By Abdulfatah Babatunde
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and the University of Ibadan (UI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an African Diaspora Resource Centre (ADRC).
They signed the MoU for TETFUND-funded Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies in the university, on Thursday in Ibadan.
Chairman of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the centre would be the first of its kind in the world.
Dabiri-Erewa expressed happiness that TETFUND approved the project for UI.
She added that she was not surprised, given that UI is the premier university in Nigeria.
She commended the management of UI for lifting the banner of the University high.
The NIDCOM boss also applauded staff and students of the Institute of African Studies for actively participating in NiDCOM activities.
“Everybody is now talking about diaspora. This is a knowledge centre that will be an international centre of excellence.
“The centre will bring diaspora here. Lots of people are tracing their roots back to Africa.
“Many people are doing their DNA and discovering they are Nigerians. So, this is an international project that will bring glory and fame to Nigeria through the University of Ibadan,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale said research and training are highly rated at the University of Ibadan.
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Adebowale added that the establishment of the Centre of Excellence was a welcome development. He promised to ensure timely and successful completion of the project.
“This is going to be a site for diaspora studies, an international programme not only for teaching but also research.
“There are a lot of people that are leaving the country. They are also an asset to us but we can involve them in the development of this country.
“This would be a centre of excellence for those types of research studies. I know it is going to be of benefit to the country,” Adebowale said.
The Centre of Excellence is to serve as Africa Diaspora Resource Research Centre.
The Diaspora and Transnational Studies Unit of the Institute of African Studies will manage the centre.
The centre will interface between the academia and related national governance institutions for policy formulation, implementation and evaluation.
It will facilitate international cooperation among NIDCOM and regional as well as other international institutions such as ECOWAS, AU, UN and IOM.
The centre will organise joint research activities, lectures, conferences, symposia and any other programme of mutual interest.
TETFUND will provide the research funding to cover a 10-year-research programme on “Decriminalising the Global Nigerian Diaspora”.
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