President Tinubu appeals youth on growing migration, assures of opportunities.
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*As Nigeria loses 7, 418 medical personnel to UK, others
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured that the federal government has put in place measures to tackle youth unemployment as part of effort to stem brain drain through migration.
The President made the appeal during the National Migration Dialogue (NMD), themed ‘Leveraging Youth Migration for National Development,’ held at the banquet hall of the presidential villa, yesterday in Abuja.
Represented by the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, he said government has put in places numerous intervention programme to cushion economic difficulties faced by Nigerians especially the youth.
“Recent upsurge of youth migration to locations outside Nigeria is surely a matter of concern particularly given the fact that majority of the affected youth are skilled individuals on whom national resources have been expended.
“Let me assure you all that my government’s social, economic policies and programmes as well as those in the states, are targeted at improving the general welfare of Nigerians, reducing the incidence of extreme poverty and producing jobs for our young graduates.
“I expect the dialogue to discuss this matter and the and the general issue of leveraging on youth expertise, resources and global exposure of the Nigerian diaspora for the development of our country,” he said.
While highlighting contributions of migrations to both host and countries of origin to include economic development, remittances and technological transfer, the President laments that most migrants encounter life threatening challenges as they embark on the difficult journey of relocating from their home countries to destination countries.
He pointed that the dialogue will provide “recommendations on measures to utilize for development, the remittances of the Nigerian diaspora which over the years have constituted an appreciable percentage of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, (GDP), and surpassed by far the value of Foreign Direct Investment, (FDI), coming into Nigeria.”
Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, (NCFRMI), Tijjani Ahmed, said that the dialogue “Will explore the dynamics of youth migration, often referred to as the ‘Japa Syndrome’, assessing its impact on the Nigerian economy, and reflect on tangible strategies aimed at harnessing youth migration for national development, through knowledge and innovation transfer, brain gain, brain circulation and circular migration.
“In June 2023, it was reported that Nigeria lost 6,221 medical professionals to the United Kingdom, and 1,197 between May and December 1st 2023; to this end, we must, as a matter of urgency identify solutions that will present a win-win scenario for Nigeria, our young migrants and the destination countries.
“Together, let us embark on a journey towards a better tomorrow, a future where our actions today echo the ideals of unity, resilience, and progress that define our great nation.”
Calling for better understanding of the nexus between youth migration and national development, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said “throughout this event, we will analyze and review existing trends aiming to identify practical solutions to address the perceived negative impact of young skilled Nigerians leaving our country.
Represented by the Chairman Senate Committee on Youth Development, Senator Aderemi Adaramodu, he said “migration especially among the youth has become a significant global phenomenon that affects Nations in various ways therefore, we have to come together to engage in a thought provoking debate centered on the intricate relationship between youth and migration and our national development.”
Lead presenter of ‘overview of the migration space, Professor Muhammed Ladan pointed that gaps towards pushing for policies and strategies towards ending migration must be put in place.
He said Nigeria needs to sign and ratify the African continental protocol on the free movement of persons to protect Nigerian migrants who are more active within the African countries than European countries until recently.
Ladan challenged political leaders to ratify the protocol stating that “japa can boost capital flows especially remittances.”
Present at the event were members of the diplomatic corps, legislative and actors in the civil society space among others.
By Tina Abeku,