THE COMING BRAIN DRAIN

Just taking a peep into the future, I foresee a brain drain on the way. Don’t get me wrong, I am not being pessimistic or cynical. I am only being critically analytical. I got the inspiration to write this article after receiving an entry confirmation letter from the U.S Department of State for a visa lottery I applied for over a year ago. The letter came at a time I had just decided that I was not going to travel abroad in the name of leaving this ‘God forsaken country’ called 9JA as a lot of Nigerians would say. I could go on a vacation, business trip, academic pursuit, etc but not in search of ‘greener pastures’! Those who have created very green pastures for themselves here in 9JA do not have two heads! I know I will receive a lot of hard knocks from the situation of things in the country but I have resolved to confront my challenges not to run away! I am not afraid of tomorrow because it implies letting a ghost from the future to chase me today! I am sure there are a lot of Nigerians who share a similar opinion with me in as much as there are a lot who have resolved to find their way out of the country to anywhere that will provide them with better chances of becoming successful, mainly ‘financially’. I honestly do not have anything against these Nigerians because if our leaders were committed to steer our Nation to greatness the story would not have been the same.

Amongst those seeking to leave the shores of our Fatherland are: intellectuals; highly skilled personnel; creative minds; promising entrepreneurs; simply put – ‘great brains’! These persons have perceived their knowledge, talents, and skills to be wasting if they remain here in Nigeria. This is why they have resolved to migrate to countries where they believe their potentials will be properly and fully harnessed. Why is this so? One may ask. I know instinctively that it is because they have not been provided with the enabling environment to properly showcase or exude their potentials and consequently derive the perceived rewards and benefits of their work. The frustration that comes with not succeeding at something you really want to do due to a not so encouraging environment isn’t something that everybody can bear. Christopher Columbus, who later became the first European to discover the Canary Islands and America, had to migrate from Portugal to Spain because the Government of Portugal under the rule of the king refused to encourage his ambition to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Ferdinand Magellan who later discovered the Pacific Ocean gave up his Portuguese citizenship and went to Spain because the Portuguese King didn’t encourage him to go on the voyage, he ended up being celebrated a hero back in Spain after the successful voyage!

There is a coming brain drain if the Government continues being not committed to providing the enabling environment for talented and skilled Nigerians to harness their potentials. Using Port Harcourt as a case study, as days, weeks, months, and even years go by more residents with skills, ideas, talents, and knowledge are leaving for Lagos where they believe their chances to succeed is far better. Likewise, hundreds and thousands are leaving Nigeria for other countries.
However, it isn’t wise for us to jeopardize the potential existence of future generations because of the wrong doings of a few persons called ‘Leaders’. We should still have the interest of this country at heart wherever we find ourselves either home or abroad. Let’s learn to teach the world who Nigerians really are. Stop portraying this country in a bad image! Use yourself as an example to discard the negative impressions the world may have about all Nigerians. When you can, come back home and see what you can use your exposure and success to do at least in your community and family. Our great grand children are coming to see what we have placed on ground for them. What Americans are enjoying today that’s making a lot wanting to go there are things there ‘fathers’ left for them. Please Mr. President, Senator, Governor, Minister, Commissioner, Chairman, Councilor, Police, businessman, Parent, Student, Applicant, Pastor, Soldier, and all other well meaning citizens let us try to anticipate the future consequences of the things we do today, let us not be short sighted in our thoughts and actions. The decisions of today are the realities of tomorrow. Imagine the rate at which people (brains) are flying out daily, what will happen in the next 25 years if things continue the way they are? I believe strongly that through our little efforts from whichever part of the country we find ourselves together we can avert the coming brain drain! Sacrifice and patriotism is what we need! I believe we can and we most certainly will!

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