By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have agreed to strengthen collaboration to improve migration reporting and build the capacity of journalists across Nigeria.

The agreement was reached on Tuesday when a delegation from the IOM paid a courtesy visit to the leadership of the NUJ at the union’s national secretariat in Lagos to explore new areas of partnership aimed at promoting accurate and ethical reporting on migration issues.

Leading the IOM delegation, the organisation’s Chief of Media and Communications, Rajat Madhok, said the visit was part of efforts to deepen engagement with journalists and expand collaboration beyond previous initiatives.

According to him, the IOM is committed to projecting positive stories of successful migration while also drawing attention to the dangers and challenges associated with both regular and irregular migration.

“We are looking at opportunities beyond what we have done in the past because we are interested in telling the world positive stories of successful migration while also addressing the challenges associated with both regular and irregular migration,” Madhok said.

He added that equipping journalists with the right knowledge would enable them to provide the public with accurate information needed to make informed decisions.

Responding, the Deputy President of the NUJ, Dr. (Mrs.) Abimbola Oyetunde, described the proposed partnership as timely, noting that it would enhance journalists’ understanding of migration issues and improve the quality of reportage.

She observed that many journalists, particularly those who do not cover the migration beat, lack sufficient understanding of the distinction between regular and irregular migration.

“We need to prioritise capacity building to enable journalists report migration issues accurately, responsibly and professionally,” Oyetunde said.

She also expressed concern over the increasing loss of lives linked to irregular migration, noting that many people continue to embark on dangerous journeys through illegal routes in search of better opportunities.

As part of the collaboration, both organisations agreed to work towards the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide a formal framework for their partnership.

They also proposed the establishment of a tripartite committee comprising representatives of institutions of higher learning, the IOM and the NUJ to promote training, research and knowledge sharing on migration-related issues.

The partnership is expected to strengthen journalists’ understanding of migration governance, immigration laws, human trafficking legislation, privacy and data protection regulations, as well as other relevant legal and policy frameworks, with a view to promoting accurate, ethical and evidence-based reporting on migration.