HAMEED BRAIMAH
The International Organization for Migration, IOM says it has since 2017 in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, has facilitated the safe and voluntary return of over 45,000 stranded Nigerians from different transit and destination countries.
Of this number, Edo State holds 19% of making it the top State of return of migrants as part of IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Head of Sub Office, IOM Nigeria Khan Arshad at the opening of an art exhibition titled “We Speak Their Names in Hushed Tones” by Nigerian artist Omoregie Osakpolor in Benin City.
Khan said the international development agency was out to seek collaboration with stakeholders with a view to exploring ways of discouraging people especially the youths from embarking on irregular migration because of the hazards associated with it.
The art exhibition he noted was put together to draw judicial attention to fate of missing migrants and the attendant trauma by relatives.
He said that since 2019, IOM has supported Edo State in developing a comprehensive migration governance framework, culminating in the Edo State Migration Action Plan (2024–2029).
“This plan harnesses the potential of migration while promoting social and behavioral change initiatives for safe migration. A key strategy is the use of arts and cultural projects to engage communities, communicate the complexities of migration, and highlight the impact of irregular migration on families.
“In line with this approach, IOM is supporting the exhibition “We Speak Their Names in Hushed Tones” by Nigerian artist Omoregie Osakpolor, a powerful tribute in honor of migrants who lost their lives, reflecting on the pain of their families while fostering community dialogue on informed migration choices”, Khan explained.
Khan commended stakeholders for their support which he said remained instrumental in advancing the rights and well-being of individuals affected by human trafficking and irregular migration. With support from the Italian Embassy and in collaboration with both state and non-state actors, IOM is currently implementing the “Managing Migration Through Development (MMDP) 2.0” project in Edo State.
He charged participants at the event to be ambassadors of the campaign against irregular migration, insisting that “if you must migrate, use the proper channel”
In her welcome address, representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism Francisca Adedoyin spoke of the essence of the exhibition which according to her was to use art to talk about those hurts missing migrants relatives are not able to speak about.
She expressed the State government’s appreciation of the collaborative efforts among stakeholders in checking irregular migration
In his remarks, the art exhibitor Mr Omoregie Osakpolor said he was moved to embark on the project deploying a collection of photos of missing migrants to help affected relatives find solace after engaging with persons with similar pains. Through such interactions, Osakpolor said, affected relatives might find closure as regards the pain and trauma associated with the ‘loss’ of a dear one.
A key factor of the exhibition was that it brought together relatives of missing migrants who freely interacted sharing experiences.
This initiative seeks to strengthen migration governance while ensuring the protection of migrants’ rights and fostering community engagement.
