As Physiotherapists whose profession in Nigeria has been severely impacted by brain drain, watching the news about the xenophobic crime in South Africa made one curious why certain tribes in Nigeria apparently favour migration more than others. It is usually viewed purely from a socio-economic perspective but if northern Nigeria is relatively poorer than other regions, why are they less likely to migrate out of the country in search of “greener pastures” Why are the southerners-despite being relatively economically advantaged more likely to seek greener pastures?

First, a little humour...
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seriously though...
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Why are southerners more open to the idea of migration and northerners appear more resistant? Why are southerners more likely to seek higher education abroad and remain there while the few northerners who go abroad are more likely to return home?
Answer: A northerner’s sense of identity is more deeply rooted and enduring than the southerners.
If asked to prove this, the obvious and lazy answer is religion and language…
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But let’s probe a little deeper.
If both the north and south are both part of the country Nigeria, what made the southerners more susceptible? Are there other factors which shape the notion of identity?
For that, we have to explore history…

The only answer to all this your write-up is contentment. If you lack that, you will tour the whole world looking for money.

Who said igbos are not likely to come home when they traveled abroad? An average Igbo man's mentality is to go and make money abroad just to come and show it off in his village. It is only in those places yoh hear things like he has arrived and announcing arrivals etc.

Meanwhile, most of them get killed by local hustlers otherwise known as kidnappers who would kidnap them with a view to collecting their shares.

The mentality of a typical northerner is to work and die for govt