Aumen Journal of Moral Education in Africa

Nigeria is a country of origin, transit nation and country of destination in the migration route. The implication being that while many Nigerians are in different parts of the world, many non nationals are also in Nigeria contributing to both their countries of origin and destination. Nigerian migrant workers have continued to play a key role in the development of their home country. Through remittances, Nigerians in the Diaspora have shown their importance as a viable economic force. Nigeria receives the largest inflow of remittances in Sub-Saharan Africa with 65% of its total and 2% of global inflow. In 2012, Nigeria was ranked as the 5th largest remittance receiving developing country with an estimate of 21 billion US dollars. With the increase of the number of Nigerians abroad to a number beyond 17 million, it is without doubt that the sum of inflow for Nigerians living abroad would has increased as well. However, as a result of poor migration governance by many African nations, African migration story is yet marred by brain drain, and brain waste with their impacts and challenges. The situation makes urgent the need for investment in migration and development management in such a way as to maximize their positive economic and social impacts to the migrants and the continent. This paper focuses on the relevance of migration to the story of development. For the purpose of the study, it employed the analytical and hermeneutic methods of inquiry. While asserting the significant role of migration in development, it points out that there is the need for effective migration governance structures in nations for the maximization of the economic and social contributions of migration to development.

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