EU, IOM organise reporting migration competition

The European Union and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration is organising a reporting migration competition in West and Central African countries to foster quality reporting on reintegration and protection of migrants. Nigeria is participating in this competition.

It has been observed that every year, many young Nigerian migrants embark on treacherous journeys as they leave their country searching for a better future abroad. Migrants travelling via irregular routes face risks such as trafficking in persons (TiP), extortion, physical abuse, torture, forced labour, rape and even death.

Between 2017 and 2020, more than 159,000 individuals from West and Central Africa arrived irregularly to the southern borders of Europe by sea and land. Nigeria counts as one of the countries with the highest number of such victims.

Since 2017 IOM Nigeria has received 22,500 returnees from 20 countries, of which 2,302 were Victims of Trafficking (VoTs).

Despite significant efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria, intergovernmental organisations and civil society to protect victims from these risks, many migrants fall prey to traffickers and smugglers due to a lack of information about safe alternatives to irregular migration.

The competition is based on a “solutions journalism” approach, which aims at identifying and responding to key social issues. The goal of this journalistic approach is to, tell migration stories in a balanced and ethical way; share accurate information to help communities and families to support migrants in making informed migration choices; share fair stories that can contribute to upholding the dignity of migrants worldwide.

To participate in the competition, journalists are invited to submit their published print, online or broadcast items (radio or video) on the thematic areas: Irregular migration, return and reintegration; Migrant protection and Migrants with vulnerabilities. Journalists will compete for a share of $6,000.

The articles or reports should have been published or aired on a TV outlet between July 2021 – March 2022. Submitted content should have been published in English by a media outlet during the competition period

Articles should not exceed 5,000 characters Video or audio/radio reports should not exceed 30 minutes. Participants must be 18 years old or above. Nationals or resident of Nigeria.

Journalists who meet the following eligibility criteria are invited to submit their published pieces by Friday, May 6, 2022, to [email protected] Personal details and those of the story in the entry must be completed in the form: https://formfaca.de/sm/_xcxj9Lql Questions and clarifications can be directed to [email protected] The receipts and submission of applications is April 6 to May 6, 2022.