CMS-NAU Profile

The Centre for Migration Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University was commissioned on 28th August, 2018 during a Sensitization programme on the Dangers of Irregular Migration organized by the Postgraduate School of the University.

Propelled by the cause of its existence, the Centre has embraced its responsibility with zeal and commitment. Some strides of progress, and even more plans and projects:

THE STRIDES SO FAR:

  1. The Centre has been appointed into the National Technical Working Group (TWG) on Migration and Development in Nigeria 8th November, 2018;

  2. The Centre participated in a 2-day Preparatory Meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) organized by NCFRMI in collaboration with IOM within the framework of the European Union (EU) funded project “EUTF-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration: Nigeria”. 15th – 16th November, 2018. Abuja

  3. The Centre participated in a 3-day Workshop on the Validation of the Action Plan of the National Migration Policy organized by NCFRMI in collaboration with IOM within the framework of the European Union (EU) funded project “EUTF-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration: Nigeria” 26th – 28th November, 2018. Lagos

  4. The Centre participated in the 4th National Migration Dialogue (NMD) on the theme: “Realizing Sustainable Development Goals for All Including Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs)” organized by NCFRMI. 17th December, 2018. Abuja.

  5. The Centre participated in a 3-day Workshop on the Review of the Draft National Diaspora Policy and Action Plan organized by the International Organization for Migration in collaboration with the Nigeria National Volunteer Service (NNVS) within the framework of the European Union (EU) funded project “EUTF-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration: Nigeria” 6th – 8th February, 2019. Kaduna;

  6. The application submitted by the Centre to Carnegie Foundation for Carnegie African Diaspora Fellows to assist in program development has passed through the second stage of review by disciplinary and regional experts. 12th February;

COLLABORATION

  1. The Centre is collaborating with the Pan African Collaboration for Excellence (PACE), University of Alberta (UoA) on the Research Project on “Boosting African Immigrant Families’ Resilience” being sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. 2018 -

  2. The Centre is collaborating with the National Population Commission and the IOM as member of the National Coordinating Committee on Review of the Migration Profile of Nigeria. 2019 -

PROJECTS

In the current business year, the Centre has lined up a number of programmes and projects in research and teaching, sensitization and advocacy, policy review, symposia and conferences:

Research Projects

  1. The Centre has developed the Concept Note and Data Collection Instrument for a pilot research project on the Migration Dynamics of Anambra State. The research is intended to produce baseline data for evidence-based position on the migration status of the State. This study is intended to be the first in the series of such studies to produce valid and reliable data for effective management and governance of migration in Nigeria;

Programmes and Courses

  1. The Centre has developed curricula for three postgraduate programmes at the master’s degree level. These are:

  1. Master of Arts in Migration Studies (M.A.) for those who are coming into the study of migration from the background of the Arts and Humanities;

  2. Master of Science in Migration Studies (M.Sc.) for those who are coming into the study of migration from the background of the Sciences; these are academic degrees designed for scholars whose interest in migration is academic.

  3. Besides these, the Centre has also developed curriculum for a professional master’s degree programme: the Master of Migration Studies (MMS). The target students here are actors in migration policy development and implementation, officials in the various ministries, departments and agencies of Government, civil society organizations, etc.

The postgraduate programmes are scheduled to take off in October, 2019 in the 2019-2020 academic session.

  1. The Centre has also planned a number of short courses that address specific issues and problems of migration. The planned courses include: Return and Reintegration: Capacity Building for Policy and Field Actors; Understanding Global Migration Policy and Governance for Effective Operation in the Expanding Fields of Migration, etc.

Sensitization and Advocacy

  1. The Centre took off in 2018 with a sensitization event on the “Dangers of Irregular Migration”. The plans are to continue and expand the scope and reach of the sensitization in 2019 by collaborating with more organizations and by taking it to the schools and other public places where most of the prospective migrants are located;

Policy Review

  1. As member of the National Coordinating Committee on Review of the Migration Profile of Nigeria, the Centre shall participate in the 2019 Review of the Migration Profile of Nigeria;

Symposia and Conferences

  1. As a member of the Research Team on “Boosting African Immigrant Families’ Resilience” the Centre shall participate in a Symposium at the University of Alberta (UoA), 16th – 19th May, 2019;

  2. The Centre plans to hold a Symposium in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Development, Nnamdi Azikiwe University on the theme of “Migration and Actualization of the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria” mid-year and an international Conference in partnership with the Pan African Collaboration for Excellence (PACE), University of Alberta, Canada in the month of December, 2019.