A photo exhibition to increase public access to an ethical narrative about migration has been held in Abuja.
Mr Osaze Efe, Creative Director, Art for Humanity Foundation that organised the exhibition said it was held to dispel myths about migration and provide ethical narratives using photography.
Works from 10 photojournalists on individuals who were involved or affected by regular or irregular migration within and outside Nigeria were shown to an audience including members of the diplomatic corps and other stakeholders in Abuja.
The migration project, implemented by Art for Humanity Foundation, was supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The officer in charge of UNESCO Multi-sectoral Regional Office in Abuja, Mamadou Lamine Sow, said photography could help in addressing migration as it speaks louder than words, adding that the photojournalists whose works were curated had been trained in using arts to reinforce migration messages.
He said some factors that lead to migration include the environment, politics, economy, social values, and norms, calling for a multi-channel approach to solving it.
Sow said migration could be addressed by creating a conducive environment for economic growth while national policies that would address challenges and create better life should be emphasised.
He said the government should ensure that youths get decent jobs especially in rural areas to curb the migration of people into urban areas thereby overstretching facilities, “it is multidimensional problem that calls for a multichannel approach in solving it,” he said.
One of the exhibitionists, Aderonke Alade, a documentary photographer, said photography is essential to supporting migration messages because it is objective.
Works from David Exodus Dawali themed Japa (run away) and Obasola Bamigbola themed ‘thirst for homeland’ were among the 40 photographs on display.
