Ochendo: An African Journal of Innovative Studies

This study examined Nigerian migration dynamics from an Igbo religious perspective, with particular attention to the South-Eastern region of Nigeria. The study adopted a mixed-method research design, combining phenomenological and descriptive survey approaches. The study was conducted across the five states of South-Eastern Nigeria, namely Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. The population of the study was approximately 21,955,414, from which a sample of 120 respondents was selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure involving simple random, disproportionate stratified, and convenience sampling techniques. Data were collected using a researcher-developed instrument titled Nigerian Migration Dynamics: Igbo Religious Perspective (NMDIRP). The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach's alpha, which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.82. Five research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while the t-test was employed to test the hypothesis at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that economic considerations constitute a major factor influencing migration among people from South-Eastern Nigeria. The study further established a relatively high desire among South-Eastern Nigerians, particularly the Igbo, to migrate in search of improved economic and social opportunities. From a religious and cultural perspective, the findings suggest that migration is also influenced by traditional Igbo values concerning enterprise, mobility, family advancement, social status, and the pursuit of a better life. The study further revealed that there was no significant difference between the mean responses of male and female respondents regarding migration dynamics. It also identified deceptive and dangerous migration practices, including drug trafficking, fraudulent marriage promises, trafficking in human body parts, irregular sea journeys, and prostitution, as some of the challenges associated with migration. The study concludes that Igbo religious and cultural values provide an important framework for understanding the motivations, experiences, risks, and social consequences of migration among the Igbo. It therefore recommends greater engagement of religious and traditional institutions in migration education, ethical formation, prevention of human trafficking, and the promotion of safe and responsible migration practices.

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