The Lagos state government,through its Office of Diaspora Affairs, has partnered with Lagos state university to offer a 50 percent tuition scholarship to students admitted into the university’s newly established Master of Diaspora and Migration Studies programme for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The joint initiative aims to build specialized institutional capacity in migration governance, diaspora engagement, and regional policy development.
The academic framework follows the approval of the proposal by the LASU Senate and the official establishment of the Centre for Diaspora and Migration Studies.
Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, PhD., executive secretary of the Lagos State Office of Diaspora Affairs, noted that the programme and the accompanying Centre were developed in collaboration with LASU during his doctoral studies to create structured channels for diaspora contribution.
‘The initiative reflects Lagos state’s commitment to building stronger institutional structures for engaging its diaspora and responding strategically to emerging migration realities,’ Sanwo-Olu stated. ‘For Lagos, diaspora engagement and migration are not peripheral issues. They are central to our development ambitions. We are looking at how we can better harness the knowledge, skills, investments, networks and global connections of Lagosians and Nigerians across the world, while also strengthening our capacity to understand and respond to migration trends’
‘This Centre will provide the research, policy and knowledge platform required to move that agenda forward’, he noted.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the 50 percent tuition support is designed to widen access to specialized training in an area critical to global development.
Admission is open to graduates, academics, government officials, diplomats, development and humanitarian professionals, diaspora affairs officers, and practitioners across governance, maritime affairs, heritage, and the blue economy.
Candidates must possess at least a second-class lower degree or its equivalent in a relevant discipline, with relevant professional experience offering an advantage. Eligible applicants will be selected through a formal screening process.
Ibiyemi Olayunji-Bello, former LASU vice-chancellor, highlighted the capacity of the initiative to bridge the gap between academic research and actionable policy outcomes in human mobility and economic growth.
‘Diaspora and migration have become critical dimensions of contemporary development, with far-reaching implications for education, investment, innovation, human capital and international relations,’ Olatunji-Bello stated. ‘The proposed Centre provides an important opportunity for LASU to bring its academic expertise to bear on these issues while creating a platform where research can translate into practical policy and development outcomes.’
The full-time postgraduate programme spans three semesters and requires a minimum of 36 credit units. Its multidisciplinary curriculum draws from history, sociology, law, and economics, covering diaspora identity, migration governance, displacement management, labor migration, human trafficking, and urban mobility.