Ongoing
Nigeria • Germany • Ireland
Innovation:
Verified talent pipeline and custom matching application connecting Nigerian STEM professionals with EU employers.
Summary
SUSTAIN connects Nigerian STEM professionals with employers in Germany and Ireland through verified, rights-based legal pathways. It has built a pipeline of over 2,000 verified STEM professionals (700+ women) eligible for EU tech roles. The model has been cited in the European Commission's 2026 Migration and Asylum Strategy. First placements are expected in autumn 2026.
2,000+ candidates. 114% of pipeline target. A model now cited in EU migration strategy.
2,000+
verified STEM professionals
114%
of pipeline target
38%
female candidates
EU_cited model
EC 2026 Migration & Asylum Strategy
"
"We identified the right candidate in Nigeria. The visa delays made it impossible to move forward. The talent was there. The system was the barrier."
Employer representative, employer roundtable
Sustain Year-One Overview
One year into implementation, SUSTAIN has exceeded its candidate pipeline target, strengthened partnerships across Nigeria, Germany, and Ireland, and entered the employer engagement phase. The programme is now focused on converting verified candidates into successful placements through structured, rights-based labour mobility pathways.
Year one by the numbers: 4,560+ registrations received from Nigerian STEM professionals, with more than 2,000 verified candidates exceeding the programme's original pipeline target.
Building the SUSTAIN Partnership Network
SUSTAIN brings together employers, talent partners, and policymakers across Nigeria, Germany, and Ireland to strengthen legal labour mobility partnerships. Activities include employer roundtables, partnership missions, and technical workshops that continue to shape the programme's next phase. These engagements strengthen partnerships while helping employers better understand international recruitment.
Building a candidate pipeline is only one side of labour mobility. SUSTAIN works directly with employers, start-up leaders, and industry partners to understand recruitment barriers and build confidence in international hiring. Employer roundtables in Berlin and partnership missions in Nigeria help translate interest into real recruitment opportunities.
SUSTAIN in the Media
National media coverage across Nigeria helped raise awareness of legal labour mobility opportunities and positioned SUSTAIN as a leading example of international talent partnerships. Coverage in major outlets introduced the programme to employers, candidates, and policymakers, reinforcing its growing visibility and credibility.
Punch highlighted SUSTAIN's approach to connecting Nigerian STEM professionals with employers through structured legal pathways.
Leadership featured the programme's launch of employment opportunities linking Nigerian STEM talent with employers in Europe.
National media coverage across Nigeria introduced SUSTAIN to an estimated 8-15 million monthly readers, helping raise awareness of legal labour mobility pathways and the programme's growing partnerships.
SUSTAIN Table Talks
The SUSTAIN Table Talks series brought together Nigerian STEM talent, recruiters, and industry experts to discuss careers, innovation, and opportunities for building ethical labour pathways between Nigeria and Europe.
SUSTAIN TABLE TALK EPISODE 1: Why Germany and Ireland need Nigeria’s STEM talent
Blessing Okpararuekwe, Network and Cloud Engineer at MTN Nigeria, discusses the value of women in STEM careers and the opportunities created through international collaboration.
SUSTAIN Website
The SUSTAIN website serves as the programme's public hub, providing Nigerian STEM professionals with information on eligibility, legal migration pathways, programme updates, and opportunities to register for future recruitment rounds.
A Verified Talent Pipeline
Rather than recruiting candidates for individual vacancies, SUSTAIN has built a verified pipeline of Nigerian STEM professionals who have already been screened, assessed, and matched against employer requirements. A custom-built matching platform enables Talent Management Agencies and employers to identify suitable candidates quickly, helping reduce recruitment time and improve coordination across the programme.
