The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, says he shares the same stance as American billionaire, Bill Gates on the “japa” syndrome.
Japa, a Yoruba locution that means to leave for greener pastures, has become popular among Nigerians, especially the youths, recently.
Bill Gates spoke on the phenomenon in a wide-ranging conversation with CEO of Co-Creation Hub Nigeria (CcHub), Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, at the Pan-African Youth Forum 2023 on Wednesday.
He said that the voice of the Nigerian youth was critical to ensuring that resources of the country are shifted to investments in infrastructure, health and education.
The American philanthropist said he believed that if young people were able to apply their strengths, educate themselves and make contributions in the spaces they were passionate about, the path to impact would reveal itself.
Reacting, Obi, 61, said, he believed that japa syndrome is not a bad thing as it would be beneficial to Nigeria in the long run.
He said, “I read and agree with Bill Gates’s recent comment on the “japa” syndrome, where, according to reports, he stated that the recent surge of Nigerian professionals leaving the country for greener pastures is good and healthy for our country.
“I have always preached and maintained this same position on the “japa wave”. For years now, and throughout my campaign in the last Presidential election, especially during my tours from Canada, the USA, Germany, the UK, and other countries, I maintained that “Our brain drain today will be our brain gain tomorrow.” Nigerians leaving the country may look like a loss today, but when we start doing the right things and taking the governance of our nation more seriously, the knowledge and resources from them will be critical in the building of the New Nigeria, as it happened in China, India, Ireland and other developing countries.
“Today, India prides itself as one of the countries with the biggest tech talents in the world, having produced some of the world’s top engineers and computer scientists. Many top global tech companies are headed by CEOs of Indian origin.
“So India’s success in the tech industry can partly be attributed to its ability to harness the knowledge and resources of Indians in the diaspora for their national growth.
“Nigeria will grow and develop on all fronts when we build the New Nigeria that prioritises investment in education, health, and support for small businesses, guarantees respect for the rule of law, security of lives and properties, and unity of the nation.
“Then our diasporan Nigerians around the world will return home with their global training, skills and resources, to immeasurably contribute to building a New and better Nigeria. We will not give up on our dreams for the New Nigeria.”