Calls for Greater Collaboration with JIFORM

JIFORM members at the German Embassy, Lagos

The German Embassy has not only declared support for the proposed international conference by  the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM), the German pledged to feature prominently at the event slated for November this year in the country even as Lagos/Abuja are considered as tentative venues.

Vice Consular of the German Embassy in Nigeria, Jan. H. Ahrens made this pledge while receiving a delegation of the association led by its president, Mr. Ajibola Abayomi.

The President sought the support of the embassy in areas of technical exchange, strategic engagements, training to enhance capacities of the association and collaboration towards the success of JIFORM conference.

Ajibola said the group was a Non-Governmental Organization peopled by journalists across continents and registered to lead advocacy on migration issues across the globe. He added that part of JIFORM objective was aimed at impacting positively on government policies in order to improve the living conditions of citizens especially in Africa.

Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Council, Dr Qasim Akinreti, a member of the body, said the union would back activities of JIFORM being an offshoot of NUJ engagement with foreign media trainers who were in  Nigeria for an NUJ Conference/Training sessions last year.

He said the NUJ would work with the association towards raising awareness at different levels in Nigeria to promote proper migration in all ramifications.

Responding, Ahrens said the embassy was happy to receive and partner with the body on migration related matters while urging for publications of success stories about Africa to encourage more investments in the region.

The Vice Consular noted that there was need to encourage more people about opportunities in Germany as well as Nigeria through regular migration in the area of education, tourism and business.

Addressing JIFORM members Ahrens said “Please send us your proposal and we shall study it to see how we assist. This is a very good initiative as it also involves training workshop for journalists.”

The delegation apart from the JIFORM President and NUJ Chairman comprised Mrs. Adejoke Oni, an independent television producer, David Adekunle of Voice of Nigeria and Kelvin Kagbare, the Deputy Secretary General of JIFORM.