Brain drain, popularly known as “human capital flight” simply is a mass migration of experts and professionals to different parts of the world in search of “greener pasture”. This phenomenal has not only been the preoccupation of the youth, it has equally permeated the adult class. The adult class has joined the fray in moving outside the shores of Nigeria to seek better conditions of living. This may be unconnected to with the lack of good jobs to go round the brilliant people who are abound in the country.
Before we continue to dilate on this new normal that has infiltrated into the psyche of a typical Nigerian, how did we get to this stage as a nation? Observers have pointed accusing fingers on the direction of the government; others blame it on the get quick rich syndrome of many Nigeria youth who want everything quick and easy.
Depending on the side of the divide one belongs to, brain drain has positive and negative effects on the Nigerian economy. For the purpose of this writing, let see the negative effect of the trend which has lured many Nigerian citizen into. The diversity visa programmer of the United States of America is one of the plous used by the US government to drain intellectual capital from the so called third world countries. Their idea is to mop these egg-heads and technologists from around the world of their country.
While in the America, the system will fine time their competencies for injection into the American economy to lead others in the world. By so doing, the American economy continues to lead others on the surface of this planet. Besides, the work and school programs in Canada, United kingdom, Norway, Ireland and other parts of Europe are other windows that have drafted hundreds of thousand Nigerian youth to those climes for work. An observer will be surprised to discover with dismay Nigerians working as researchers at the United States Department for Agriculture, Silicon Valley, US marine Corps, Nuclear reactor of Japan and the University of Liverpool teaching hospital, etc. The negative effects of brain drain on the domestic economy can only be imagined. The frequent calls by Federal Government on Nigerians in the diasporas to return home and contribute in building the domestic economy has often times been often been rebuffed by these experts. Unfortunately, they are so rooted in these foreign countries and are not haste to return. Back home, instead of our Government focusing on policies that will stimulate growth and industrialization for job creation run a mono economy that dwells only in the exploration and export of crude oil while our refineries lie decrepit without the needed manpower to run and maintain it.
How can we reverse this trend? The answers are not far-fetched. First, we must take a holistic look at where we got it wrong and then start a complete overhaul. Second, the Government has to do a complete fine-tuning of the educational curriculum so as to make it work synchronously with the emerging technological trend around the globe. Third, we must embark on attitudinal reorientation of our youth to live a life of purpose and believe in their father land. The National Orientation Agency and the Federal Ministry of Information and that of the women Affairs should embark on awareness campaign to highlight the need for the Nigerian youth to start thinking outside the box.
The Government should migrate all from infrastructural development to industrial development for job creation. Government should do this by exploring the public private partnership model to churn out cottage industries to soak up the unemployed youth that are eager to migrate to foreign lands.
The financial institutions should be assisted by Central Bank of Nigeria to provide venture capital to enterprising youth who have created innovation platforms. The funding can follow the model that was of the used in Bangladesh to stimulate the economic station of that hitherto poor nation. The funding should go to square pegs in square holes and not the “boys” for political payback.
It is only Nigerians that can develop Nigeria. Therefore, the need for Government to be proactive is imperative. We don’t need to wait for Nigerian in the Diaspora to come home and rejuvenate our economy.
Government has to do the needful to dissuade the energetic and brilliant Nigerian youth from taking his competency outside to oil the wheel of foreign economy. Let us look towards the domiciliation of our intellectual capital in the country for the benefit of loving Nigerians and the ones, yet unborn. Posterity will not forget us in a hurry, if we take this step now.