The Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah says, the University, through the newly established Centre for Migration Studies is willing to partner the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for better migration management.
Prof. Na’Allah stated this during a visit on the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission,(NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at
the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor emphasized that the visit was to foster partnership for better migration management.
Prof. Na’Allah described the University as an institution with large impact, noting that it is the first to introduce Distance Learning in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to leverage learning opportunities for Public Servants and other Nigerians all over the country.
“As an Institution situated in the centre of Nigeria, with over 50,000 students and also the first University the Embassies come to interact with, we are ready to partner with you on the job you do as a Commission” he added.
The Vice Chancellor stated that the Centre is willing to educate Nigerians on legitimate migration.
“We can work on joint research, joint sensitization effort to curb migration crisis, train your staff and other possible ways to best enhance migration management”. He added.
The Secretary to NiDCOM, Sule Bassi, receiving the delegation on behalf of the Chairman of NiDCOM welcomed the initiative, noting that the Commission is fully committed to better migration management.
Bassi reiterated that migration is a natural phenomenon that cannot be stopped but can be beneficial if properly managed.
“Different factors such as push factor and pull factor leads to migration, what we do is to see how we can turn it into a win-win situation by encouraging those intending, to migrate regularly so they can contribute their own quota to National Development.”
He further urged the University to also look at means through which the Diaspora can be encouraged to maintain ties with their homeland.
“We engage with the over 20million Nigerian Diaspora by enabling them with knowledge on how to engage with Nigeria. They have the talents, resources and global exposure which can be harnessed for national development.” he said.
The Secretary elaborated how the Commission continues to attract Nigerians back home and urging them to invests through numerous programmes guided by the National Diaspora Policy, such as Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS), Diaspora Investment Trust Fund, Diaspora Mortgage Scheme and the National Diaspora Merit Award amongst others.
