Olufemi Peters, the vice-chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), says the establishment of safe and legal migration pathways is a crucial measure to curb irregular migration.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025 international conference on migration and sustainable development on Tuesday, Peters noted that while migration is an age-old phenomenon, it has become increasingly complex due to global challenges such as climate change, conflicts, and economic instability.
He acknowledged migration’s potential to drive innovation and economic growth but warned that its unregulated form—particularly irregular migration—has resulted in humanitarian crises, including loss of life and exploitation by traffickers.
Peters called for global collaboration and stronger legal frameworks to safeguard migrants, ensuring they have safer and structured migration options.
“We must change the perception of migration from being a threat to recognizing it as a driver of sustainable development,” he stated.
Citing the United States as an example, he highlighted how migrants have contributed significantly to economic and social progress through labor and innovation.
He also underscored the economic benefits of remittances, which play a key role in poverty alleviation in migrants’ home countries.
With climate change accelerating displacement due to extreme weather events such as floods and droughts, Peters warned that “climate migration” is becoming an urgent reality.
He stressed the need to address the root causes of migration and to establish systems that facilitate controlled migration while safeguarding migrants’ rights and well-being.
In addition, Peters appealed for increased funding to support the Centre of Excellence in Migration and Global Studies (CEMGS) at NOUN.
He expressed gratitude to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its initial seed funding and commended the Centre for its efforts in advancing migration research and discussions.
According to him, the Centre has played a pivotal role in addressing migration challenges in Nigeria through its regular seminars and webinars on contemporary migration issues.
“Migration should not be viewed merely as a survival strategy but as a source of opportunity, equity, and shared prosperity,” he concluded, urging governments, institutions, and civil society to collaborate in formulating policies that uphold migrants’ dignity and rights.
The conference, which brings together policymakers, academics, and migration experts, aims to develop strategies that transform migration into a tool for sustainable global development.
Speaking earlier, Gloria Anetor, the director of the Centre of Excellence in Migration and Global Studies, said the vision of the centre is to serve as the bridge between humanity and the future.
She added that the mission is to provide sustainable leverage for interdisciplinary research in migration and global studies.
“The mandates of the centre: The centre serves as a fulcrum of research on migration, both internal and external. It is a hinge of evidence-based research about pressing and emerging migration challenges in Nigeria, Africa and the globe,” she said.
“The centre has been growing steadily since its inception and meeting up steadfastly with accomplishing its vision, mission and mandates.
“Being a fulcrum of research on migration, the centre has to carry out cutting edge research. Therefore, it is necessary for the centre to float postgraduate programmes in migration and global studies which can be further achieved through financial support and update of its mandates.
“With more of such financial support, the centre can get to a greater height being a Centre of Excellence in a tertiary institution.
The good news is that the centre is beginning to gain international recognition, it has recently attracted an international institution (Munich Forum Dialogue (MFD) in collaboration with the University of Krems, Austria) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the university to collaborate with the centre in the trainings of individuals in migration agencies on “Circular and Return Migration”.
“The Managing Director of MFD will be speaking to us virtually in a plenary session during this conference.”
