As part of efforts aimed at promoting greater collaboration in migration reporting, media advocacy and communication, the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) Nigeria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen partnership.
The MoU which was signed during an engagement between the leadership of the two organisations in Abuja, brought together officials of the NUJ and IOM to discuss areas of mutual cooperation.
The signing of the MoU marked a significant step in the relationship between the NUJ and IOM Nigeria, thus providing a framework for continued cooperation towards more informed, responsible and impactful migration reporting in Nigeria.
The discussion also centred on the role of the media in advancing accurate and responsible reporting on migration.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Comrade Alhassan Yahya, stressed the importance of strengthening the relationship between the media and IOM, particularly in ensuring that journalists are better equipped to report migration issues accurately and responsibly.
Yahya noted that the media has an important role to play in informing the public, creating awareness on early warning signs of migration, addressing misinformation and giving adequate attention to the experiences, opportunities and challenges associated with migration such as malnutrition, drug abuse among others.
While welcoming the signing of the MoU, the NUJ President noted that the development would deepen professional collaboration and creating more avenues for journalists across the 36 State and the FCT to acquire relevant knowledge and skills for effective migration reporting.
Speaking in turn, the Chief of Mission of IOM Nigeria Ms. Sharon Dimanche, highlighted the importance of working closely with the media, describing journalists as key partners in communicating reliable information and shaping public understanding of migration-related issues.
Dimanche emphasised the need for accurate, balanced and responsible reporting, stressing that effective communication can contribute to better public understanding of migration as well as help counter misinformation and minimise the number of people who fall victims to scammers using advanced online and social media technology to perpetrate sophisticated levels of fraud.
The engagement featured an overview of the MoU and its areas of collaboration, followed by the formal signing of the agreement by the IOM and NUJ leadership and the exchange of signed documents.
The partnership is expected to strengthen cooperation in areas including media advocacy, communication, capacity building and improved reporting of migration-related issues.
The discussions also touched on the importance of reporting issues surrounding safe migration, the benefits of migration, durable solutions, emergency situations, health and other issues affecting migrants and communities.
Furthermore, the Journalists had an opportunity to interact with IOM representatives during an interactive session, providing room for questions and further clarifications on migration-related matters.
