NOUN VC: Africa must address security, economic challenges driving youth migration

The Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Uduma Uduma, has called on African governments to address the underlying social, political and economic challenges driving young people to migrate to Europe, America, Asia and other parts of the world.

Uduma made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at an academic workshop titled “Migration, Development, and Human Security: Emerging Academic Perspectives,” organised by the Centre of Excellence in Migration and Global Studies (CEMGS).

He warned that unchecked migration, particularly the movement of educated and skilled young people, could undermine the development of African countries through the loss of critical human capital.

According to him, the growing “Japa” phenomenon, a Yoruba expression meaning to flee or escape, has evolved from casual slang into a significant social trend reflecting the aspirations and frustrations of young Nigerians.

He said the trend was not driven solely by the search for better economic opportunities, but also by concerns over personal security, career advancement and structural challenges confronting young people.

Uduma described migration as a fundamental human phenomenon that has shaped civilisations, transformed cultures and influenced the socio-economic development of nations over the centuries.

He, however, noted that the departure of educated and skilled youths represented a significant loss of human capital, as countries of origin also lose the benefits of years of public and private investment in their education and training.

“When educated, energetic and ambitious youths cross borders, human capital, skills and years of public and private investment cross as well,” he said.

The NOUN Vice Chancellor acknowledged the contributions of African diaspora communities through remittances, knowledge transfer and investments, which he said continued to support development in their countries of origin.

He, however, described the situation as a paradox because migrants who contribute to the economies of their host countries may also face discrimination, hostility and xenophobia.

Uduma urged African governments and regional policymakers to incorporate the philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasises shared humanity and mutual responsibility, into immigration and border-management policies.

He said an Ubuntu-based approach would help protect the dignity of migrants, prevent their dehumanisation and promote peaceful coexistence across the continent.

The Vice Chancellor also highlighted the role of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions, particularly NOUN, in expanding access to higher education and facilitating cross-border knowledge exchange.

He said ODL institutions could promote virtual mobility by enabling learners and academics to exchange ideas and access educational opportunities beyond geographical boundaries.

NOUN to Offer Four Migration Studies Programmes

In his opening remarks, the Director of CEMGS, Prof. Moses Shaibu, disclosed that NOUN would commence four postgraduate programmes in Migration Studies in the 2026/2027 academic session following full resource verification by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The programmes comprise a Postgraduate Diploma, Professional Master’s, Master of Science (M.Sc.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Migration Studies.
Shaibu said the programmes would expand opportunities for advanced learning and research in migration studies while strengthening the centre’s capacity to develop professionals and researchers capable of addressing complex migration challenges.

He described the NUC approval as a significant milestone in the centre’s efforts to promote academic research and expertise in migration studies.

“We, therefore, encourage our participants and stakeholders to help spread this information and encourage interested candidates to apply when admissions are formally open,” he said.

He added that the workshop was organised to advance research, strengthen partnerships and promote evidence-based responses to emerging migration challenges in Nigeria and across Africa.

Shaibu said CEMGS remained committed to quality research, human-capacity development and evidence-based policy engagement.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion and National Coordinator of the Civil Society Organisations Network, Rev. Fr. Emeka Obiezu, called for sustained collaboration among academia, government and civil society organisations to address migration challenges.

Obiezu stressed the importance of research-based evidence in developing policies capable of protecting the rights and dignity of migrants.

He said closer cooperation among relevant stakeholders would ensure that migration policies reflected reliable research and practical realities.

In his goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Dr Suleiman Zangina, commended NOUN for its contributions to open and distance learning in Nigeria.

Zangina reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to supporting research initiatives and institutional capacity development across Nigerian tertiary institutions.

He said sustained support for research and academic institutions remained important to strengthening Nigeria’s higher education system.

The workshop brought together academics, policymakers, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to examine emerging perspectives on migration, development and human security.

Participants also deliberated on human mobility, regional integration and border governance across Africa, with emphasis on research, policy engagement and the implications of migration for development and human security. (NAN)