Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has made a passionate appeal to media professionals to stop portraying migration—widely referred to as ‘Japa’—in a negative or criminal light.
Speaking through Mr. Sule Bassi, Secretary of NIDCOM, at the 6th International Conference on Development and Communication in Africa, held in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Dabiri-Erewa stressed the need for a shift in public discourse surrounding migration. The conference, themed “Japa: Communicating Migration, Diaspora and Africa’s Development”, was organised by the Institute of Strategic and Development Communication (ISDEVCOM), Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK).
She noted that migration is a universally recognised human right, and as such, regular migration should never be demonised or equated with criminal activity. “Migration is not a crime. It is a fundamental human right. Therefore, regular migration must not be criminalised under any guise,” she emphasized.
Dabiri-Erewa further urged the media to promote fair, truthful, and constructive storytelling that captures both the contributions and challenges of Nigerians in the diaspora. She condemned the tendency to generalize the negative actions of a few individuals abroad as representative of the entire Nigerian diaspora community.
“The media must go beyond sensational headlines and start highlighting the incredible achievements of Nigerians across the globe,” she said. “From innovators to academics, creatives to healthcare professionals—our diaspora is filled with stories of excellence that deserve to be told.”
She also addressed the ongoing brain drain crisis, suggesting a shift in focus toward fostering opportunities at home that would empower young people to thrive, thus converting ‘brain drain’ into ‘brain gain’ and productive engagement.
“This conference couldn’t have come at a better time,” she said. “We must collectively explore and implement communication strategies that bridge the gap between the diaspora and the African continent, and reposition migration as a tool for national development.”
Dabiri-Erewa called on scholars, policymakers, the media, and diaspora engagement advocates to build stronger synergies that would ensure migration becomes an asset to Nigeria’s socio-economic development rather than a source of concern.
Her message resonated with the overarching call of the conference—to change the narrative of ‘Japa’ from one of desperation and loss to one of opportunity, resilience, and shared progress.
