The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Friday, held a film festival to sensitise Nigerians on the implications of migration.
The film festival was part of the global activities organised to mark the 2021 Global Migration Film Festival, an event that brings the world together to share migration stories, enabling migrant journeys to be told through the eyes of the migrants themselves.
Two movies were showcased at the festival and they juxtaposed the hidden intricacies of migration, be it regular or irregular.
It features films and documentaries that capture the promise and challenges of migration, and the unique contributions that migrants make to their new communities.
The first movie tells the story of a young girl who attempted to migrate through the irregular route but eventually became a victim of rape and sex slavery.
This led to the young lady contracting HIV, a move that saw her rejected and scorned upon return by family and friends.
Her rejection by the society frustrated her to take her own life.
The second movie ‘Lodgers’ tells the story of a bank manager and his wife a qualified architect.
They opted to migrate to Europe in search of greener pastures and they did so in a legitimate way.
However, things didn’t work as planned for both parties as they struggled for many months to get jobs but to no avail.
Speaking after the films, Panelists at the event stated that it was important to address the push factors of migration in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
For them, issues including lack of jobs, social insecurity, insecurity among other were forcing many Nigerians to seek alternatives including irregular migration.
They stressed that although regular migration was preferable, they urged Nigerians to ensure that they seek all information including the kind of jobs they can do before setting out.
Nigerians willing to migrate are also advised to acquire skills beyond tertiary education and also learn a new language where necessary before opting to move.
On the way forward, Panelists advised that Nigeria should begin to see migration as an economic move that can be supported by the country to spur development.