INSTANT NEWS

The United Kingdom government recently unveiled a comprehensive list of licensed companies and organizations authorized to sponsor skilled workers seeking relocation. This information, updated on January 12, 2024, showcases 99,856 approved companies, signaling a substantial increase from the 68,630 recorded in January 2023.

Diverse sectors, including technology, commerce, education, media, advertising, and engineering, are represented among the approved companies. The skilled worker route caters to various categories such as charity workers, skilled workers, creative workers, global business mobility, senior or specialist workers, and international sportspersons.

The UK government, through its official website, provides a detailed document listing worker and temporary worker sponsors. This document specifies the types of workers these sponsors are licensed to support and their respective sponsorship ratings. Prospective candidates are encouraged to explore the companies' websites for available job opportunities.

Some noteworthy companies on the approved list include RSS Express Ltd T/A Ledbury Fuel Service Station, IECC Care (Independent Excel Care Consortium Limited), AboutCare Hastings Ltd, £ ESS Ltd, Architect UK Ltd, Home Accommodation Services Ltd, Ur Eaz Ltd, Infiniti Limited, Brunswick Stores Limited, Plus Care Ltd, 003 Ltd, 0086 Ltd, 00Nation Limited, 01 Accounting Services Ltd, 012 Global Ltd, 023 Ltd, 0xA Technologies Ltd, 1 Ace Training Limited, 1 and 1 Rougamo Limited, 1 and 5 Tech Ltd, and 1 Answer Insurance Services Ltd, among others.

It is important to note that while the UK offers various visa programs for foreigners, the implementation of a visa ban on dependents commenced on January 1, 2024. Interested individuals are advised to stay updated on the latest developments and explore opportunities on the official websites of the approved sponsoring companies.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa, has announced plans for a mortgage scheme catering to Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Canada. The launch of this Diaspora Mortgage Housing Scheme is slated for February 2024, as revealed by Dangiwa during a meeting with the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and select Management Staff in Abuja.

In a statement from the Protocol Unit at NiDCOM, Dangiwa emphasized the overarching objective of providing Nigerians abroad with the opportunity to have a decent residence in Nigeria. He expressed the commitment of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to fulfill their tripartite mandate, which includes the development of a Diaspora City Project in collaboration with NIDCOM, FHA, and FCT. This project spans over 675 hectares of land in Maitama 2.

Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa commended the Minister for his dedication and involvement, particularly noting the launch of the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme during the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit. She highlighted the enthusiasm among Nigerians in the Diaspora for both the Diaspora mortgage scheme and the forthcoming Diaspora smart city in Kabusa, Maitama, FCT.

With approximately 20 million Nigerians in the Diaspora contributing an average of over $24 billion annually to the Nigerian economy, the initiative holds significance in enhancing housing opportunities for this demographic.