As Nigeria undergoes a transition to a new democratic government, the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) has extended its greetings to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the nation’s 16th President. In their message, JIFORM has urged President Tinubu to establish a dedicated ministry for diaspora and migration affairs, emphasising the need for proper job negotiation to provide decent employment opportunities for Nigerians worldwide. Such measures, JIFORM believes, will help reduce instances of irregular migration and human trafficking.
The president of JIFORM, Dr. Ajibola Abayomi, who leads a team of over 300 journalists covering migration matters across various continents, highlighted the importance of creating a separate ministry for diaspora affairs.
He stated that this step was long overdue, considering the significant economic benefits that human capital migration brings to Nigeria.
Abayomi pointed out that the Central Bank of Nigeria had acknowledged the remittances of over $16 billion from Nigerians in the diaspora between 2015 and the present, securing Nigeria’s position as the highest earner in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He said, “We extend our warm greetings to President Bola Tinubu as he leads Nigeria into a new era. With his outstanding track record as an achiever, we have no doubt that he will enhance the nation’s well-being by tapping into the valuable human resources available in the diaspora. Mr. President, we kindly request the establishment of the Ministry of Diaspora as one of your priorities.
“This ministry will not duplicate the duties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but will serve as a necessary focus to bolster migration and human capital development.
“We implore you not to turn a blind eye to the hardships Nigerians face around the world in the name of labour migration. Please disregard repetitive theories or unwarranted lamentations of skeptics and take the bold step of initiating fair job negotiations with employers in the Middle East, Europe, and other regions.
“This will help combat human trafficking and irregular migration from Nigeria. Do this, and history will remember you kindly, sir.”
Expressing the loyalty of JIFORM, Abayomi enthusiastically declared, “We are proud to offer our support to you in reshaping Nigeria’s diaspora policies, whether through appointments, selections, or other means.
“Count on us to tackle the formidable challenges ahead. Nigeria will undoubtedly overcome. We are available day and night, come rain or shine, to serve this great country and elevate its status among the global community on migration matters.”
In addition to conducting numerous capacity-building initiatives on migration issues in West Africa and hosting the annual African Migration Summit, the fourth JIFORM Global Migration Summit is scheduled to take place in Toronto from October 2-14.
In November 2022, JIFORM organised the Intercontinental Migration Summit in partnership with City University in Brooklyn, New York City. They also held a national migration summit on February 9 of this year in Lagos and recently facilitated a workshop supported by the Nigerian-German Center for Job, Migration, and Reintegration (NGC). The workshop aimed to educate Nigerian journalists on strategies for raising awareness against irregular migration and was held in Abuja from May 22-23.
