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BRAIN DRAIN: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE (1) By Lagos, Nigeria. There are many Nigerian talents in the developed countries, which could play a vital role in Nigeria's development. This movement of trained personnel from Nigeria to other countries (because of better opportunities, etc) is known as brain drain. This treatise is intended to draw the attention of individuals, institutions and governments to some of the problems associated with the movement of Nigerian skilled manpower to foreign countries and its concomitant effects.
Experience shows that the problem of brain drain is not novel or unknown in academic literatures, since very often reference is made to this phenomena in discussing manpower problems facing developing countries. This essay also seeks to know why these immigrants left Nigeria; the effects of this drain; the extent of the "external economic pull"; and also possible preventive measures to stem the tide. Such an issue as brain drain usually elicits much comments. This is due to the fact that it treats the issue of a nation's "engine-room" that is being taken away. That is, the reverse transfer of expertise from the "drained" country to the "draining" country/countries. This problem is now suffuse in the African continent as the pangs of its impact is felt across the region.
According to Walter Rodney (March 23, 1942-June 13, 1980), the radical Guyanese revolutionary, scholar and prophet of self-emancipation, the entire African continent (including Nigeria) are underdeveloped because the West (Europe and America) are developed (see: "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa"). The reason he adduced for this is that the West plundered the economy of the African nations during the colonial era, which was to Africa's detriment. The colonialists invaded Africa using deception, betrayal, warfare and wanton violence. These were the years of colonial brigandage and despoliation; the years that were eaten by locusts. Europe (and America) also carted away the manpower resources of African nations, which constituted the working and active population, through the process of slave trade which was highly repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.
The slavery days lasted for some centuries during which Europe and America developed their economies, which made them economic giants of the world while Africa was enmeshed in penury and degradation. The infinite number of able-bodied Nigerians and other Africans who were shipped to Europe and America constitutes a chronic brain drain. Rodney also posited that the effects of the slave trade were numerous and include incapacitation of the nation's military might and the bastardization and an almost erosion of our culture and more importantly, the retardation of the continent's growing economy. He noted that from the point of view of historical materialism, one cannot extricate Africa's current economic woes and underdevelopment from the developed economy of the West.
From one part of the world to another, the migration of Nigerian talents across national boundaries in search of greener pastures is a continuum. This issue of brain drain has indeed been going on from time immemorial and only differs from country to country in degree of incidence. This exodus has, without doubt, far-reaching consequences on the "sending" countries. However, some countries have better policies and programmes to countervail any "systemic shock" that may arise therefrom. According to the estimates of the Presidential Committee on Brain Drain set up in 1988 by the Babangida administration, Nigeria, between 1986 and 1990, lost 10,694 professionals from tertiary institutions alone. Total estimates, including those who left public, industrial and private organizations, is over 30,000.
This brain drain committee was chaired by Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, the current Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos. Ibidapo-Obe stated thus: "In our work on brain drain, we realized that the major problem is the economy, particularly the devaluation of the naira and inflation". Consequently, the country lost the ability to pay its top specialists competitively. Also, according to the health minister in the Abacha regime, Dr. Ihechukwu Madubuike, twenty-one thousand Nigerian doctors were practising in the United States of America in 1995. The honourable minister was alarmed that a staggering 21,000 Nigerian doctors were practising in the USA alone. The figure, according to the minister, was almost at par with the number of doctors then in the Nigerian public service. By the time Nigerian doctors in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, Europe, Australia and those in other African countries are included, the figure would be close to 30,000.
Also recently, the Nigerian ambassador to Togo had stated that Nigerias constitute a third of the total population of Togo. Out of Togo's about 4.5 million population, Nigerians resident in the country are about 1.5 million. We can go on and on. In Nigeria, the causes of brain drain are multifarious. Though, it is generally agreed that the prime cause is that of self-fulfillment. This goes beyond financial reasons, though a major determining factor. Immediately after the attainment of national sovereignty by Nigeria from the British overloads, the problem of brain drain in Nigeria wasn't as acute as it has become today.
Then, those who were privileged to acquire western education very easily secured employment. Thus, there was no motivation to leave the country. And then, the Nigerian economy was much more robust and the Nigerian currency could rub shoulders with the major currencies of the world. Also, the increase in educational institutions in the country (secondary and tertiary institutions) was equally instrumental to the increase in brain drain in Nigeria. With a rapidly growing population, the country has to establish more educational institutions to accomodate its expanding population. But the snag is that there was no corresponding employment opportunities for school leavers and graduates who pass out from these academic institutions. And hence, the problem of brain drain set in.
Another important contribution to the brain drain syndrome in Nigeria was a change in the political equation. As the euphoria of national sovereignty waned and the early nationalists, who assumed the mantle of leadership with the exit of the imperialists, plundered the collective patrimony of the nation, military intervention became inevitable (taking into cognizance the coup that had earlier taken place in nearby Togo). Hence, the country was plunged into the grip and jackboot of military dictators and potentates. The military bastardized the Nigerian economy. During this period, meritocracy was sacrificed on the alter of mediocrity. Appointments were dispensed to cronies and lackeys of the dictators in power.
This situation of things in the country compelled many Nigerian talents to "flee" to more conducive climes in their effort to eke out a living. Immediately after independence, nostalgically referred to as the good old days, Nigerian citizens were burning with patriotic fervour. Even those that went abroad to read were eager to home immediately after their studies. To many Nigerians then, the bringing down of the Union Jack and the hoisting of the Green-White-Green flag will usher in their expected Utopia. Today, the reverse is the case. Economic downturn has, literarily, put many Nigerians to flight. Nigerians from all walks of life travel in droves to foreign lands in search of greener pastures. It needs to be pointed out here that a vital segment of the population that is required by the country for national development now constitutes the bulk of Nigerians leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad. Young doctors, pharmacists, nurses, teachers, engineers, etc.
The list is endless. The situation in Nigeria today is pathetic because a large chunk of highly trained university graduates (and those of other tertiary institutions) have left the country without anyone benefiting from the investment in their education. This is worrisome as this middle management constitute the "engine-room" of the economy. This goes a long way to show that the Nigerian economy needs an urgent "surgical operation".
April 2003
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