The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) has said that it will partner the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to run a programme on migration studies.
The university’s vice chancellor, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to NIS Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
While commending the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service Muhammad Babandede for giving the NIS a place in history and a voice among security agencies in the country, he applauded the management for teaming up with the CGI to turn around the various department of the service.
The Comptroller General in his response, thanked the Vice Chancellor for making out time of his busy schedule to visit the NIS Headquarters accompanied by his principal officers like: Prof Grace Nzelibe, Director Business School, Rosemary Edet Deputy Registrar, Unoiza Maryam, Dr Habib Yakoob, Hakeem Alohunmata Senior Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor.
During the visit mention was made of the Regional Immigration Academy at Tuga, Kebbi State that is expected to cater for the West African Sub Region and Multi-Lingual, reiterating that migration is a major international issue of global concern that the world will keep battling with just like security and health related issues and that university as centre of knowledge must champion the course of solving migration concerns if they want to remain relevant,like security studies, medical and healthcare.
Migration Studies, he said should receive the attention it deserves through research and teaching in relevant areas of migration proferring solutions.
The Vice Chancellor was shown the forensic tool used in tracking passport and visa applications for real time query and assessment of the service status and activities of operatives responsible for issuing the facilities within Nigeria and missions abroad where NIS officers are posted to serve.
A statement issued by Service Public Relations Officer,Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, James Sunday, said that the VC was impressed with what he saw and the level of advancement in technology deployed by NIS to render services to the public even before the completion of the Technology Building at the heart of the agenc’sv Headquarters, Abuja.