Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Cross Rivers State Governor, Professor Benedict Ayade has been slated to deliver a keynote address at the maiden edition of the African Migration Summit (AMS) in Accra, Ghana powered by the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM), Nigeria in partnership with the Nekotech Center of Excellence Ghana.
Participants across the globe are enjoined to connect the event by registering at: www.africanmigrationsummit.org for virtual participation.
The AMS themed Labour-Migration: Shifting the paradigm to benefit Africa taking place at the Accra International Conference Center will have in attendance Ghana President, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Also in attending are the foremost activist Professor Patrick Lumumba; member African Union Labour-Migration Advisory Committee, H.E Dr Princess Ocansey ; the Minister of Labour and Social Security Sierra Leone, Alpha Timbo, Chairman, Nigeria House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Matters, Hon Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, former Canada minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Hon Gerry Weiner; International Organization for Migration (IOM), ALTEC Global Incorporation, Canada and other leading migration bodies.
A statement by the JIFORM President Ajibola Abayomi, on Sunday after inaugurating the continental publicity team of the summit said, Ayade, the first governor to establish a state owned Migration Control Agency in the entire sub-sahara would deliver a keynote address on Migration as Catalyst for Sub-Sahara Development: The Cross River Template and would also be inducted into the AMS hall of fame with leadership award.
“The governor is a shining example among those in authority taking proactive and practical steps to address the menace of migration and also charting a new course by re-integrating returnee migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
“African leaders must be encouraged to initiate human face migration policy to free access and facilitate trading for the good of the continent, get bothered about the plights of the citizens and reset the economy to create more opportunities for the people in order to stem the tide of irregular migration” Ajibola said.
The JIFORM President urged the media team to further take the message of AIM targeted at “accelerated development for Africa through migration by advancing effective implementation of African migration policies.
According to him, the focus also included “reviewing and providing roadmaps as inputs to policymakers centered on establishment of bilateral and multilateral platforms and agreements that benefit liberation of the continent.
These he said, would also include “safety and protection of African Migrants searching for more prosperous lifestyles through decent work overseas across the globe”.
Speakers for the summit are: Dr. Tunji Asaolu, the Nigerian Representative at the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC); H.E. Dr. Winfred Nii Okai Hammond, Ghana Ambassador to Egypt and Lebanon and Dr Azuma Ijoma, the President Organization Pour l’ integration Africaine (OIA), Togo.
Other top personalities listed also as guest speakers are: Ms. Susan Gong, former board member of Canada Refugee board and the CEO of Altec Global Incorporation, a foremost immigration consulting firm; Ms. Philomena Gnanapragasan, the Director of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting (AIBD) Malaysia; Dr Ajijola Isaac, the Director of Studies ESCAE University, Benin; Professor Byron Price, the Global Director, Diaspora Innovation Institute- City University, USA; Professor Joseph Teye, Director- Center for Migration Studies, University of Ghana, Legon and H.E. Lillian Sally Addo, Country Head, United Nations Youth Association, Ghana- among others.
