The Centre of Excellence in Migration and Global Studies (CEMGS) of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Research Enterprise System (RES) to strengthen research collaboration and strategic partnerships.
The signing ceremony took place on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)'s Conference Room, NOUN Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Uduma O. Uduma, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Chiedu Mafiana, stated that the Centre of Excellence in Migration and Global Studies was established by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and that one of the requirements for its sustainability is to foster partnerships capable of enhancing its research capacity and strategic engagements.
He expressed optimism that the partnership with RES would create a strong synergy capable of advancing the university's objectives.
"What we have may be little, but we believe that with what you bring to the table, together we can build a partnership strong enough to move our institution forward. There should also be a forum where all our partners can interact regularly, and I believe webinars would serve this purpose effectively," he said.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Research Enterprise System, Professor Fatai Aremu, commended NOUN for its pioneering role in open and distance learning, noting that many conventional universities have now adopted similar methods of online education.
"I commend this institution for its remarkable innovation. Having spent my career in the education sector as a professor, I can say with every sense of responsibility that NOUN has lived up to the expectations of open and distance learning. The university has made access to higher education easier and less stressful, while maintaining a very rich and high-quality curriculum," he said.
Professor Aremu noted that the research component is central to the mandate of the Centre of Excellence and aligns with RES's vision since its establishment in 2015.
"We came on board with the vision of contributing to an ecosystem driven by reliable, credible, and timely evidence. We support both producers and consumers of evidence, including government ministries, agencies and civil society organisations. We also help researchers communicate their findings in ways that non-professionals and end-users can easily understand," he explained.
According to him, RES has partnered with several organisations, including the National Assembly, government agencies and ministries, where it has implemented numerous training and capacity-building programmes.
He expressed delight at the partnership with CEMGS, noting that migration remains a critical issue facing Nigeria and requires the collective efforts of policymakers, lawmakers and relevant ministries.
"We are delighted to partner with the Centre. We had extensive discussions on the importance of migration and the challenges Nigeria is facing in that regard. Policymakers, lawmakers and government institutions need to work together to ensure that migration is properly managed," he said.
Professor Aremu assured the university of RES's commitment to ensuring the seamless implementation of the partnership and the achievement of its objectives.
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