LAGOS – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the School of Media Communication (SMC), Pan-Atlantic University has organised a 3-day training programme for 26 journalists covering migration beats in the print, television, radio and digital media in Nigeria.
The Journalists were drawn from various media spread across Nigeria.
The collaboration is under the auspices of the Global Migration Media Academy (GMMA), a unique platform to standardise media training on migration and strengthening ethical and accurate reporting
The training which started on Tuesday and ended on Thursday is aimed at building the capacity of participants in providing ethical and well informed migration-related reporting, with focus on data analysis and reporting, migration environment and climate change, human rights and migrants protection, as well as labour migration.
The training is also a platform to strengthen existing partnership between IOM and media organization and build on existing relationship in the fight against irregular migration and trafficking in persons, according to Elijah Elaigwu, IOM Project Assistant, Awareness Raising
He said that IOM addresses the root causes of vulnerability to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants through engagement with the media and targeted interventions at the individual, household, community and structural levels.
Through behavioural change communication campaigns, outreaches and media reports, he said that IOM seeks to equip vulnerable migrants with the information they need to migrate safely and access necessary assistance.
He also disclosed that IOM implements projects designed to support positive behavioural change for the prevention of human trafficking and exploitation, support migrants to make informed decisions and as well sensitise communities on the dangers of irregular migration.
