The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nigeria have taken a major step towards improving the quality of migration reporting in the country with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The agreement, signed in Abuja, provides a framework for closer cooperation between the two organisations, particularly in media advocacy, communication, capacity building and responsible reporting of migration-related issues.
Speaking during the engagement, NUJ President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, said stronger collaboration with IOM would help journalists acquire the knowledge and skills required to report migration issues more accurately and professionally.
Yahya stressed that journalists have a critical responsibility to educate the public, raise awareness about early warning signs of unsafe migration and counter misinformation surrounding migration.
He also noted that migration reporting should adequately reflect both its opportunities and challenges, including issues relating to malnutrition, drug abuse and other vulnerabilities affecting migrants and communities.
According to him, the MoU would provide opportunities for journalists across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to benefit from relevant training and professional engagements on migration reporting.
The Chief of Mission of IOM Nigeria, Ms. Sharon Dimanche, on her part, described the media as an important partner in communicating credible information and shaping public understanding of migration.
Dimanche called for balanced, factual and responsible reporting, noting that effective communication could help combat misinformation and protect vulnerable people from falling victim to increasingly sophisticated scams perpetrated through online and social media platforms.
The engagement included a presentation on the key areas covered by the MoU, followed by its formal signing and exchange of the signed documents by the leadership of both organisations.
Discussions also focused on safe migration, the benefits of migration, durable solutions, emergency situations, migrant health and other issues affecting migrants and host communities.
Journalists at the engagement also participated in an interactive session with IOM representatives, during which they sought clarifications on various migration-related issues.
The new partnership is expected to create more opportunities for knowledge sharing and professional development while strengthening the capacity of Nigerian journalists to provide the public with accurate, balanced and impactful information on migration.
The MoU, therefore, marks a new phase in the relationship between the NUJ National Secretariat and IOM Nigeria, with both organisations committing to closer cooperation in advancing informed public discourse on migration in Nigeria.
