This was disclosed during the national inception workshop
which was organised by the Center for Housing and Sustainable Development
(CHSD), with the theme “Migration Urbanisation and Conflict in Africa Research
Project”.
The workshop was attended by Prof. Oluwale Familoni, (Deputy
Vice Chancellor, Academic and Research), Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, (Deputy Vice
Chancellor, Development Services), Prof. Bola Oboh, (Director, Research and
Innovation Office), Prof. Timothy Gbenga (Director, NUBI), Prof. Taibat Lawanson
(Co-Investigator and Project Lead) and Prof. Isaac Albert (University of Ibadan).
Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, University of
Lagos, Prof. Familoni, said: “We are pleased to receive this research grant of
one million, nine hundred pounds. This research grant is one of six awarded
under the UKRI-GCRF ARUA Research Excellence Programme and is also one of
several research projects in the University of Lagos targeted of fostering stronger research and development
partnerships for the actualisation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“I thank the UKRI-GCRF for supporting both North-South and
South-South academic cooperation through the ARUA Programmes. The synergy among
the collaborating institutions will be further strengthened by this research
project. This research project focuses on unravelling the complexities
surrounding migration and urbanisation in Africa, the attendant conflicts and
finally charting the pathway to peaceful urban futures.
“This workshop, in kicking off the research, seeks to
co-create the sustainable pathways to peace in our cities with stakeholders
such as yourselves: academic, private practitioners, policy makers,
international development agencies, government agencies, civil society actors,
faith-based organisations and local communities.
“The future of African cities cannot be determined outside
science-policy engagement. Effective development strategies cannot be developed
without the contributions academic institutions. Providing the evidence based
for targeted policies and actions in peace-keeping, peace-making and peace
building in Nigeria cities is the game changer.”
The keynote speaker, Prof. Albert, highlighted the various
conflicts affecting urbanisation and housing in rural and urban areas, saying:
“This workshop aims to contribute to current academic and policy work by taking
innovative aapproaches to challenge existing assumptions and contribute towards
new policies to the relationship between rural-urban/South-South migration,
urbanisation and conflict.
“We aim to involve researchers from a diverse set of
disciplinary and academic backgrounds, in order to break existing silos and
bring to the fore insectional approaches. We are shifting the focus from the
technical to the socio-politcal without reducing the importance of capacity
building for better urban development and delivery of the SDGs.
“The conflict that is affecting urbanisation is that many
migrants live on the margins of legality, and as such their voices are not
brought in policy discussions. The center is aimed to contribute towards
centering urban policies to the needs and aspirations of the weakest, and
thereby contribute to welfare, peace and justice of the vulnerable,” he said.
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