The Vice Chancellor of Baze University, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, has said that migration no longer severs people’s connections to their places of origin, arguing that advances in digital technology have made it possible for individuals to remain socially, culturally and emotionally tied to their communities regardless of where they live.
Adeniyi made the assertion on Tuesday while delivering Baze University’s seventh inaugural lecture titled, “How Your Village Is Following You: Mobility, Memory and the Mediated Persistence of Belonging.”
Addressing an audience of academics, students, traditional rulers and other dignitaries, the media scholar maintained that the widespread assumption that migration represents a complete departure from one’s roots is no longer valid in an era defined by constant connectivity and digital communication.
According to him, while people may physically leave their hometowns in search of education, employment and better opportunities, their identities continue to be shaped by the communities from which they originated.
“The village is a moral archive, a symbolic anchor, and a continuing source of identity formation,” he said, adding that individuals may leave physically without ever departing existentially.
The Vice Chancellor noted that unlike previous generations of migrants who often experienced prolonged separation from their communities, modern migrants are able to sustain daily interactions through mobile phones, social media platforms, video calls and instant messaging applications.
He explained that migration in the 21st century has evolved beyond relocation and now involves continuous engagement with home communities through digital networks.
Adeniyi observed that Nigerians in the diaspora regularly participate in hometown meetings, contribute to community development projects, support relatives through remittances and take part in local political discussions despite living thousands of kilometres away.
According to him, these developments demonstrate that physical distance no longer translates into social absence.
The professor further argued that digital technology has transformed the role of memory in preserving identity and belonging. He noted that photographs, videos, online conversations and location records have created enduring digital footprints that continue to connect people to their origins long after they have relocated.
He said modern technology has effectively expanded the influence of the village beyond physical boundaries, allowing individuals to remain visible and connected to their communities in unprecedented ways.
“In the digital age, the village is no longer merely where one comes from. It is where one continues to be seen from,” Adeniyi stated.
While acknowledging the benefits of increased connectivity, the Vice Chancellor warned that the same technologies also present challenges, including misinformation, cybercrime, digital surveillance and algorithmic monitoring.
He stressed the need for governments, policymakers and institutions to develop stronger safeguards for digital privacy and security as technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life.
Despite these concerns, Adeniyi maintained that technological advancement has not weakened people’s sense of identity or attachment to home. Rather, he said, it has provided new platforms through which individuals preserve relationships, cultural values and community affiliations.
He concluded that the realities of modern migration suggest that people remain connected to their roots in ways that are both visible and invisible, making belonging a continuing experience rather than a condition left behind after relocation.
The lecture drew attention for its exploration of migration, communication and identity through everyday experiences familiar to many Nigerians, particularly those living outside their communities or abroad. It also highlighted the growing role of digital technology in redefining how individuals maintain connections with home in an increasingly interconnected world.
