Scrolling through the cable trying to get through the boring Sunday noon, stumbled upon this show called Africa Straight Up. It’s a mini documentary telling a story and giving an insight to how Africa is the future of the world. Couldn’t help but agree to the notion. With the resources (which are terribly mismanaged due to poor governance) Africa got we are truly the future of this world. Read Tom Burgis’s The Looting Machine: Warlords, Tycoons, Smugglers and the Systematic Theft of Africa’s Wealth; some weeks back and couldn’t help but to agree with how he sees Africa – a continent with third of the Earth’s mineral deposits and some of its weakest institutions as being particularly vulnerable to the predations that arise from the combination of mineral wealth and poor governance.
Most captivating part of the documentary was when a final year Harvard student made a comment; “I’m going back home to join force with other young talented people to help develop my country. I got nothing to impact in America or Europe, they got enough brain needed for any form of development they wish to attain” she said.
Her comment gave me the thought of brain drain. Brain drain! Brain drain!! Brain drain!!!
Brain drain refers to the emigration of intelligent, well-educated individuals to somewhere for better pay or condition, causing the place they came from to lose those skilled people, or “brains”. This happens when people perceive that the leadership of a country is unstable or stagnant and thus, unable to keep up with their personal and professional ambition.
Brain drain is actually having it toil on Africa. It has led to loss of human capital, decline in economic development, affected the health sector in Africa. According to a BBC report back in 2001, brain drain cost the African continent over $4 billion (will be triple by now) in the employment of 150,000 expatriate professionals annually with Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya believed to be the most affected.
If we actually have an in-depth look at it, poor governance and lack of adequate utilization of resource are major causes of brain drain. But we shouldn’t just keep mute and let the brains that will help build and shape Africa better continue to drain away or die in the Mediterranean. We should start by standing up for what’s true and right; ensure those we vote for are those with the vision to create an atmosphere that would help talents flourish; let our vote count, supporting and working together with those with good intentions for the development of individual African country. I’m on the side that brain drain indeed has dug a hole in the better development of Africa.
I’m not implying that the brains available aren’t trying their possible best. Don’t know about you but I believe if brain drain can be curbed, our development rate will increase. We need more brain. NO ONE CAN DO IT BUT US.
12 Comments
Poor Governance!!! Hmmm! Need we say more? It is a ’cause’ with lot of negative multiplier effect among which is brain drain! Am sure the latest ship capsizes in the meditterian is still fresh in our memory where lot of blacks try to search for better standard of living in Europe but some end up losing their lives. It was even reported that a Nigerian gave birth while on board thanks to brain drain. Should we even name the baby ‘brain-drain-labi? My major concern is the graph which shows an upward rise in the rate of brain drain over the years which proves that our economy get worse over and over. The writer already did justice to the article by identifying good governance as a great step to curbing this meance. We have always hanker for that and we are not close to getting it over the years. That doesn’t mean we should give up. Lest keep the faith and be united with one voice and am confident we will get there!!! #Hopeful #Positive #Peace!!!
LOOOOL “Brain-drain-labi”.
Wao!! Nice piece….thats the truth; there is need for change in leadership style in Africa to bring about the needed development
True words!
Very true,nice writeup,scrumptious
Very Enlighten and intellectual. the rate brains keeps draining away is alarming but the reality question we should ask ourselves is that “can it actually be stopped?” Africa is filled with recycled leaders that bring nothing new to the table and they give no room to people who wants to bring about change. imagine the Burundi president seeking for third term while in the process causing unrest in the country and possible coup by their Army.
We are in serious need of incisive and insightful leaders. We need a leadership that can manage our rich pool of labour and resources. Nice one dee
…WELL SAID! BUT… ON A MORE SHARP CONTRAST, LET THOSE WHO ARE GOING GO! IF THEIR BRAIN IS GOOD ENOUGH TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AT HOME,THEY WILL NOT LEAVE. AM NOT DISMISSING THE FACT THAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN HERE,BUT IF THOSE THEY ARE RUNNING TO HAS RAN AWAY DURING THEIR TURBULENT PERIODS TOO,I WONDER WHERE THEY WILL BE RUNNING TO NOW! WRITER DÈJÌ, WELL DONE, BUT I WANT YOU TO REWRITE FROM YOURR POINT OF VIEW AND MY POINT TOO…
Turbulent Period???? When will the turbulent period end? This didn’t start yesterday, it been on for way too long.
A succinct writeup about our major problems. I agree with you totally but I want to believe personal development should serve as a push. Yes the society is not helping and all that but if someone determine to get things for him/her self without looking at the hindrances I believe such person will. Out minister of finance said most of our youths are not employable then I asked myself is she right or wrong? Then going by what I’ve seen I think she is right. Personal challenge should be individuals drive to strive upon. Nice piece dear.
I totally agree with you on the personnel development part. if we believe it we can achieve it.
found this very informative,its about time we young people stopped looking for lands of milk and honey and start creating them ourselves..looking forward to more articles from you