Has Emigration Solved Our Problem?

1. Why do we immigrate?
2. What economic attainment has it brought to Nigeria?
3. Must we learn a lesson?
4. Immigration, is it another way of slavery?
5. Why don't we go home after education like the Chinese and Indians to empower their people (If you claim you immigrated for studies)
6. What legacy or impart does this have on our children?
8. Advantage/Disadvantage of immigration

omon, thanks for the correction.  Emigration.

Sbucareer

Nigerians generally do not have a strong sense of Patriotism anymore, so when you talk of emigration it is a matter of personal choice. Trust me Indians and Chinese Emigrate in larger numbers than Nigerians do and many even claim citizenship in places you would not imagine and never go back.

Well i left because i had the opportunity to leave,and i am not sorry that i left and i have been back many times and everytime i come back i validate why i left. And if u ask me i would encourage people to leave for better place in this Globe.

My reasons for emigration includes economic, education and simply to leave a better life than i had in Nigeria. It worked out well for me, i am not sure if everyone will be that lucky, but darned it they should at least try.............

1. Why do we immigrate?

For a better standard of living.  This is true because Nigerians always aspire to emigrate to countries that are better economically than Nigeria, not to poor countries.

2. What economic attainment has it brought to Nigeria?

A typical Nigerian abroad can easily sponsor several relatives in school.  Something he/she probably couldn't do living in Nigeria.  Furthermore, educated people are always a good thing for the economy in the long run.  So by helping educate more Nigerians, a Nigerian abroad is contributing economically.

3. Must we learn a lesson?

Can you elucidate that point?

4. Immigration, is it another way of slavery?

Is a lack of emigration a form of self-enslavement?  Nigeria is not exactly paradise on earth, is it?

5. Why don't we go home after education like the Chinese and Indians to empower their people (If you claim you immigrated for studies)

A typical US Medical Doctor graduates with a debt of about $100,000.  How is he going to pay that off working in Nigeria?

A banker is used to everything being highly computerised.  Do you expect him to now work in a Nigerian bank with no computers?

Skills acquired by say, a cisco CCIE may not be useful in Nigeria, since we don't have such WAN networking requirements yet.

In general, good education today attracts a salary of about $40K in the US.  A doctor, or CCIE could earn as much as $250K a year.  Think of it logically, is it better to earn this much abroad, or take a serious pay-cut working in Nigeria?

6. What legacy or impart does this have on our children?

Your children grow up having better opportunities in life than their Nigerian counterparts.
Unfortunaly, they also lose the typical African camaraderie instilled in us growing up.  That is the difference between an African and an African-American.

8. Advantage/Disadvantage of immigration

Advantages: all of the above.
Disadvantages: brain-drain in Nigeria, second-class citizens abroad, ...

The whole Nigerian environment is hostile toward business development.  You basically have to bribe your way through every thing.  Telecommuncations is poor, healthcare, our reputation abroad, R&D, low-standard of living, roads, power supply, etc, all poor.  These things are the duty of the government.  And until the government wakes up and addresse these problems, there is very little a foreign-trained Nigerian can do to make things better at home besides offer financial help from his overseas post.

Finally, let me say that emigration is not unique to Nigerians.  Millions from other countries come to the USA and never return home.  All for the same reason that they can take better care of their people back home that way.  Latinos for example swim across treacherous rivers, or walk dangerous deserts everyday to cross the US border.  Many of them never make it, and either drown or die of dehydration.

There is an estimated 28 million Mexicans living in America today.