BRAIN DRAIN A BANE TO NIGERIA DEVELOPMENT- Conceptualized by Abdulazeez Jamiu and compiled by Iranloye Sofiu Taiye

BRAIN DRAIN A BANE TO NIGERIAN DEVELOPMENT - (An unpatriotic intellectual exodus and modern refined slavery.)

This Presentation Was Conceptualized by Abdulazeez Jamiu Muhammed.

And Compiled by Abdulazeez Jamiu Muhammed and Iranloye Sofiu Taiye.

INTRODUCTION   

Decades after independence, Nigeria is still ravaged by crises ranging from political instability, poverty, low standard of education, and infrastructural deficit despite the abundant natural and human resources we are blessed with. And since the managerial quality is absent lots of our potential which is supposed to be channeled towards development is now extinct while the rest is forfeited to hand others(Brain drain). Brain drain simply postulates the mass exodus of the A-class, top-notch, educated, skilled professionals in all performing sectors from one country to another in search of greener pastures abroad. The perpetual migration of skilled and ace labor from a country struggling with economic crisis to another that's usually motivated by better pay or living conditions is what characterized brain drain.

The narrative of brain drain in Nigeria cannot be vividly deduced and theorized without considering both the endogamous and exogamous factors. The endogamous factors are the internal facets i.e. political instability that has culminated in the brain drain which includes and not limited to the following; Bad governance, corruption, insecurity, terrorism, insurgency, unemployment, high rate of crisis, low education standard, high rate of poverty, and unfavorable working condition. This can be attributed to our leadership failure. While the exogamous factors are the external forces and International events that have facilitated brain drain in this country, and this can only be understood by giving an account of the aftermath of the brutal and obnoxious Trans-Atlantic slave trade, colonialism, imperialism, and subsequently neo-colonialism which was even the primary driver of brain drain in Nigeria. 

These horrible events we experienced in Nigeria virtually deteriorated the compositions of our society which extend to socio-economic and political endeavors, the events which were a direct response to the fallout of the late 16th-century industrial revolution in the European states which propelled the European and American human and material merchants to come down to Nigeria and another part of Africa in search of manpower, raw materials, investment and market for their products. During this evil gospel across the nooks and crannies of the country, the European ensured we were not only physically subjugated but also mentally dominated to the extent we see everything about Africa as inferior, hence it facilitated their enduring acculturation. 

The unjust continental manpower polarization instituted by this colonialist had made Nigeria a site for producing first-class graduates into the labor market but conspicuously hijacking the power of recruitment to make the country scarce of expertise that can influence the development we need to transform the country. Also, the international economic division of labor championed to safeguard the Imperialism objectives have now made Nigeria a mere site for accessing raw materials without the manufacturing capacity both technologically and in human resources all because of the monetary inducement and easy passage for all our professionals to their terrain.  It's now very pitiful that 62years after our independence the xenocentrism tendency nurtured In the minds of  Nigeria is still agonizing almost all our areas of human endeavor thereby reducing our dear country to a mere center of periphery and otherwise elevating their own countries to be likened to Paradise.

Kudos to the federal government for making education less expensive in the country with the vision of propelling accelerated development by investing in the educational sector. Most of the Nigerian-trained doctors, scientists, engineers, and other professionals fleeing abroad today are products of these public schools, colleges of education, polytechnics, and universities across the country where they paid very little tuition fees compared to the huge tuition fees charged in the developed countries. Glaringly, It's a gross insincerity, myopic, hypocritical, and better put, pseudo-patriotism for a Nigeria citizen who has basked on the commonwealth of the country and provisions of the federal government that cater for his/her education almost free and responsible for his intellectual and academic achievement to now decide to abscond the Territory when the state needs them the most.

Imagine, most of our best Nigerian-trained doctors, engineers, technologist, and scientists are now working in the UK, USA, Canada, and so on all In the name of better pay and living conditions, rendering their family members, friends, and associates in need of critical and professional attention to be vulnerable because of the scarcity of professionals. Is this not another tactic and manipulative scheme to sell ourselves into another round of slavery? Paradoxically, this brain drain has posed a terrible resource loss and scarcity of skilled people in this country which has spent so much humongous from her limited national funds and material resources on their education and training. Regrettably, this mass exodus of our skilled labor hurts our national development with counter-productive economic impact and lopsidedly contributes to the stable and smooth advancement of abroad countries.

Nevertheless, there are numerous and vast opportunities in Nigeria today we the youth can leverage to activate our potentials which can drive our national development. Many sectors of our economy are really in need of innovative youth who can utilize their skills and intellect to make a difference these include; Agricultural sector, real estate, manufacturing, mining, and information communication and technology (ICT) which is one of the fastest booming sectors currently and even with your smartphones and tablets you can change the world. 

However, the Nigerian government and our political leaders still have a lot to do to stem this doom of brain drain and mitigate against its future perpetual occurrence by creating more jobs with adequate remuneration, provision of conducive and enabling working environment,  good governance, and accountability, quality education, and provision of local incentives. Even though we are currently experiencing bad governance, insecurity, and economic crisis which is very alarming that requires a swift response to ameliorate. 

Conclusively, the notion of brain drain  'Japa' syndrome can neither prefer a sustainable remedy to our problems nor contribute to our national GDP responsible for national economic prosperity. But it, will only hold our national prosperity on ransom, make you vulnerable in an alien land, and expose your pseudo-patriotism lopsidedly contributing to the ruination of our country. We all have to stay back in this country to deploy and utilize our brilliant, outstanding, distinctive innovations and potentials to change the narrative of Nigeria because all the developed countries today have once passed through the stage we are today and remember no matter where you travel to around the globe you cannot remove the name Nigeria from yourself.  This is our origin, we are proud of Nigeria and our state can only be better with our inclusiveness.

THANK YOU.