The Centre for Migration Studies recently organized a week long retreat and workshop on Migration Modules development for selected lecturers.
The retreat which held in Enugu had its theme as Teaching Migration for Effective learning.
Declaring the retreat open, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Esimone, FAS expressed satisfaction at the level of commitment and dedication to the project by the facilitators and participants.
Professor Esimone pointed out that the establishment of the centre is very instrumental to the overall mission and vision of the University system. He maintained that with the caliber of resource persons and lecturers involved, the centre is already geared towards the top.
He thanked the partners, the International Organization for Migration and the Civil Society Organization Network on Migration and Development (CSOnetMADE) for identifying with the centre.
Earlier in his address, the Director of the Centre, Professor Ike Odimegwu stated that Migration is pivotal discourse and development issue in our world today. Professor Odimegwu noted that agencies, Civil Society Organizations and international agencies and organizations have been active on the field of migration management and governance in Nigeria; but the academia has been significantly absent. He disclosed that CMS-NAU is the first Centre for Migration Studies in a Nigerian university and the second in West Africa.
The Director of the Centre explained that the Centre operates on the following philosophic foundations, “Fundamental rights of free movement and shelter founded on the absolute value of the human person; The rights of communities to protect their communal and cultural values; The duty of all to work for safe, orderly and regular migration”.
He further asserted that the Centre aims at serving as a leading international Centre for the study of local and international migration dynamics with primary focus on Nigeria and Africa through a strategic, collaborative and integrated approach.
The resource persons at the retreat include Mr. Charles Nwanelo Anaelo, Migration Desk Officer, NCFRMI; Engr. Ekene Ezeasor, MICTU, UNIZIK; Rev. Fr. Dr. Emeka Xris Obiezu, National Coordinator, CSOnetMADE; Dr. Chinwe Anunobi, University Librarian, Federal University of Tech, Owerri; Mr. Henry Akwitti, National Program Officer, Data & Policy, IOM; Prof. Ngozi Agu, Department of Educational Foundations, UNIZIK; Prof. Lilian-Rita Akudolu, Department of Educational Foundations, UNIZIK and Prof. Tracy Utoh-Ezeajugh, Department of Theatre & Film Studies, UNIZIK.
Equally present at the workshop was the Chief of Mission, IOM, Mr Frantz Celestine who was represented by Mr. Henry Akwitti, National Program Officer, Data & Policy.
The centre collaborates with National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Civil Society Organization Network on Migration and Development (CSOnetMADE), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Nationa Bureau of Statistics (NBS), National Population Commission (NPopC), Pan-African Collaboration for Excellence (PACE), University of Alberta, Canada and The GIZ, Program Migration for Development (PMD).