NIDCOM, University partner to Establish Centre for Diaspora Studies

The University of Ibadan (UI) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment of a TETFUND Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was in the University to sign the MOU on Thursday.

While noting that the centre would be the first of its kind in the world, Dabiri-Erewa said she was happy that TETFUND approved the project for UI, adding that she was not surprised, given that UI is the premier university in Nigeria.

She commended the Vice-Chancellor and other management staff for the job of lifting the banner of the University high and applauded the staff and students of the Institute of African Studies for their active participation in the activities of NIDCOM.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale said research and training are highly rated at the University of Ibadan, and that the establishment of the Centre of Excellence is a welcome development, promising to do all within his power to ensure the timely and successful completion of the project.

The Centre of Excellence is to serve as Africa Diaspora Resource Research Centre, and it will be managed by the Diaspora and Transnational Studies Unit of the Institute of African Studies.

The Centre will serve as an interface between the academia and related national governance institutions for policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.

Some of the details of the MoU reads thus: “The Centre will facilitate international cooperation by the Diaspora and Transnational Studies programme and NIDCOM with regional and other international institutions such as ECOWAS, AU, UN, IOM, etc.

“The Centre shall organise joint research activities, lectures, conferences, symposia, and any other activity of mutual interest.

“Research funding shall be provided by TETFUND to cover a 10 year- research programme on ‘Decriminalizing the Global Nigerian Diaspora’.

“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission is an agency of the Federal Government established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide for the engagement of Nigerians in the Diaspora in the policies, projects, and participation in the development of Nigeria. 

“The Commission also seeks to utilise the human capital and material resources of Nigerians in Diaspora towards the overall socio-economic, cultural, and political development of Nigeria for related matters.

“The Memorandum of Understanding shall be for five years in the first instance and shall be renewable at the end of every five years”, the MOU reads in part.