Sola POPOOLA
An appeal has gone to the United Nations to,as matter of urgency halt the undue Harrasment of blacks in Europe and Occupational wars across the globe.
This position was canvassed by the President of the Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM),Dr Ajibola Abayom at the 1st Friday’s Econonic Development Edition in Toronto ,Canada yesterday.
In his presentation entitled : EXPLORING THE BENEFITS OF MIGRATION TO RETOOL THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, Dr Abayomi argued that it was about time the UN risen to the occasion and end the menace of racial discriminations around the globe .
“The United Nations must be firm and rise to the defense of the millions of Africans and citizens of the third world nation constantly being harassed in Europe, North and South Americans and elsewhere under the guise of labeling them as irregular migrants. The massacre of the defenseless migrants at the border of Morocco and Spain this year, as well as the continuous inhuman treatment of migrants around the Mediterranean Sea calls for serious investigation and concerns.
“I want to specifically call on world leaders to end the undue occupational war in Ukraine leading to millions of people now classified as victims of forced migration. In the midst of these the pronounced discrimination against the blacks to access same opportunity for survival like their fellow white counterparts is not acceptable as a just standard.
“All of us, both the black and the white are now living with the reality of the famous quote of Martin Lutter King since August 1963:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”Dr Abayomi said
Speaking further ,the JIFORM President said ” my presentation which centers on Exploring The Benefits Of Migration To Retool The Global Economy is a statement of reality that human mobility is the fulcrum of any economy because no nation can exist alone without relating with others. Migration is therefore a serious business from which many developed countries especially Canada, US, Britain and other developing nations have benefitted from.
“In 2019, alone a total of USD 714 billion in international remittances were transferred globally by migrants and Diaspora back to origin countries as reported by the World Bank.
“The current global estimate is that there were around 281 million international migrants in the world in 2020, which equates to 3.6 per cent of the global population. Overall, the estimated number of international migrants has increased over the past five decades. These people are economy developers such that if well managed remain a veritable asset any day.
” To further underscore the import role of migration in the economy, officially recorded remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are expected to increase by 4.2 percent this year (2021) to reach $630 billion. This follows an almost record recovery of 8.6 percent in 2021, according to the World Bank’s latest Migration and Development Brief.
According to him ,”In 2021, remittance inflows saw strong gains in Latin America and the Caribbean (25.3 percent), Sub-Saharan Africa (14.1 percent), Europe and Central Asia (7.8 percent), the Middle East and North Africa (7.6 percent), and South Asia (6.9 percent). Remittances to East Asia and the Pacific fell by 3.3 percent; although excluding China, remittances grew 2.5 percent. Excluding China, it is an indisputable fact that remittance flows have been the largest source of external finance for LMICs since 2015.
“The top five recipient countries for remittances in 2021 were India, Mexico (replacing China), China, the Philippines, and Egypt. Among economies where remittance inflows stand at very high shares of GDP are Lebanon (54 percent), Tonga (44 percent), Tajikistan (34 percent), Kyrgyz Republic (33 percent), and Samoa (32 percent).
“The global economic development has transcended colour or race rather it is a show of intellect and initiatives. Therefore we all have a duty irrespective of our field to contribute our own quota to the world a better place for all.
For the JIFORM, the best way to reap the economic benefits of migration is when it is done through a regular channel that will ultimately lead to a prosperous end as against irregular migration that usually ends in sorrow.
Personally, I cherish the opportunity to work and exchange ideas with the President of 1st Fridays, Mr Warren Salmot Walmot in the few months I have known him through my great friend, the distinguished Professor Byron Price from the Medger Evers College, City University in the United States of America.
“Beyond migration and its relevant data, for prosperity to continue across the globe, nations must imbibe the culture of tolerance, empathy and open door policies to welcome migrants for development to be sustained.
All barriers furthering racism, discrimination and separatist tendencies must be discouraged. All of us are one people, one creation with potential to add value to global development.
“In our desire to continue to serve as a rally point for the media and migration stakeholders’ discussion, members of the JIFORM have elected to continue to have an annual migration conference in Canada. On this, I want to invite more corporate bodies and interested partners to work with us on this project aimed at enhancing capacity building for journalists and other migration stakeholders across the globe.
“We are ready to network with other organizations to spread the campaign on regular migration and economic development. Indeed Canada has shown us love and we are ready to make this nation our permanent base to contribute to her growth in all ramifications.” Abayomi said .