Dabiri-Erewa Advocates Migration Studies To Boost Diaspora Engagement
By Rashidat Olushola Okunlade
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has emphasised the critical role of migration studies in strengthening diaspora engagement and improving migration governance in Nigeria.
She made this known while receiving a delegation of staff and Master’s students from the Centre for Migration Studies, University of Abuja, during a field trip to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Leader of the delegation and Director of the Centre, Dr. Ifunanya Daniels, conveyed goodwill from the University’s Vice-Chancellor and expressed appreciation to NiDCOM for hosting the students. She explained that the visit was designed to provide practical exposure and hands-on experience in migration governance, complementing their academic training.
Daniels noted that the Centre for Migration Studies, established four years ago, was created to deepen research, policy engagement, and academic discourse on migration-related issues in Nigeria and beyond. She also encouraged NiDCOM staff to enrol in the programme, describing it as a valuable platform for professional development and capacity building.
Also speaking, the Centre’s Coordinator, Dr. Peter Adeyanju, highlighted the importance of the field trip in expanding students’ understanding of migration policy and administration. He revealed that ten admission slots have been reserved for interested NiDCOM staff and commended those already enrolled for representing the Commission commendably.
In her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa described the Migration Studies programme as a strategic opportunity to build institutional capacity and leverage academic knowledge to enhance operational effectiveness.
She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the Centre and stressed the need for sustained collaboration between academic institutions and government agencies in addressing migration challenges.
The NiDCOM boss also invited staff currently enrolled in the programme to share their experiences, underscoring the value of continuous learning in improving service delivery and diaspora engagement.
The visit further strengthened the existing partnership between Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the University of Abuja, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing structured and effective migration governance in Nigeria.
