Mr. Jonathan Ukodhiko, a member of the House of Representatives representing Isoko federal constituency, expressed concerns over Nigeria’s brain drain predicament during the 2024 edition of the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture held at the Government House in Asaba.
As Chairman of the lecture, Ukodhiko emphasized that the exodus of highly educated and skilled individuals from Nigeria was depriving the country of its human capital, exacerbating the brain drain dilemma. He attributed this phenomenon to economic hardship and the lack of power availability for production.
Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, representing Ukodhiko at the event, underscored the gravity of the situation, highlighting the alarming rate at which Nigerians are seeking opportunities abroad, resulting in a significant loss of skilled professionals. He identified factors such as economic challenges, unemployment, power shortages, inflation, and exchange rate fluctuations as driving forces behind the “japa syndrome.”
Furthermore, the keynote speaker, Prof. Stella Chiemeke, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delta Agbor, added depth to the discussion by pointing out that Nigeria loses over 50,000 skilled professionals annually to emigration, according to estimates from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Chiemeke emphasized that the brain drain transcends the medical field, affecting sectors such as engineering, finance, IT, and academia, leading to a continuous drain of talent from the country.
