Focus on Youth Migration and Development in the Changing World- “JAPA” era
A research was carried out by UNESCO in four major Nigerian cities –Lagos, Ibadan, Ile-Ife, and Benin City – chosen for their characteristics in relation to irregular migration, the study focused on 15- to35-year-olds. All those interviewed were susceptible to irregular migration – they were either unemployed, in their final year of tertiary education, or engaged in the compulsory National Youth Service Corps.
The young people who fell in to one or more of these categories expressed fear of the future and viewed migration as a survival strategy to escape an existence of poverty and powerlessness.
What is Migration? In this context “Human Migration”
Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another with intention of settling, permanently or temporarily, at a new location. The movement often occurs over long distances and from one country to another, but internal migration (within a single country) is also possible.
Types of Migration
Invasion - An invasion is a military offensive in which large numbers of combatants of one geopolitical entity aggressively enter territory owned by another such entity, generally with the objective of either: conquering; liberating, or re-establishing control or authority over a territory; forcing the partition of a country; altering the established government or gaining concessions from said government; or a combination of the two.
Conquest - Conquest may link in some ways with colonialism. Conquest leading to migration has contributed to race mixture and cultural exchange. The latter points influence on conquest has been of far greater significance in the evolution of society. Conquest brings humans into contact, even though it is a hostile contact.
colonization - constitutes large-scale population movements wherein migrants maintain strong links with their, or their ancestors', former country – by such links, gaining substantial privileges over other inhabitants of the territory.
Emigration - the act of leaving a resident country or place of residence with the intent to settle elsewhere (to permanently leave a country)
Immigration - It is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens.
Popular Reasons for the so-called “JAPA”
·Mass unemployment
·Poor salaries
·Poor working conditions
·Mass poverty
·Religious crises
·Communal crises
·Political crises
·Lack of quality education
An idealized vision of life abroad- An “imagined West” – an idealized view of life in western countries – is often at the heart of the immigration plan. They generally believed that those who had successfully migrated enjoyed a better quality of life. “Those who migrate outside the country often live far better than we doin Nigeria. A returnee migrant at a social gathering was seen to add glamour and prestige.
Study opportunity - This often leads to a form of step migration, where most students would rather remain in destination countries, to seek greener pastures at the end of their studies, than return home. Some of these people apply for unnecessary courses, for the sole purpose of extending their stay, studying, and working even out of their comfort to make ends meet.
Unemployment - In 2020, statistics showed that 53.4percent of young Nigerians were unemployed. These economic realities, coupled with other variables such as political instability, rising waves of conflict – and now, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic – have led to an increasing number of youth in certain categories leaving Nigeria for other countries perceived to hold greater promise. The growth and development of any nation largely depend on its human capital development, often encapsulated in training and education. The public education system in Nigeria is fraught with regular episodes of industrial action by academic and allied workers. This contributes to a loss of confidence in these institutions and disruption in education. As a result, young people have seek opportunities to study outside of Nigeria.
Brain Drain - Brain drain from Nigeria is the exodus of middle-class and highly skilled Nigerians which has been occurring in waves from the late 1980s to theearly1990s. This trend was initially restricted to certain professions but has now become free for all with the introduction of visa programs in order to fill workforce gaps in developed nations. A column from the daily trust newspaper stated that “Nigeria lost over 9,000doctors to the united kingdom, Canada and the united states of America” as stated by Nigeria medical association. Other professionals in banking and fintech are also undergoing a brain drain. Massive resignation is the order of the day.
How ready are you to;
-To cater the cost of visa processing
-The cost of flight ticket
-To be able to withstand the climate and weather condition
-To work extra hard, two or three job shifts
-To pay the price, the bills, and the sacrifice for the people we left behind.
-To avoid racial barriers and abuse (racism)
Factors to be considered for Youth Development
Many Nigerians who have emigrated or plan to emigrate to North America and Europe have expressed the unlikelihood of their return or return of the children raised in their new country of settlement to Nigeria as there is a general distrust in the Nigerian political class and their ability to reverse the ongoing downward spiral in the educational sector. The Government should take these reasons into cognizance;
-Understanding the reasons these young Nigerians are susceptible to migration may lead to policy solutions. Nigeria must bridge inequality, create employment, and guarantee security for its population.
-Employment and job security should be put in place, and minimum wage should be reviewed when due. Improving upon existing labor laws and policies to foster economic prosperity and development of the nation.
-Basic infrastructure and social amenities should be put in place, and the environment should be user-friendly. The crime rate will also reduce by funding law enforcement. Our massive youth population should be used as an incubator for manpower, industry, and technology development.
-School curricula should include information on the rights of migrants and international migration procedures.
-Education system should be a world-class system, massive investment should be made in Nigeria’s educational system, school funding, research grants, and scholarship for outstanding students. Basic amenities should be provided on campuses like a free internet connection for easy learning and smart classes.
-Programmes and activities should educate youth on the dangers and pitfalls of irregular migration. Modern-day slavery like Human trafficking, prostitution, forced labour, and kidnapping should be discussed. Nigeria must promote and build a youth-friendly economy, where enterprising young people are given the financial and practical support they need.
Inconclusion
We need to encourage ourselves to skill up and learn new things, be ready for new challenges, and always aim to be financially buoyant to migrate without becoming a nuisance and liability to the proposed dream country. Endeavor to be a good ambassador of our country wherever we found ourselves.