The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has put the population of Nigerians presently living in other countries across the globe at about 17 million.

This is a massive increase from the approximated 1.7 million in 2022 from the 610,200 in 2000, as contained in the Government of Nigeria’s Diaspora Policy 2021.

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Chief of Mission for the IOM in Nigeria, Paola Pace who gave the estimate, said the huge figure was significantly boosting diaspora remittances.

She spoke during a virtual international migration dialogue, organised by the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) with the theme: ‘Migration Trends: Threats and opportunities.’

Pace emphasised the importance of continuous capacity building, the use of appropriate language, and a human-centered approach in migration reporting as essential tools for journalists to effectively cover migration issues.

The IOM Chief who was guest speaker at the dialogue, urged journalists to tell positive and impactful stories about migrants, even as she underscored the importance of creating safe pathways as part of counter-strategies against irregular migration.

While acknowledging that migration is a significant driver of human development, the guest speaker at the dialogue reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to supporting journalists in disseminating accurate information and exploring regular migration channels.

Pace mentioned that the IOM successfully returned 38,597 stranded Nigerians through its Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration program, with over 24,000 reintegrated into society.

Participating journalists, Daphine Tolis (Greece), Biram Jobe (Gambia), Juliet Makwama (Zambia), and Bimbo Oyetunde (Nigeria) shared their perspectives on migration, identifying collaboration, media capacity building, and networking as key elements in strategic communication efforts to engage journalists in the fight against human trafficking and irregular migration.

On the strategic roles of the media in mitigating irregular migration and human trafficking in Nigeria, Vincent Adekoye, Communications Officer for National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), urged journalists to counter the false narratives promoted by human traffickers.

Adekoye called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to develop effective migration policies and reshape public perceptions.

Dr. Qasim Akinreti, Deputy Director, Digital and Media at the Voice of Nigeria, expressed concerns over the alarming rate of irregular migration among Nigerian youths, with over 10 million attempting illegal migration to Europe.

Akinreti called on African governments to improve economic conditions, create employment opportunities for youths, and enhance media advocacy against irregular migration.

President of JIFORM, Dr. Ajibola Abayomi, while welcoming participants, stated that the outcomes of the dialogue would be crucial in shaping actionable strategies to address the threats and harness the opportunities migration presents.

Abayomi emphasized the need to strengthen networks among journalists, stakeholders, and migration experts.