Rasheed Oyewole Olaniyi

This study examines the comparative socioeconomic experiences of West African migrants in Ibadan city to understand the role of inter-regional migration in urban development and power relations in the negotiation of identity. Using qualitative research methods, it analyzes a comparisons of Senegalese, Gambians, Ghanaians, Ivoriens, Malians, and Guineans in Ibadan from an identity-politics theoretical perspective to show the dynamics of mobility, livelihoods, citizenship, and identity within the urban space in the ECOWAS sub-region. As a social theory, the post-modern adoption of urban space explains migration across West African cities and how migrants influence identity processes in the city through diffusion of international standards or multi-cultural values, settlement patterns, interaction with one another, host community, and homeland and state authorities.