From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Centre of Excellence in Migration and Global Studies (CEMGS) of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has highlighted the dangers of irregular migration, which often, comes with life threatening exposures as being experienced by some Nigerians who embarked on irregular migration.
The Centre thus demanded joint action from local and international partners, led by the academia to champion increased sensitisation of Nigerians on the dangers of irregular migration.
The CEMGS Director, Prof. Gloria Anetor, made the suggestion in her remarks delivered at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised in collaboration with Civil Society Network on Migration and Development, on current migration issues in Nigeria at NOUN headquarters in Abuja.
She said: “This sensitisation workshop for people in the academia has become necessary, considering the growing and dynamic issues of migration which is trending in Nigeria.
“Undoubtedly, the academia has a big role to play in providing the needed research and data on migration issues in Nigeria, and even beyond. This will enable policy makers to speak confidently on issues of migration, with facts.
“The academia must play this role effectively, and that won’t be possible if they have limited knowledge and exposure on issues of migration, hence, this sensitisation experience to expose them to the nitty gritty of migration.
“NOUN has a great role to play in this regard, leveraging its mode of academic delivery. We have, interestingly, keyed into the migration space using the platform and academic resources provided by the Centre of Excellence. In addition to that, we need to educate the people very well on issues of migration, but we can’t do that with limited knowledge and capacity.”
Director of Migrant Affairs, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Ambassador Catherine Udidia, in her remarks, stressed the need to strengthen advocacy, particularly within the academia, on the menace of irregular migration, which has resulted in lots of avoidable deaths and destructions.
She challenged the media and other stakeholders to assist in sensitising the people on the dangers of irregular migration, and focusing on the right path of movement.
“Migration is a human right, hence, everyone is at liberty to move at any time. However, the emphasis is on regular movement, instead of irregular migration that exposes the people to lots of dangers.”
She confirmed that the Commission uses all available platforms to encourage the diplomatic circle to assist in promoting right path for migration as against otherwise.
“We have also been in negotiation with the EU, UK and other countries that we have MoU with on issues of migration.”
Coordinator of Civil Society Network on Migration and Development, Dr. Emeka Obiezu, in his submissions, highlighted the positivities and negativities involved in migration, and stressed the need for collaborative effort to tackle the negativities.
He confirmed that hopelessness is the root of migration, hence, he challenged governments at all levels to drive policies and programmes that would provide job opportunities and wealth for the people.
He said: “Major cause of irregular migration is poor access to regular pathways. People are not getting visa to travel. As a result, the syndicates involve in irregular migration use the opportunity to operate dangerous routes of smuggling people.”
NOUN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, who was represented by Prof. Isaac Boswat, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), in his remarks, said that one of the core mandates of CEMGS of the NOUN is to create awareness and attempt to provide a way forward about pressing and emerging migration challenges in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
He was optimistic that the workshop would provide opportunity for the university community and stakeholders in the migration space to become more aware of the issues of migration, as they affect Nigerians and nation, as well as their relatedness with the international communities.
“People will become aware of NOUN as a unique academic institution, and the role it has to play in the migration industry from a multidisciplinary and comparative scholarship approach,” he said.