Forum seeks collaboration on training of journalists

Journalists International Forum For Migration, (JIFORM), has called for increased and sustained support from donor agencies and other partners organisations towards the training of journalists on effective reportage of migration issues.

President of the forum, Dr. Ajibola Abayomi, made the call while commending efforts and support of the German Development Cooperation, (GIZ), through the Nigerian-German Center for Jobs Migration and Reintegration, (NGC), in training reporters on effective migration reporting through a capacity 2-day building workshop on sensitization, strategy, and reportage on irregular migration and trafficking in persons organized by the JIFORM for journalists supported by the NGC.

In a statement yesterday, Dr. Abayomi said “The JIFORM greatly appreciates the NGC, and GIZ for the support. The echoes of the training have continued to vibrate within the editorial rooms of media houses as select journalists have been turning in reports and stories to justify the capacity-building engagement.

“While the JIFORM cherishes this newly consummated working relationship, we remain committed to tackling issues of human trafficking and irregular migration both in Nigeria and beyond. We shall continue to partner with the relevant actors to build capacity for journalists.
“Going by the evaluation of migration activities in Nigeria, we are requesting continuous engagement of journalists at intervals through knowledge sharing workshops on different focal areas to further strengthen relationships with the NGC targeted at improving migration management” Ajibola requested.”

The president also said the NGC’s efforts through support and one-on-one advice on employment, business, vocational and educational perspectives in Nigeria between December 2017 and December 2022 were very impactful on many Nigerians.
“The NGC’s support for returnee Nigerian- migrants over the years in conjunction with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was a project worth building upon by the Nigerian government.

“Parts of the recommendations at the JIFORM workshop were that the Federal Government should to negotiate decent jobs with the employers of labour in Europe, Asia, America, and other parts of the globe through a well-coordinated regular migration pathway preferably under the watch of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in order to de-market irregular migration and human trafficking markets from the country.

“Media houses were urged to encourage more investigative stories on migration while the federal government was also advised to approve arm bearing unit for the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In persons (NAPTIP) to enable the agency effectively contained some notorious human traffickers.

“It was also recommended that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and other government agencies should track illicit funds being raised by human traffickers while the proceed should be plough back into the rehabilitation of the victims,” he adds.

The statement notes that NGC is a product of close partnership between the GIZ and the federal Ministry of Labour and employment’s Migrant Resource Center, ( MRC), supporting the Programme Migration Development (PME) being implemented by the GIZ GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Nigeria as part of support for the voluntary return and sustainable reintegration.