Prof. Osuji
The Dean, Faculty of Education, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Uchenna Sydney Ajunwa Osuji, has advocated an equal opportunity for accessing quality opportunities at all levels of education and in life-long learning perspective for societal development.
Prof. U.S.A. Osuji, as he is famously known, stated this on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 while presenting a paper at a virtual seminar organised by the Centre of Excellence in Migration and Global Studies (CEMGS), university headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
While speaking on the topic: “Educational Migration as a Bridge for Sustainable Development Goals Four (SDG4) Achievement,” Osuji said that access to quality education is a fundamental influence to migration, adding that it has influenced to peoples opportunities in life, their economic and civic involvement and their degree of integration.
“Educational migration is a global phenomenon with so much economic, social and cultural implications. Education drives migration flows which is significantly affected by peoples movement.
“As a bridge to improve the educational status of children and youths, educational migration is also a bridge to achieve the SDG4,” the erudite scholar said.
He maintained that educational migration helps people develop knowledge, skills and competencies and contribute to social and economic development.
Cross section of virtual participants
“Since SDG4 is inspired by a humanistic vision of education and development based on human rights and dignity, social justice, inclusion, protection, cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity with a shared responsibility and accountability, we need to encourage reasonable educational migration,” he said.
Speaking further, the Professor of Measurement and Evaluation said that government should, as a matter of urgency, provide adequate competitive educational environment and policies that can induce continuous curricular reforms that change with the society.
Additionally, Osuji said that countries should have a triggered investment in robust national monitoring mechanisms for education, including educational migration, equity, inclusion and quality.
“Our responsibility is to advocate for measures to develop inclusive, responsive and resilient education systems to meet the needs of all migrants and particularly those in crises contexts, which include internally displaced persons(IDPs) and refugees.
“We have to be able to equip them for sustainable future in order to prevent potential forced migration,” he added.
Meanwhile, while thanking the presenter for his presentation, the CEMGS Director, Dr. Grace Anetor said the centre is aimed at providing sustainable leverage for interdisciplinary research in migration and global studies.
