Temidayo Ajibola
L-R: 4th at the front row: Dr Ajibola Abayomi, President Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM), Mrs Abosede Mary Otukpe, the Coordinator of the Nigerian Women Association (NWA) and other members of the association during the campaign against irregular migration at Igando, Lagos State Nigeria on April 12, 2022.
Dr Ajibola Abayomi, the President, Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) on Thursday showered encomium on the Nigerian Women Association (NWA) for taking irregular migration campaign to the market space at Igando in Lagos state.
The JIFORM President while filling questions from the reporters said the nation needed more courageous steps to stem the tide of irregular migration and pledged the support of the global media body with over 300 journalist for the campaign.
While admonishing the organizers not to relent on their efforts, he however demanded that the media be made key stakeholders beyond being invited to cover proceedings always.
“NWA has done noble with eyefon anti-human trafficking campaigns, We have always reemphasized that for every Nigerian being lured into irregular migration or human trafficking, a potential future president, governor, Journalist and entrepreneur is being put in bondage. Therefore we are saying include us in your planning and capacity buildings so that the message will be well delivered.
“The door of the JIFORM is widely open to further collaboration on anti-irregular migration campaigns at short notice any moment” Dr Ajibola promised.
The campaign against irregular migration received a boost in Igando area as the NWA facilitated a road-show with foot soldiers to drum up support for the message.
Scores of members of the NWA thronged Igando and engaged market men and women on the need to embrace regular migration and dissuaded the minds of the youths from falling prey to the human traffickers.
Mrs Abosede Mary Otukpe, the Coordinator of the NWA said the group considered it extremely important to counsel the public against the menaces of irregular migration because thousands of Nigerians were being affected.
“It is high time the parents know that traffickers are on the lookout for whom to be cajoled into the net of human trafficking. These people would tell you all sorts of stories just to deceive you that you are being taken abroad whereas they are slave drivers that are purely plotting to take you in into slavery, sex trading and undue domestic servitude.
“Please be informed that travelling through the desert, the Mediterranean Sea and other unapproved routes is dangerous and inimical to your development.’
A market woman, Mrs Bose Alonge urged the government to arrest those placing adverts to deceive Nigerians into slavery abroad.
According to her, this would go a long way to stall the antics of human traffickers.