The Chief of Mission to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, International Organisation for Migration, Laurent M.J. de Boeck, has described the recent invitation of Nigerian teachers to the United Kingdom.
Speaking about the heavy emigration in Nigeria de Boeck said, “I’m aware of it and I see things changing. I think it’s an indicator of a menace of the youths not recognising themselves in a country as an opportunity for life. They are looking for better opportunities.
“I think we have to look at it from the perspective of the demography. I think there is a demography pressure on the country and on the government, also on any institution to structure. Year after year, it has only increased.
“We have more youths entering the labour market and the big secret is to create employment at the same pace. So, migration is one of the solutions and we are not against it, the only thing that is extremely important is to inform the youths that they shouldn’t believe anyone luring them with offers.
The UK lately announced a policy encouraging teachers from other countries to come in. Don’t you think it’s a strategy used by some developed countries to steal Nigeria’s human capital and that of other developing nations?
I will agree with you. It’s unfair because it’s two different levels if you compare what they are offering and I will say that the government here should be aware that if they do not provide a conducive environment, those qualified people will go, so, it’s a natural choice, what people will do to seek better conditions.
They may not consider all the social aspects, that they may not necessarily be well treated, they may lose their job, be homesick, because that happens. We never really heard that much of those who have left, that they may not have employment but it’s not necessarily the panacea and in addition, they feel excluded and there may be some form of discrimination in some countries. So, there are different aspects of social lives, which they will lose by going.
If we look exclusively at the economical side, maybe it’s better and indeed, it’s unfair. I think it will be a government to government agreement to look at how they can take them with a condition that they should come back and reinvest or gain after their expertise in the country and I think we should be advocating specifically on those two sectors, education and health, because these are key for both the social and health development of any nation. I cannot condemn (the UK policy) because it’s a freedom of people, it’s a choice but I will say that, yes, I find it unfair.
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