The University of Ibadan (UI) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a TETFUND Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was in UI to sign the MOU.
She stated that the centre would be the first of its kind in the world.
Honourable Dabiri-Erewa said she was happy that TETFUND approved the project for UI, adding that she was not surprised, given that UI is the premier university in Nigeria.
She commended the Vice-Chancellor and other Management staff for the job of lifting the banner of the University high. She also applauded the staff and students of the Institute of African Studies for their active participation in the activities of NIDCOM.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, said research and training are highly rated at the University of Ibadan, adding that the establishment of the Centre of Excellence was a welcome development
He promised that he would do all within his power to ensure the 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 shall serve as an interface between the academia and related national governance institutions for policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.
It shall facilitate international cooperation by the Diaspora and Transnational Studies programme and NIDCOM with regional and other international institutions such as ECOWAS, AU, UN, IOM, etc.
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 ‘Decriminalizing 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.
