On Thursday, the UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Centre for Migration Studies, University of Abuja, signed a memorandum of understanding toward advancing research studies on migration in Nigeria.

During the official signing ceremony in Abuja, Laurent De Boeck, chief of the IOM mission in Nigeria, said the partnership with the centre had become important in encouraging migration studies among students.

According to him, IOM will reach more students through the institution when the organisation believes that migration and climate change are immense challenges the world is facing.

Mr 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.”

He said the organisation would provide the centre with resources, such as laptops, to support research activities and funding migration and climate change initiatives.

Philip Afaha, UNIABUJA deputy vice-chancellor, said the MoU was designed to strengthen the university’s centre for migration studies through knowledge transfer.

According to him, the partnership will advance support by providing amenities crucial for facilitating migration research activities, enhancing data collection, interpretation, and analysis, and improving migration governance in Nigeria.

(NAN)