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By Mariama Jobarteh.
The Journalists’ International Forum for Migration (JIFORM) has appointed Ousman A. Marong, a Gambian journalist as Summit Committee chairman for The Gambia. Mr. Marong who serves as the Secretary General of the Migration Reporters Association of The Gambia (MiRAG), is expected to chair the JIFORM Gambia Committee Summit scheduled to take place from 15th – 17th October 2020.
He is currently working with Mamos Media, an International media outlet based in Oslo, Norway.
The international summit will attract participants and speakers from across the globe and discussions will be centered on the theme: ‘Migration Governance and Media Strategy for Development During Pandemic’. It will be held online via Zoom.
A press statement issued by JIFORM on Monday, 3rd August stated that other members of this committee are Sarjo Camara, the President of Women Journalists Association in The Gambia, and Biriam S. Jobe from the Gambia.
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Services, Muhammad Babandede MFR, who has been selected to officially declare the event opened, German migration advocate Johnna Mac, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, the Honourable Commissioner of Nigeria, a Havard University trained migration expert, Eric Chanje and a US based international migration lawyer, Samuel Adeusi, are all expected to participate in the Summit.
A Professor of Law and international speaker, Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba has been named as the Chairman of this international summit.
“We (JIFORM) appointed Ousman A. Marong as our Summit Committee Chair. He is currently the Secretary-General of the Migration Reporters Association of The Gambia (MiRAG). He works with the Mamos Media, Norway as resident Gambian correspondent. From his profile, you can see that he is migration personified. We know that not every journalist will pick interest in migration reporting which was why we deregistered many Gambian journalists enlisted on our platform sometime ago because they weren’t active after several interventions for months. We need to be proactive ahead by looking for someone that shares a passion for JIFORM migration concept to assist to galvanize support and mobilize other interested Gambian journalists to be part of the event,” said Ajibola Abayomi, President of JIFORM.
He added: “This is a global event being followed with deserved attention that will have international resource persons from USA, Germany, Canada, Nigeria, India and several nations participating. We have the same committee for different nations and continents already constituted. Marong as chairman will be joined by the President of Women Journalists in Gambia, Sarjo Camara and a Gambian broadcaster, Biram Jobe currently working with QTV.”
The JIFORM President expressed optimism that with the mention of Professor Patrick Lunumba’s participation in this summit, the spirit of pan-Africanism is reignited.
“Beyond making him chair JIFORM summit, he is one figure that promotes the African brand with honour. He is capable to address issues of migration governance and media strategy to agenda set developments in the region. We hope to tap from his vast experience with other guests coming to chat a new path of development through media advocacy on migration governance. The summit will attract participants across the globe and everyone irrespective of colour or race will advance migration course based on individuals’ regional perspectives and the whole world will benefit from the encounter,” he concludes.
Below is the Press Release from JIFORM:
August 3, 2020.
JIFORM Names Marong, Summit Committee Chair For Gambia.
Dear colleagues, we have a month in between before we hold our virtual international migration see for 2020.
As we gear up, we are pleased to announce a new development from the Gambia in relation to JIFORM 2nd Annual summit slated for October 15-17, 2020.
Sequel to this, Mr Ousman .A. Marong has been appointed as the Chairman of Gambia Mobilisation and Contact Committee for the summit
Marong, is the current secretary of Migration Reporter’s Association of The Gambia (MiRAG).
Other members of this committee are Sarjo Camara, the President of Women Journalists Association in The Gambia, and Biriam S. Jobe, also from the Gambia.
We wish the committee the best of luck and they take up the responsibilities involved.
We have confidence that your contributions will indeed go a long way in championing the agenda of JIFORM in Gambia and Africa.
Signed
Juliet Makwama
General Secretary
JIFORM
From Lusaka, Zambia
All the best.