The artist wants to discourage Africans from embarking on illegal migration.

Nov. 6 (PREMIUM TIMES) – Nigerian Hip-Hop star, M.I,  will this month begin a nation-wide tour of six Nigerian states to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal migration from African nations to the Port of Spain.

The  star who was appointed a United Nations ambassador against the smuggling of migrants, alongside Nollywood icon, Joke Silva, on October 9, is scheduled to visit states with higher rates of illegal smuggling and will participate in a number of  stakeholders meetings.

”Every day, I hear new cases of hundreds of young people who embark on this tortuous journey that often leads to their deaths,” M.I said.

Speaking further, the artiste  popularly referred to as Africa’s number one rapper, adds, “What is even more saddening about it is that we have girls, women, graduates following this route, the search for a better life is not limited to uneducated men only.”

The proposed trip is part of the  “I AM PRICELESS” campaign against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, under the European Union funded project for “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria by Combating and Reducing Irregular Migration that occurs, inter alia, through Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM).”

The multi-award winning artiste and founder of  ‘Loopy Music’ label which is home to artistes such as Afro-soul artiste, Ruby, and Rock group, Treadstone, shot to fame with his single ‘Crowd Mentality’ in 2004.

He has since bagged a number of international awards and is expected to release his 3rd studio album in 2013.