Managing the rising tide of Nigerian migrants to the West—A policy vacuum or a structural challenge?
| Published date | 01 February 2023 |
| Author | Philomina Okeke‐Ihejirika,Ike Odimegwu |
| Date | 01 February 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/imig.12978 |
10
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International Migration. 2023;61:10–22.
wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/imig
INTRODUCTION
Recent dec ades have witn essed massive m ovements of peo ple across inte rnational border s. Migration, particu-
larly bet ween continents , has become one of the m ajor defining e lements of our globalizing worl d. The number
of internatio nal migrants acr oss the globe re ached an estima ted 281 million in 2 020, representing about 3.6 per
cent of the total global popula tion (Internatio nal Organizatio n for Migr ation [IOM], 2020). This es timate places
foreign- born residents in all countries at 128 million more than what was recorded in 1990, and over three times
Received: 17 Apri l 2021
|
Revised: 13 Novembe r 2021
|
Accepted: 4 Januar y 2022
DOI: 10.1111/imig.12978
SPECIAL ISSUE ARTICLE
Managing the rising tide of Nigerian migrants
to the West— A policy vacuum or a structural
challenge?
Philomina Okeke- Ihejirika1| Ike Odimegwu2
© 2022 The Auth ors. Internation al Migration © 2022 IO M.
1Departme nt of Women’s and Gender
Studies, Facul ty of Arts, Uni versity of
Alberta , Edmonton, Alber ta, Canada
2Centre for Migr ation Studies, Nn amdi
Azikiwe Uni versity, Awka, Nigeri a
Correspondence
Philomina Oke ke- Ihejirika, De partment of
Women’s and Gende r Studies, Faculty o f
Arts, Uni versity of Alber ta, 1- 13 Assiniboia
Hall, Edmonto n, Alberta T6G 2E7, Canada .
Email: philomina.okeke@ualberta.ca
FUNDING INFORMATION
Social Scien ce and Humanities Re search
Council (SSHR C), Canada.
Abstract
This analysis explore s the growing attra ction of migrants
to destinatio ns perceived as better pastures as well as the
roots and cons equences of internationa l migration, es-
pecially for irre gular migrant s. The findings of two focus
group discussions with Niger ian scholars, policyma kers,
service providers, and members of society suggest: (1)
public policy on international migration should consider
the social, polit ical, and economic challenges th at render
many Africans desperate to leave the contin ent regardless
of the harsh realities awaiting them along the way or in a
new homeland; (2) given th e fundamental rights of individ-
uals to migrate, it is crucial that re levant information about
the realities of life in Weste rn hos t societ ies (espe cially
newer destinations such as C anada) be made available in
immigrant- sending re gions, such as Africa; and (3) ef forts
to engage the new African dias pora should also prioritize
their active participation in building equitable societies in
their countries of orig in.
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