…as he delivers 7th Professorial Inaugural Lecture

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, has argued that advances in technology and digital communication have fundamentally transformed migration, ensuring that people remain deeply connected to their communities of origin regardless of where they live.

Adeniyi made the assertion on Tuesday while delivering the university’s 7th Professorial Inaugural Lecture titled, “How Your Village Is Following You: Mobility, Memory and the Mediated Persistence of Belonging,” in Abuja.

Addressing a distinguished audience of academics, policymakers, students, traditional leaders and members of the public, the communication scholar challenged the long-held notion that migration represents a complete break from one’s roots.

According to him, modern communication technologies have created a world in which physical movement no longer translates into social separation, as migrants remain constantly connected to their families, communities and cultural identities through digital platforms.

“The village is a moral archive, a symbolic anchor and a continuing source of identity formation,” Adeniyi said, explaining that home continues to exert influence on individuals long after they have relocated.

Drawing from communication theory, migration studies and contemporary technological realities, he argued that the concept of the village extends beyond geography to encompass memory, identity, relationships, values and emotional attachment.

He noted that while humanity is experiencing unprecedented levels of mobility, connectivity and information exchange, people continue to maintain enduring ties to the communities that shaped them.

According to the professor, migration in the digital age has evolved from a simple process of relocation into a continuous experience of interaction, circulation and networked presence.

He observed that mobile phones, social media platforms, video calls and other digital technologies have made it possible for migrants to participate actively in the affairs of their hometowns and countries of origin from virtually anywhere in the world.

Adeniyi identified belonging as one of the most enduring elements of human existence, arguing that people rarely abandon the identities and social values acquired from their places of origin.

He cited the experiences of diaspora communities across the globe, noting that millions continue to maintain strong emotional, cultural and developmental links with their home communities despite living thousands of kilometres away.

A major focus of the lecture was the role of memory in preserving identity and sustaining social connections.

The scholar explained that while memories were once largely personal and vulnerable to loss, digital technologies have transformed them into lasting archives through photographs, videos, messages and social media records.

He noted that individuals now leave behind extensive digital footprints that preserve aspects of their experiences, relationships and identities over time.

According to him, this development has introduced a new dimension to belonging, where communities remain connected not only through social interactions but also through data and digital visibility.

Adeniyi described the phenomenon as “datafication,” a process through which everyday activities generate digital traces that can be stored, analysed and revisited indefinitely.

In this context, he argued, the village follows people through networks of memory, communication, observation and digital records.

The professor, however, warned that the digital age also presents significant challenges, including misinformation, disinformation, cybercrime, surveillance, privacy concerns and algorithmic manipulation.

He called for stronger regulatory frameworks and responsible governance of digital spaces to address emerging threats associated with technological advancement.

Despite these concerns, Adeniyi maintained that technology has not weakened traditional identities or social bonds.

Rather, he said, digital innovations have transformed the ways people express, negotiate and sustain their sense of belonging.

“Mobility does not eliminate attachment to origin. It simply reconfigures and reproduces it through new channels and platforms,” he stated.

In what became the defining message of the lecture, the Baze University Vice-Chancellor declared: “In the digital age, the village is no longer merely where one comes from; it is where one continues to be seen from.”

The lecture, widely applauded by participants, offered fresh insights into the intersections of migration, identity, communication and technology, while underscoring the enduring influence of home in an increasingly interconnected world.

For many attendees, Adeniyi’s presentation served as a powerful reminder that regardless of how far people travel in search of education, opportunity or success, the bonds of memory, identity and belonging remain firmly intact.

The event also featured remarks by the Chancellor and Founder of Baze University, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, who described universities as institutions dedicated to advancing knowledge, challenging assumptions and contributing solutions to societal challenges.

He reaffirmed the critical role of universities as centres of knowledge, innovation and societal transformation, as the institution hosted its 7th Professorial Inaugural Lecture in Abuja.

Baba-Ahmed described inaugural lectures as one of the highest traditions of academia, providing scholars with a platform to share the intellectual journeys, ideas and discoveries that have shaped their contributions to society.

He said universities should be measured not merely by their infrastructure and academic programmes but by the quality of scholarship they produce and the ideas they contribute toward solving societal challenges.

“Universities exist to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions, expand the boundaries of knowledge and help society understand itself better,” he stated.

The Baze University founder praised the inaugural lecturer and Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, for his contributions to communication, media studies, migration studies, identity and the relationship between technology and society.

According to Baba-Ahmed, Adeniyi’s lecture, titled “How Your Village Is Following You: Mobility, Memory and the Mediated Persistence of Belonging,” addresses some of the most pressing questions of the modern era, particularly how people maintain connections with their origins despite living in an increasingly mobile and interconnected world.

He noted that the event offered a rare opportunity to celebrate Adeniyi not only as an administrator but also as a scholar whose academic achievements earned him a place among leading intellectuals.