome development, Germany has unveiled four new Schengen visa application centres — two in Nigeria (Abuja and Lagos), one in Yaoundé (Cameroon) and another in Nicosia (Cyprus). This expansion, launched under a renewed seven-year agreement with VFS Global, seeks to streamline visa services and reduce bottlenecks affecting applicants. VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services …

The European Commission has confirmed that its long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin its phased rollout on 12 October 2025, launching a digital transformation of border management across 29 European countries, including Schengen-associated states. Designed to modernise the cumbersome process of passport stamping, the EES will capture biometric data — fingerprints, facial images along with travel document and entry/exit details …

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has issued a landmark ruling that raises the standard for EU countries when designating “safe countries of origin” in asylum procedures. Persons from safe countries of origin have little chance of being granted asylum in the EU. According to the Court, a country can only be considered safe if all groups within its population, …

Nigeria has officially launched a programme designed to connect Nigerian professionals abroad with universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions in their homeland. The Diaspora BRIDGE is a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at harnessing global talent to elevate educational standards and drive institutional transformation in Nigeria. At the Abuja launch ceremony on Tuesday (29 July), …

Animal Friends Academy is not just an app; it is the flowering of a deeply personal journey that began in a loving Nigerian home and now reaches into the hands of children and youths across the world. At the centre of this story is Emmanuel Fadipe, a man whose life has been molded by the quiet strength and relentless sacrifices …

Femi Awoniyi reflects on the legacy of Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari, who died recently. The general-turned-politician is one of the most controversial figures in Nigeria’s post-independence history. Before his election in 2015, many, especially in the Muslim North, regarded him as a messiah who would rescue the nation from corruption and insecurity and uplift the poor. But after eight …

Before a record-breaking hometown crowd in Heidelberg, Emanuel Odiase delivered a powerful performance on Saturday, winning by knockout and claiming the title of German International Heavyweight Champion. The long-anticipated bout marked a significant milestone in the career of the 26-year-old German-Nigerian fighter, whose rising star is now shining even brighter on the national stage. Our contributing editor, Che C. Chukwumerije, …

The sixth annual National Diaspora Day and the third National Diaspora Merit Awards will convene as a hybrid conference on 25–26 July 2025. Hosted by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the event expects over 1,200 in‑person delegates alongside thousands of virtual participants from around the world. Attendees include government officials, diaspora professionals, investors and youth representatives, all focused on …

Ghanaian politician and commentator Ras Mubarak* turns a critical lens on the long-standing regimes of Togo and Uganda—two nations where autocratic leaders masquerade as democrats by manipulating constitutions to entrench themselves in power. In this compelling piece, he not only exposes the cynical tactics of rulers like Faure Gnassingbé and Yoweri Museveni but also issues a rousing call to action …

One year after its launch, Germany’s Opportunity Card (‘Chancenkarte’) visa scheme is gaining momentum as a pathway for non-EU skilled workers to enter the country and search for employment. Introduced under Section 20a of the German Residence Act, the visa allows qualified third-country nationals to stay in Germany for up to 12 months to seek work or have their foreign …

The European Union’s cherished Schengen system, which guarantees passport-free travel across much of the continent, is facing mounting pressure as more member states reintroduce internal border controls. The latest move comes from Poland, which has announced it will temporarily impose checks along its borders with Germany and Lithuania starting next Monday. Currently, 11 of the 29 Schengen countries are operating …

Germany’s federal parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to suspend family reunification rights for refugees with subsidiary protection status for two years — a controversial move that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, churches and opposition parties. The suspension, which primarily affects Syrian refugees, marks the first step in a series of planned reforms by the federal government to …

While recent US immigration raids make international headlines, a quiet surge in enforcement across Europe is increasingly targeting undocumented migrants, many of them from Africa. In France, the interior ministry this month deployed 4,000 police officers to conduct sweeping ID checks at train and bus stations. Migrant rights group La Cimade called the move “Trumpist,” warning it portrays undocumented people …

In a major ruling that challenges Germany’s increasingly restrictive asylum policies, the Higher Social Court of Lower Saxony has declared that asylum-seekers cannot be completely cut off from state welfare support even when their application has been rejected under the EU’s Dublin Regulation and their deportation is delayed. The decision, announced Monday, 23 June, stems from the emergency appeal of …