The President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been urged to ensure evolvement and implementation of policies that will effectively check brain drain syndrome when he takes over the reins of power from May 29, 2023 as President of Nigeria because of the serious negative implications of the Japa menace on the nation’s future.
The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Oyo State Council, Chief Ademola Babalola, gave the charge, on Sunday when he chaired the Men’s Fellowship anniversary of Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Eagle’s Wings Assembly, Wakajaye Road, Iyana Church, Ibadan with the theme: “Worse Than Infidel”.
According to Babalola, “The rate at which Nigeria is losing her young ones of productive age, especially educated and skilled youths to brain drain syndrome, otherwise known as ‘japa’, is not only alarming, it also portends serious danger for the future of the country. If care is not taken, there will be acute shortage of professionals in the country in the nearest future that will cut across different fields of human endeavours.”
He stated further: “The fact is that we cannot stop them from travelling to seek greener pastures abroad. We cannot also blame those that have been travelling. How can we blame them when Nigeria is not even a country where young people can find succour? Imagine doctorate degree holders ending up as drivers or security guards, when they could not secure jobs that are commensurate with their levels of qualifications. Those of them that want to go into business, how will they get start-up capital in this contemporary Nigeria of man-know-man? If you don’t have the connections, you are on your own.
“These young elements have been taking the risks because the situation of Nigeria is turning them to a sort of nuisance. Do you even want to talk about the bad economy? What about regular electricity supply? What about insecurity in the land? What about high unemployment rate and so on? These factors are killing.
“Therefore, I use this medium to call on the incoming administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the country to leave no stone unturned towards revamping and diversifying the economy of Nigeria, creating mass employment opportunities, pumping of more money into provision of housing scheme for low-income earners, as well as everything that the government can do to make Nigerian youth stay in the country and at the same time be prosperous.”
Babalola, however, appealed to Christians and Muslims in the country to pray for the betterment of Nigeria, support the incoming administration of Asiwaju Tinubu, with fervent prayers as well as all tiers of government for the country to overcome the brain drain syndrome.
The guest minister, Pastor Peculiar Adegbite, while speaking on the theme of the anniversary with the topic, “Who is a faithful man”, enjoined men to provide the basic things which include leadership, anointing and money to their homes, stating that they would make a better family and society at large.
The senior pastor of CAC Eagles’ Wings Assembly, Pastor Joseph Akinade, who lauded the presence of the NUJ executives led by the chairman, offered prayers for the union, men and the nation at large.
The chairman of Egbeda local government area, who doubles as the Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, in the state, Hon. Sikiru Sanda, who was the special guest of honour, commended religious organisations for their role in nation building through their prayers.
