ILO equips Nigerian media to promote decent work and fair migration

ABUJA – (ILO News): The stories we tell shape the world we live in. Recognizing this, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and supported by GIZ-funded projects, has conducted a two-day media workshop in Abuja to strengthen rights-based and inclusive reporting on employment, labour migration and decent work.

The goal? To help the media tell stories that matter; stories that promote decent work, fair recruitment, and safe labour migration.

The training brought together over 40 journalists, editors, and communication professionals from across Nigeria under the theme “Media Engagement and Capacity Building for Inclusive Reporting on Employment, Labour Migration and Decent Work.”

Held under the theme “Media Engagement and Capacity Building for Inclusive Reporting on Employment, Labour Migration and Decent Work,” the workshop brought together over 40 participants, including journalists, editors, communication officers from civil society organizations, and media teams from tripartite partners.

The initiative forms part of the Dialogue Series II and supports the implementation of Nigeria’s Decent Work Country Programme III (2023–2027), which aims to enhance labour market governance, expand access to decent employment, and promote fair and gender-responsive labour migration governance.

Opening the workshop, Dr Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, underscored the role of the media in shaping public understanding and policy: “Journalists are the guardians of truth. Your words can influence policy, inspire action, and change lives. By reporting responsibly on employment and migration, you help build a fairer, more inclusive society.”

Participants engaged in interactive sessions and practical exercises focused on rights-based reporting. The workshop also introduced key policy frameworks including the National Employment Policy (NEP 2025) and the National Policy on Labour Migration, alongside the Global Media Toolkit on Reporting Forced Labour and Fair Recruitment, which has been adapted to the Nigerian context.

In a goodwill message, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment welcomed the initiative: “Strengthening the media’s ability to interpret and communicate labour market information is essential for dispelling misconceptions and promoting informed decision-making.”

The event received positive feedback from participants. Christian Appolos, Senior Reporter with the Nigerian Tribune, remarked: “The workshop was both impactful and refreshing, especially given our regular engagement with employment and migration issues as labour beat journalists.”

It equipped us with practical skills for ethical, fact-based reporting on labour issues, emphasizing accurate use of ILO standards and rights-based approaches to forced labour and migration.

Bakare Adeniyi - Radio Nigeria

The workshop was delivered through two GIZ-supported ILO projects:

• Strengthening Employment and Employability Systems in Nigeria (SEESIN), which enhances employment systems and promotes decent jobs.
• Action for Improving Labour Migration Governance in Nigeria (ACTION), which supports fair and gender-sensitive labour migration governance.

Media engagement for lasting impact

Participants left with a deeper understanding of decent work principles and improved skills to support accurate and inclusive media coverage. Expected outcomes include:

• Improved public understanding of employment and migration issues.
• Increased media support for decent work and fair recruitment.
• Enhanced collaboration among media, government, and social partners.

As Nigeria continues to address challenges related to unemployment, informality and migration, the ILO remains committed to empowering the storytellers who can transform policy into progress and amplify the voices behind the statistics.