Exodus Of Talented, Educated Nigerians Robbing The Country Of Its Human Resources — Rep

A member of House of Representatives, Mr. Jonathan Ukodhiko, has said the exodus of highly educated and skilled individuals was depriving Nigeria of its human capital and exacerbating the country’s brain drain predicament.

Ukodhiko, representing Isoko federal constituency, spoke as Chairman of the 2024 edition of the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture, at Government House, Asaba.

He blamed the flight of talents from Nigeria on economic hardship and gross unavailability of power for production.

Represented by the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, the lawmaker said: “As an oil and gas professional, I have, through my interests in the downstream and upstream sector, provided jobs for numerous Nigerians.

“However, the rate at which Nigerians are leaving the country in geometric proportion in search of greener pastures abroad is becoming worrisome.

“What is more pathetic about the situation, which is now termed ‘japa syndrome’ is because the best skilled professionals from Nigeria are leaving the country thereby creating vacuums in several sectors of our economy.

“Perhaps, what is fuelling these ‘flight of talents’ from the country include economic hardship, lack of jobs, gross unavailability of power for production, inflation and galloping exchange rates, among other factors.

“The exodus of highly educated and skilled individuals not only deprives Nigeria of its human capital but also exacerbates the brain drain predicament.

Keynote Speaker and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delta Agbor, Prof. Stella Chiemeke, noted that “Nigeria loses over 50,000 skilled professionals annually to emigration, according to United Nations Development Programme UNDP estimates.

“The brain drain is not limited to medicine, the exodus extends to diverse sectors like engineering, finance, IT, and academia, each experiencing a steady loss of their brightest,” she said.