Knowledge garnered at 2026 VNR unavailable in textbooks- ACG Segun Adegoke

Special adviser to Oyo State governor on Migration and Homeland Security,  ACG Barrister Segun Adegoke(rtd) has applauded the quality of knowledge shared during the just concluded Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) ahead of the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF).   

The event which was held between February 17 and 21 at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos, had the International Organisation for Migration,  other international partners, members of the civil society, federal and state government agencies among others in attendance.

ACG Adegoke said that the body of knowledge on migration  that participants acquired within the three days the event took place  cannot be found anywhere in any textbook. His words: “When you have the mixture of participants from the MDA’s,  the partner agencies,  the CSOs and NGOs, and their international partners; ILO, IOM, UNODC, UNICEF, everybody now gathered in one place for the past three days to talk about migration.  The focus is to review Nigerian preparation  for the International Migration Review Forum but the depth of knowledge shows that migration is human being. It’s no longer phenomenal. It’s no longer history. It’s human being now. Migration has moved from what we used to call- the negative part of migration.  The positive part of it- the Budget Office is involved, Nigerian Bureau of Statistics is involved, education is involved, CBN is involved.”

He added that the level of networking that “I have been able to do, both with the regulators, the National Commission for Refugees,  and the international partners, we are going to bring it in now. For example, the GIZ  and international partners said  they have a desk office, and they are planning to establish one in Oyo State, whereby our citizens will be advised, will have awareness, will be enlightened on the path to regular migration.  I know, as an immigration expert, that every country in Europe has what we call quota system for highly skilled workers,  whereby in the comfort of their home,  they can apply online for any job that is available in these countries. And they will be invited to the embassy. They will be invited, not that they will go and queue at the embassy for their visa. This is the kind of migration we want to have and we now  know the partners to link with and get it done.”

He further said: “The remittances from the diaspora is a booster for the Nigerian economy.  But we as operators, we as government,  how do we encourage more of regular migration and reduce irregular migration? For we in Oyo State, that is why the governor established the Office of Migration and Homeland Security, which is an executive office.

“It’s established by the governor of  Oyo State in 2022  to provide professional advice for movement of people and goods  into and out  of Oyo State. Remember, Oyo State is a border state. Bordered in the north by Kwara,  bordered  in the west by Ogun and the Republic of Benin, bordered in the east by Osun. We need to strengthen our border to prevent banditry, kidnappings and all, especially by non-Nigerians.