The University of Ibadan (UI) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies to be funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
NiDCOM Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was at the university for the signing of the MoU yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The NiDCOM boss said the centre would be the first of its kind in the world.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said she was happy that TETFund approved the project for UI, adding that she was not surprised as the institution is the nation’s premier university.
She hailed the vice chancellor and other management workers of the university for lifting the banner of the institution aloft.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa also applauded UI workers and students of its Institute of African Studies for their active participation in NiDCOM activities.
Vice Chancellor Professor Kayode Adebowale said research and training are highly rated at UI, stressing that the establishment of the centre of excellence was a welcome development.
He promised to ensure timely and successful completion of the project.
The Centre of Excellence is to serve as Africa Diaspora Resource Research Centre, and it will be managed by the Diaspora and Transnational Studies Unit of the Institute of African Studies.
The centre will serve as an interface between the academia and related national governance institutions for policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.
According to the details of the MoU, the centre will facilitate international cooperation by the Diaspora and Transnational Studies programme and NiDCOM with regional and other international institutions, such as ECOWAS, AU, UN, IOM, among others.
“The centre shall organise joint research activities, lectures, conferences, symposia, and any other activity of mutual interest.
“Research funding shall be provided by TETFund to cover a 10 year-research programme on: Decriminalising the Global Nigerian Diaspora.
“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission is an agency of the Federal Government established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide for the engagement of Nigerians in the Diaspora in the policies, projects, and participation in the development of Nigeria.
“The commission also seeks to utilise the human capital and material resources of Nigerians in Diaspora towards the overall socio-economic, cultural, and political development of Nigeria for related matters.
“The Memorandum of Understanding shall be for five years in the first instance and shall be renewable at the end of every five years,” the MoU said.
