THE OLD TESTAMENT AND MIGRATION DYNAMICS: THE NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE

The aim of this study is to analyse migration in the Old Testament and its implications for Nigerian migrants in their destination countries. Despite the rising instances of racism, stringent visa interviews, restrictions, and violence against migrants, Nigerians continue to migrate to other countries. One might ponder the reasons behind this phenomenon. The Old Testament will be invoked to provide insights into this situation. The Jews and their neighbouring communities were considered to be communities characterised by mobility. From Abraham, the initial forebearer of the Jews, to Ruth, a precursor in the lineage of Jesus in Christianity, migration has been a journey influenced by social, economic, and political consequences for survival. These same factors appear to underpin the migration of Africans, both in organised and spontaneous forms, to various destination countries. In this perspective, the migration of Nigerians will be analysed using the framework of the Old Testament. A literary analysis of selected narratives in the Old Testament reveals that migration was engaged in as a divine command, as a socioeconomic tool for survival, and to gain refugee status. This is similar to the motivators for the migration of Nigerians to destination countries, which include migration based on social, economic, political, and religious tensions. Examining the proportion of the migrant population reveals a predominance of young individuals. It is crucial for the government to explore avenues to absorb university graduates, perhaps by establishing a system for providing small or soft loans. This would empower graduates to initiate micro-businesses.

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