Home Business Watch Discouraging ‘japa’ syndrome through meaningful engagement
Business Watch - October 28, 2023

Discouraging ‘japa’ syndrome through meaningful engagement

 

By Amechi Obiakpu

The unending reports about Nigerians leaving the country in droves got the attention of Chukwudumebi Onwuka, a first degree graduate from one of the universities in Nigeria. Indeed, from the Olodi Apapa community he resides, more than half the youths in the area have joined the retinue of ‘japa’ badge wearing Nigerians, in search of better life abroad. And, suddenly he feels he is the only one left out.

As his name implies, Chukwudumebi (God helps me), he must make it in life. But, for him- his chances of ‘making’ it seems limited by the virtue of the fact that he was born a Nigerian living in the shore of the country- so he thought.

To change all that. One day, he sells all he had to his name to ‘japa’. For him, living anywhere in the world is better than staying in Nigeria- as long as it means leaving the country. What if he does not make it? A thought well up in his mind, which was immediately dissipated. Afterall, if others are making it, he should.

To encourage himself, he projects a five-year plan. After which he would return to the country with suitcases full of dollars and a swell bank account big enough to invest in some sectors of the economy that he can retire on at least as compensation for the hard work he intends to face in his country of destination.

Like Chukwudumebi, this line of thought is what occupies the minds of many Nigerians who travel abroad on a daily basis with the belief that the land is greener on the other side.  Whether their expectations are all met is a story for another day.

Observers have attributed this worrisome trend of Nigerians migrating abroad to Poverty, high unemployment rate and insecurity.

 

Is it all gloom?

According to a survey by the Africa Polling Institute, HumAngle, an online platform says in a report that, if given the opportunity, more than 7 out of 10 Nigerians would leave the country.

Many Nigerians are leaving because of few employment opportunities and rising insecurity in the hopes of more viable prospects abroad.

Citing a report from the National Bureau of Statistics (2020) it noted that, youth unemployment for those aged 15-34 was at 42.5 per cent, with youth underemployment at 21.6 per cent.

Yet, some Nigerians who have schooled and lived in the US are returning to the country, largely citing economic factors as the reason.

According to a Business Day report of January 31, 2022, Africa’s biggest economy is blessed with a large, vibrant, and young population which comprise more than 65 percent of its population. But sadly, the economic challenges in the country have failed to develop them mentally and economically, forcing them to immigrate to other countries for greener pastures.

The paper cited a survey by the World Bank which stated that 50 percent of Nigerian youths want to leave the country. The country placed third in West Africa among the nations polled, trailing only Liberia (70%) and Sierra Leone (60%).

Likewise in terms of visas issued to the UK, Nigeria recorded a rise of 234.7 percent to 18,580 in the first nine months of 2021 from 5,551 in the same period of 2019.

 

Tales from ‘abroad’

While it is within anybody’s right to migrate to any part of the world to fulfil his or her aspirations as long as it is done legally, the question begging for answer is, how green is the pasture on the other side?

According to reports, hundreds of Nigerians, including young and old women, with their children, had gone through a lot of difficulties and risking their lives to travel to neighbouring African-Arab countries seeking greener pastures. Some of them with the intent of going to Europe, the migrants mostly left their home country in the name of hardship, coupled with a lot of psychological traumas, as well as unemployment.

This is to the extent that many people lost their lives, while several others got attacked and robbed, with some ending in prisons over various offences relating to illegal migration. Similarly, women become sexually harassed in the process.

The economic challenges notwithstanding, many people believe that once the poverty factor is taken from the equation, the mad migration rush will be reduced coupled with meaning engagement.

Wale Michael, an entrepreneur believes that if more people are engaged meaningfully, this will impact their economic power positively thus reducing the level of poverty at the micro level which will impact the economy generally.

 

succour

In a bid to alleviate poverty, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in August of 2023 announced it has committed the sum of ₦205.8n ($270million) to support Nigeria’s poverty alleviation and humanitarian response efforts.

The deputy director of information at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Rhoda Iliya made this known in a statement.

According to her, the funds will be used to build a national humanitarian situation room or an emergency operation center for crisis management.

Iliya said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, made the pledge  when she visited Betta Edu, the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, in Abuja.

“We will also support the development of a Humanitarian Response Protocol for Nigeria to guide all Humanitarian Actors as this will facilitate effective coordination.

“The Federal Government of President Bola Tinubu, is committed to lifting 133 Million poor Nigerians out of poverty in a phased approach. Especially, the 71 Million extremely poor Nigerians who leave under one dollar ninety-five cents a day.

Advising the youth not to give up hope on the nation, Dr Femi Idowu Adegoke, President of Lagos Recyclers Association, said though there are challenges everywhere, every sector has the ability to create more jobs for the teeming unemployed youths- both directly and indirectly.

Using the waste management sector as an example, Dr. Adegoke who is a critical stakeholder in the waste management industry in Nigeria told espinews in a chat that, the waste management sector in Nigeria if properly mainstreamed has the capacity to generate direct jobs in millions.

“Already in Lagos, the state has a structured waste management process. And this has created employment for hundreds of thousands of Nigerians.

“There are over 400 Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators who are into waste collection in Lagos alone and over 200 recycling companies in Lagos. And imagine if each of them employs minimum of 5 staff imagine the amount of employment that will be generated, he asked.

“The industry has the capacity. Already the informal recyclers sector caters for hundreds of workers living on daily earnings from the waste management space,” Dr. Adegoke summed.

Taking a slight different path, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, according to a statement signed by National Information Officer, UN Office, Nigeria, Oluseyi Soremekun, Nigerian youths should start building the country with their God-given skills and talents.

She spoke against the backdrop that Nigerian youths are resilient and capable of achieving anything they set their minds hence she advised them to put their resilient to greater use.

The statement, titled “Be proud of Nigeria, don’t condemn her, don’t lose hope”, read: “You have got education, you have the tools, and you have a huge future ahead of you, and you are condemning yourself before you start on that journey.

“Do not do that! Be proud of Nigeria your country; do not condemn her and do not lose hope.

“If you think Nigeria is worse than better, then how are you going to turn it around?  If you do not want to build this nation, I do not know where you want to go,” she asked.

 

Corporate response?

While the government collaborates with various stakeholders to create various ways to engage Nigerians and further stop the nation from losing some of its best hands to nations abroad, Nestle Nigeria, a beverage manufacturing company is at the forefront of the saddle.

Apart from its numerous collaborative projects, the beverage giant is already harnessing some of the great minds in the country through its Technical Training Center.

On Friday, February 10, 2023, the company set up the Nestle Technical Training Center, Flowergate factory in Sagamu, Ogun State, with the aim of helping young people build the capabilities and skills they need to contribute towards the growth of industries in Nigeria.

The programme, an 18-month intensive training of selected qualified candidates which is meant to build and enhance their competence in industrial machining, mechanical fitting operations, electrical operations, instrumentation operations and automation, culminating in the prestigious London City and Guilds technical certification examination.

Aside the Sagamu centre, the company had in 2011 set up the first training facility at Nestlé’s Agbara factory, Ogun State, with the second phase situated at Abaji factory in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in 2017.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Nigeria, Wassim Elhusseini, while commissioning the Center, said, “The technical training program is an initiative of our global flagship program, Nestlé Needs Youth. The program is one of the sustainable pathways through which we contribute to meeting the technical needs in the industry while enabling young Nigerians access economic opportunities. Young people have a key role to play in shaping the future we desire. We are determined to remain at the forefront of the fight against youth unemployment by helping young people develop the capabilities and skills they need to contribute towards accelerating the industrialization we need to grow our economy.”

As more organization join Nestle in this commitment towards youth development, this will further reduce the poverty hold on Nigerians and just a matter of time before the Nigeria of our dream can be realized.

Photo credit: The Guardian Newspaper/HumAngle.

Do you have a compelling story to tell? Contact us via our email: espinewsng@gmail.com or call/WhatsApp on 08032519246.

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