THE UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Centre for Migration Studies, University of Abuja on Thursday signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) toward advancing research studies on migration in Nigeria.
During the official signing ceremony in Abuja, Mr Laurent De Boeck, Chief of IOM Mission in Nigeria, said partnership with the Centre had become important to encourage migration studies among students.
According to him, through the institution IOM will reach more students at a time the organisation believes that migration and climate change are immense challenges the world is facing.
Boeck said, “We need to emphasise the need for collation of data through research and to better understand the phenomenon, and certainly to develop responses.
“To anticipate and look ahead on proper ways the world can be shaped through those two main elements; also to deal with climate change, morbidity, environmental degradation and mitigation at large.
“This will touch a lot of different subjects interlinked and sometimes only misunderstood.
“It is only through well-equipped researches in the academia we can understand and see how those links are transformed from negative aspects into positive outcome.
“It is important to emphasise the need for data collection and analysis, as agree to work closely together and develop strategic plans for Nigeria with different forms of migration.”
He said that the organisation would provide the Centre with resources, such as laptops to support research activities, provide funding for migration and climate change initiatives.
Prof. Philip Afaha, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, said the MoU was designed to strengthen the university’s centre for migration studies through knowledge transfer on migration.
According to him, the partnership will advance support through the provision of amenities that are crucial for facilitating migration research activities, enhancing data collection, interpretation and analysis to improve migration governance in Nigeria.
“We are proud of IOM because of the excellent work the organisation has been doing: My former Vice-Chancellor actually set-up this Centre for migration studies to enable the institution relate with IOM.
“We have discussed extensively on how we can foster relationship between the university and IOM, because we want IOM to kickstart operations at the centre.
“So, today is our dream come true, because we know the centre is going to take-off on good footing,” Afaha said.
The deputy vice-chancellor restated that the university would not stop at just signing the MoU, but come up with action plans to ensure things were done effectively, in areas of research development, projects and advocacy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that highpoint of the signing ceremony include the presentation of five laptops by Boeck to Afaha. (NAN)
