The Lagos State University, LASU and the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS are set to co-host the next edition of African Borderlands Research Network conference, ABORNE for the first time in Nigeria come September 2026.
This was made known by the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, recently when she led a team to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service Kemi Nanna Nadap at the Headquarters of the service in Abuja to commence preparations for hosting this important conference.
Accompanying the Vice Chancellor were Dr. Willie Eselebor founder and Director of the Universal Research and Training Institute, URTI, located in Badagry, Professor Tunji Azeez, Acting Dean, School of Tourism, Film, Performing Arts and Cultural Studies, Professor Adewunmi Falode, Director, Centre for Peace and Security Studies and Mrs. Fatima Oguniyi, Personal Assistant to the VC.
According to the VC, the two institutions will work together to ensure that Nigeria hosts one of the best conferences in the ABORNE’s history. She also seized the opportunity to inform the Director General of the establishment of the Border and Migration Studies programme by the Lagos State University. She stressed that the university will run this course at Bachelor’s, Postgraduate and professional certificate and diploma levels.
Lending his voice to the conference, Dr Willie Eselebor, who also doubles as the university’s consultant on the Border and Migration Studies programme, drew attention to the strategic location of Lagos as the only state in the country with land, air and sea borders. He noted that the location of the university along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor makes it imperative for the establishment of the Border and Migration Studies Programme.
He further informed that these were some of the reasons why the ABORNE Chiefs, led by Professor Paul Nugent of the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, granted the hosting right to LASU and NIS. He further informed that LASU and URTI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to run professional courses in Border and Migration.
He concluded that the theme of the conference is ‘The Connected Borderlands, Socio-Cultural Integration and the Centrality of Policy, Research, and Security’, and that over 250 scholars, practitioners and development organisations are expected to attend the conference.
In her response, the Director-General said she was excited that the hosting right of the conference was granted to Lagos State University and the Nigeria Immigration Service and promised the full support of the service to the success of the conference in 2026.
She noted that to address border and immigration challenges confronting the country, Africa and the world in general, it is important that relevant stakeholders come together to find solutions to the problems. She further promised to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the university on training and development.
The team also visited the Director General, National Boundary Commission, Surveyor Adamu Adaji, and the Executive Secretary, Border Communities Development Agency, Dr Dax Alabo George- Kelly.
Responding, the chief executives also promised to fully support the conference.