- Our response should be rooted in commitment to the common good – Archbishop Martins
- Running away from country, our problem not a solution – Cardinal Okogie
- Address the root causes; maximise the benefits –Ogbechie
- 130 young people have received scholarship awards by the Foundation (ACOF) – Amangbo
The Archdiocese of Lagos recently, held the 16th edition of the Anthony Cardinal Okogie Foundation (ACOF) Lecture at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Hall, Victoria Island, Lagos. Speaking on the theme, “The ‘Japa’ Phenomenon: Implications for National Development and The Christian Faith,” Prof. (Sir) Chris Ogbechie, Dean, Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University, emphasised the need for Nigeria to formulate policies to address the key factors driving the phenomenon and optimise the economic immigration pathways that currently exist in search of a better life.
He said, “We must stop considering ‘Japa’ as a phenomenon, which suggests that it is an unusual occurrence which must be ended and begin to think of it as the new normal in global evolution of demand and supply of human resource. “We must begin to connect and actively network with Nigerians in diaspora to create familiar structures that will serve as an extension of Nigeria to meet their needs for spiritual guidance and formation and regular worship. “Different groups of medical practitioners living in the diaspora organise planned visits to Nigeria in collaboration with local institutions and state governments to provide free healthcare services to local populations in the country.
We must institutionalise these efforts to enable us to galvanise the entire spectrum of Nigerian professionals in diaspora as a veritable resource that can be tapped into when needed to contribute to national development. “We must change our mindset about the concept of location and focus more on access to our nationals wherever they may reside on the globe for outreach for spiritual guidance and intervention to Nigerian communities in need across the globe and as resource or subject matter experts in areas where their input or intervention may be required in Nigeria to contribute to national development. “The impacts of diaspora members on development are often multifaceted and multileveled. We must establish wide-ranging programmes, aimed at promoting relations and incorporating diaspora populations in a variety of domains.
The diaspora has been both a direct source of FDI and be effective “middlemen” to channel FDI towards our country. “Let us always remember that international emigration can have both positive and negative implications for personal and national development as well as for the Christian faith. For national development, it’s essential for governments to carefully manage migration by formulating strategies that balance the benefits of mobility with the needs of the country. “For sustainable development, Nigeria needs to develop comprehensive policies that address the root causes of ’Japa’ and maximise the benefits while mitigating the challenges associated with it. For the Christian faith, the extent of the positive or negative externalities on the Christian faith depends mostly on the individual and the new location.
However, the Christian community’s response to these implications will shape how the faith evolves within the context of global migration.” According to Prof. Ogbechie, it is no longer news that every year thousands of Nigerians migrate with their families out of the country. He further stated, “With Canada, the United States, and the UK being the top three countries that Nigerians migrate to, based on a 2020 study conducted by the Africa Polling Institute (API). Nigerians migrate mainly for educational and employment opportunities. “According to the British government, the number of Nigerians given sponsored study or student visas rose by 768.7% to 59,053 applicants in 2022 from 6,798 applicants in 2019. (about 9 times within 3 years).” He described the two factors driving ‘Japa’ Phenomenon as ‘The Push and Pull factors’.
Hear him, “The push factor – our youths feel that they are missing out and that our governments and societies have failed them, as they do not have any voice in governance, with high level of unemployment, insecurity, tough living conditions and increasing poverty becoming pervasive. In all the key governance indicators such as rule of law, regulatory quality, government effectiveness, voice and accountability, Nigeria seems to be retrogressing. “The pull factors of the demographic challenges related to the aging population in the developed world. While the population of the developing and emerging economies are youthful and growing rapidly, that of the high-income and rich nations are not growing and aging. Prof. Ogbechie listed factors that have made it difficult for Nigerians in diaspora to return home.
• The political climate – The political climate in Nigeria is one of the number one top reasons why the Nigerian Diaspora refuse to go back to Nigeria. Despite a democratic society, the political system is still full of corruption and lack of transparency. (Comparison between Nigeria and Malaysia).
• Lack of infrastructure – Nigeria still does not have a stable power for companies to run businesses. Besides power, roads are an eyesore, and the ports are among the worst in the world.
• Out of touch with Nigeria – Let’s face it, some people in the diaspora are just simply out of touch. They have no clue what is taking place in Nigeria, and some do not even want to know. Other countries do a great job of connecting their people in the diaspora to their home countries. What is the Nigerian Diaspora Commission doing in this regard?
• The comfort of being overseas – Staying in the Diaspora may not be the ideal route, but to many Nigerians it is considered the safe route. Many who have returned spent a few months or years and ran back to safety. The Dean of Lagos Business School said these factors have created a global war for talents and as expected talents are moving to where they are valued and adequately compensated. More broadly, the globalisation of economies, economic disparities and migration policies of destination countries, also have significant impacts on the characteristics of migrations in recent times. “With the advancements in education and developments in mobile technology and social media, our youth increasingly see themselves as global citizens.
This has implications for the rise in the ‘Japa’phenomenon.” Itemising the pros and cons of the phenomenon, the university don remarked that it has both positive and negative psychological, financial, emotional, and cultural implications on individuals, families and communities. Prof. Ogbechie explained, “It also imposes a heavy strain on family and cultural ties. It leads to dilution of native language and family values. There is an increase in the number of children of migrants that cannot speak their native language and those that use non-respectful tone or behaviour with elders. “Our aging population faces increasing risk of being left alone to cope with the health challenges that come with old age. This is not in line with the family-care setting we inherited and grew up with.
On the positive side, there is increased opportunity of persons of Nigerian origin in global leadership positions. This has the potential to improve the influence of Nigeria in the global arena. On a national scale, ’Japa’ equally has many positive and negative implications for socio-economic development. This is especially true for a nation like Nigeria where many young, skilled, and educated individuals are leaving the country in large numbers. “On the positive side, there are opportunities for attracting longterm investments from Nigerians in Diaspora rather than relying on American, European, Asian, or Arabian blocs for investment on critical sectors. This is an area our governments must explore positively. “One major damaging effect of the ‘Japa’ phenomenon on the economy is the brain drain syndrome – where the country loses valuable human capital that could contribute to its sustainable economic growth and development.
This also has a dwindling effect on the labour force in critical sectors such as healthcare, ICT, and education, making it difficult to find the necessary talents and skills needed for innovation and business growth in the affected industries. “Another negative implication of the ’Japa’ phenomenon is that it places a fiscal burden on the originating country. This happens when the country loses out on the skills and employment of a publicly trained and educated workforce. This is what we see in Nigeria’s case where professionals, especially those in the healthcare sector after being trained at a subsidised rate in public universities move out immediately after graduation to live and work in other countries. “As the financial burden keeps increasing, the country experiences a loss of earning potential as well as a simultaneous loss of tax revenue.
Although the actual value of the fiscal losses cannot be calculated, it is certainly huge and leads to a reduction in development prospects. “It is also no longer news that corporate organisations and businesses in Nigeria are struggling to hold on to young talents, because these individuals are emigrating in droves in search of greener pastures. The ‘Japa’ phenomenon can be said to have converted Nigeria to a training ground for human resource for the economically buoyant economies of the world.”
He proffered solution to the phenomenon. “We cannot stop the migration of our young talents as long as we have repressive governance structure, poor institutions, limited economic opportunities and conflicts. We must have a strategy for handling the ‘Japa’ phenomenon and we can learn from other countries who have benefited enormously from ‘Japa’.”
On resolving the issue for national development, he called for the reorganisation of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission with the primary essence of accomplishing the following:
• Develop a diaspora policy and strategy for the country,
• Get the Government to negotiate and sign bilateral labour agreements with all the key destination countries for Nigerian workers.
• Get the Government to have Attaches in their embassies in the key destination countries that will handle issues regarding the welfare of Nigerian migrant worker, identify employment opportunities, monitor the implementation of labour agreements.
• Organise pre-travel training programmes for intending emigrants and provide useful basic country-specific information to potential and departing migrants. Prof. Ogbechie enjoined the government to find innovative ways to attract diaspora investment in Nigeria, beyond the remittances they send to their relatives for upkeep. “We can have diaspora investment bond to attract forex to the country and we can also have diaspora bank account (like domiciliary account) in USD, Euro, and Sterling with more attractive interest rate than they enjoy in Europe, UK, and America,” he noted. Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos urged everyone to recognise the role of faith in guiding individuals’ decisions.
“The ‘Japa’ phenomenon raises important questions about our nation’s ability to harness its human capital and provide opportunities for its citizens. It challenges us to reflect on the factors driving this phenomenon, such as economic hardship, insecurity, and the quest for a more comfortable life. It is a call to action for policymakers, community leaders end civil society to address the root causes of this migration trend and create an environment in which Nigerians can thrive at home. “As Catholics, as we discuss this ‘Japa’ phenomenon in the context of the Christian faith, we must recognise the role of faith in guiding individuals’ decisions. Faith is a source of strength and solace for many, and it can influence one’s choices, including the decision to migrate.
The Christian faith, in particular, teaches us about compassion, solidarity, and the responsibility to care for our neighbours. As Christians, we are called to seek justice and promote the common good, both in our homeland and beyond. “As we embark on this intellectual journey, let us remember that dialogue, empathy, and collaboration are essential. Let us engage in open and respectful discourse, recognising that our diverse perspectives enrich our understanding and help us find solutions to complex problems. We are tasked with the responsibility of rescuing our nation from the precipice upon which it teeters today. “Our response to the ‘Japa’ phenomenon and its implications should be rooted in a commitment to the common good, reflecting the Christian values of compassion, solidarity, and justice. May our Lady Queen of Nigeria intercede for our nation and us all.”
In his words of exhortation, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos tasked government to put the proper people and policies in place and bring these actions to reality in such a manner that people will stop taking their talents and resources to enrich other nations while we wallow in mediocrity and its consequences. He urged Nigerians, “You and I also have a role to play. We must ensure that the positive change we want to see in our country begins from us, this way, so we will gradually, but certainly curb this phenomenon. “Let us keep hope alive because running away from the country, or from our problem, is not a solution. Rather, believing in the power of prayer and commitment to national development, we should believe that our help is from above and not from abroad.”
Mr. Peter Amangbo, Chairman, Board of Trustees, ACOF, bemoaned the state of the nation. He said, “The challenges facing us as a country is enormous and daunting, as we continue to hope from week to week, from month to month, and from year to year, what we see, is a worsening situation. The cost of living has hit the roof with many households struggling to afford daily meals, the cost of transportation to work and places of trade or hustle, companies closing and children dropping out of school due to inability to pay school fees or even transport themselves to school. “
The exodus of people from the country to different parts of the world in search of survival is unprecedented and has completely obliterated the number of migrants recorded during the California Gold Rush of 1849. While over 300,000 people came to San Francisco in search of Gold, the Nigerian situation is the opposite, people are running away for survival.” The Chairman disclosed that so far a total of 130 young people have received or are currently benefitting from scholarship awards by the foundation. “Nineteen students received the award in the current academic year. The acceptance rate for new applicants is very low due to limited funds available to the foundation. The scholarship is needbased, but applicants are selected on a competitive basis determined by aptitude tests. It is our hope that more applicants will benefit from the scholarship schemes if we receive more generous donations from you.”
According to him, the Anthony Cardinal Okogie Foundation Lecture was instituted in honour of Cardinal Anthony Okogie, to support the education of children from indigent homes in secondary and tertiary institutions, which aligns with the Cardinal’s concern for the poor and his passion for education. “The first edition was held on 21st October 2008 to mark the fifth anniversary of his creation as a cardinal. Today’s lecture is the 16th edition. Since the maiden edition, the lecture has provided a veritable platform where issues of national concern, challenges facing the nation, human development, etc are discussed and subjected to deep analysis with the objective of gaining better insight and proffering possible solutions,” he said on a final note.