UNHCR, TGI unveil initiative to create 10,000 jobs for displaced Nigerians

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Tropical General Investment (TGI) Group have launched a three-year partnership to support over 5,000 farmers and create more than 10,000 jobs in Benue and Cross River states.

Implemented through TGI’s agribusiness arm, WACOT Limited — a leading food and agro-allied company, the programme targets refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities, with an estimated 25,000–35,000 people expected to benefit.

Farmers in fragile communities across Benue and Cross River States will receive improved inputs, technical training, certification, and structured market access across rice, maize, sesame, soya, and cocoa value chains.

“This partnership is about moving from aid to opportunity,” said Arjun Jain, UNHCR representative in Nigeria in a statement.

“TGI and UNHCR are connecting displaced people to jobs, skills, and markets so they can rebuild their lives with dignity and contribute to the economy.” “We are immensely grateful to TGI for their vision and leadership in this regard.”

The initiative comes as UNHCR’s newly released Global Trends report reveals that 117.8 million people remain forcibly displaced worldwide — one in every 70 people on earth. Nigeria hosts over 3.8 million forcibly displaced people, while Nigerians account for 3.5 percent of the world’s forcibly displaced population.

Habiba Sulaiman of TGI Group said the company is committed to inclusive growth. “This partnership strengthens our supply chains while creating real economic opportunities for communities affected by displacement.”

Work has already begun, with government and community consultations and soil sampling already completed. The agreement builds on a 2024 partnership between UNHCR and TGI and reflects a shift toward market-driven solutions that reduce dependency and drive economic inclusion.