₦airaland Forum

I will thrive where I am. Amen.

mmsen:
A large population is rarely an asset for the people who make up that population. It is only an asset for exploiters who have a large pool of typically ill educated, poorly socialized people to take advantage of.

See India, China and Nigeria as prime examples.
It does not matter how much those economies grow the people will never stop trying to leave those countries because large populations are bad for the populace itself.

Why did you forget to include the data and the source/link for the bold claim?

Meanwhile, is Nigeria as populous as America? Do you have data on Americans never stopping to leave their country as Nigerians are leaving

datola:
Japa is actually good for Nigeria economy

Don’t you know what long term means

anonimi:
David Hundeyin
May 4, 2022


I want to sell a script to a Hollywood studio. The story is about a guy who owns a farm that constantly runs at a loss but never quite shuts down.

The farm is massive and underutilised, and the protagonist has all the opportunities in the world to improve its output and get a bumper harvest.

He has access to credit, machinery, free irrigation and gifts from neighbouring farmers, but all he ever does with these things is drink and smoke them away while his family suffers.

Nigeria has refused to grow up and achieve something, but it somehow feels as if it is living vicariously through the achievements of its estranged children around the world

Apart from drinking, smoking and generally being utterly useless, his other pastime is to pump out children at an industrial rate. Needless to say, he takes no care of his children whatsoever, and many of them fail to survive childhood.

Those who do survive have to leave the farm and hire themselves out as hired labour to the neighbouring farmers, having picked up some survival skills from home.

With time, a number of them rise through the ranks and become senior managers, directors and even shareholders in these other farms while their father continues mismanaging his farm.

When good news about some of these successful children gets home, their father is filled with pride and joy, but when they end up on the wrong side of life, he acts as if he never knew them.

The successful ones make efforts to revamp their childhood home by sending back money and volunteering their skills and time, but all this guy ever wants to do is be a 62-year-old underachieving idiot carried through life by charity and luck.

Famzing” diaspora success is dishonest
I’m sure before the end of the second paragraph, you figured out whose story I was telling. The 62-year story of post-independence Nigeria — which the Hollywood studio would surely reject for being too sad with no redemption — is that of our fictional antihero.

Nigeria has refused to grow up and achieve something, but it somehow feels as if it is living vicariously through the achievements of its estranged children around the world.

Remember how everyone from corporate brands to Abike Dabiri made a big song and dance about supporting Anthony Joshua the “Nigerian,” whose only chance to become someone in life came when his parents emigrated from Nigeria?

Remember how things turned when he somehow lost against that chubby Mexican dude whose name I can’t remember? Remember when the Super Falcons won the female AFCON title and received a congratulatory tweet from the president, only for them to have to stage a protest before being paid their camp allowances?

That’s what we do in Nigeria. We try to live vicariously through the achievements of people who have achieved great things under their own steam, simply because said people happen to be called ‘Ifeoma,’ ‘Efe’ and ‘Ayotunde.’

Even when Nigeria had absolutely nothing to do with said success, or in fact happened in spite of Nigeria, as with Divine Oduduru, we bask in the reflected glory of their personal achievements.

Sometimes when those people wear a Nigerian flag or post something about Wizkid or Jollof Rice on Instagram, we go crazy with the Nigerian flag emojis because oh my god, they identify with us!

This is not about being a Killjoy
Somehow, the complete failure of Nigeria and our complicity in its failure is more bearable when we point at Nigerian immigrants doing great things in life and say “I knew Femi before he started calling himself Anthony.

His father and I were classmates in Aiyetoro.” It is unclear how exactly this helps our situation but hey, it’s also unclear how chugging the amount of alcohol we do helps either.

Escapism is a key part of our culture, and anyone who dissents must be a non-Jollof-eating, vegetarian heretic, and possibly also an atheist.

Now while all this is painfully cringey to my eyes, some will also point out that Nigeria is not the only country that has a weird obsession with its diaspora population.

Even ‘first-world’ countries like Ireland continue to have deep emotional and economic connections to their diaspora, and in any case Nigerians proudly supporting Anthony Joshua or the NBA’s Giannis Ante…African-sounding-name is basically harmless fun. They’re not hurting anyone. Why be such a killjoy, David?

The reason this matters can be found in a quote that has been dubiously attributed to Russian President Vladmir Putin, where he describes Africa as the place where its diaspora does not invest in, but returns to only to die and be buried with their ancestors.

While there is no concrete evidence that Mr. Putin ever actually made that comment, the truth in it is painfully poignant.

For diaspora success to be meaningful to Nigeria, it must correlate to on-ground results in Nigeria. The example of Somalia shows that having a well-educated, globally successful diaspora while being an absolute basket case are both possible at the same time.

I’d imagine we do not aspire to be Somalia.

I thought japan and south Korea are the technology capital of the world!

CodeTemplar:
Remittances is a good strategy for long term growth. OP is yarning dust. Take the Chinese for example. They had boots on ground in USA to help grow the US economy for decades but when they became rivals economically and otherwise to USA, the USA kicked them out to the gain of China where they returned to. Ours too can be like that. USA is a technological capital of the world and a good place for Nigerians to grow personally while growing the economy and balancing off imports or trade from USA.

Interesting read ! I just hope the leaders would read and hear. May God help us all

ShenTeh:
Lol.

There is no paradox here. It is rather the results of our government's lack of foresight and long term planning that are ruffling.

I have said this repeatedly, for instance, our population, as is, is an asset if we know how to explore that. And one of the ways is to look at the number of willing JAMB candidates who are turned down from studying medicine and offered less competitive uni courses like Agric and zoology for instance.

We could increase our capacity for admitting core medical students into our unis with a grand plan towards exporting their services to around the world when they graduate. We could design a simple pathway for that. We would have more than enough for domestic healthcare and for export benefits. We could begin to reap benefits under 10 years and that is even a very short term ROI in the life of a country.

But no, we would moan on one hand that we don't want our people to japa and cry on the other that diaspora remittances are needed.

brilliant insights, you took the words out of my mouth, while the brain drain is seen by the myopic minded as a challenge, I see it as a huge goldmine for our super brilliant citizens who can profit enormously at an individual level, at family level and at a huge boost to our economic through massive diaspora remittances, there are millions of nursing and Doctors vacancies worldwide, why don't we target that alone by training thousands of them and send to those areas of need, thru that alone we can hit a hundred billion dollars in remittances

id4sho:
Japaaaaa oOoOO, Tinubu is after my life

You have the strength and energy to born millions of children per year BUT you don’t have the common sense to produce things 🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

Suffer suffer stoopid Nigerians…….🤨

Satazaa:
brilliant insights, you took the words out of my mouth, while the brain drain is seen by the myopic minded as a challenge, I see it as a huge goldmine for our super brilliant citizens who can profit enormously at an individual level, at family level and at a huge boost to our economic through massive diaspora remittances, there are millions of nursing and Doctors vacancies worldwide, why don't we target that alone by training thousands of them and send to those areas of need, thru that alone we can hit a hundred billion dollars in remittances

Have you done a thorough risk management analysis on this idea? Other more efficient countries see the same gap and are already producing the health professionals to fill in the gaps. And if you don’t know, AI tools and robots are already in production to make Doctors redundant.

We can’t keep producing babies (increasing population), without a corresponding increase in industrial production. What are we creating these babies for?

Love800:
I thought japan and south Korea are the technology capital of the world!

Hahaha hahaha. So hilarious.

most nigerians fail to realize there are two side to life, not everyone will japa and not everyone success lies on japa,

What a brilliant submission from the writer of this article.

However, I disagree with the writer where he stated Nigeria as a nation is a consumption country rather than producing nation, stating such fact without a proof is as good as a mere assumption.

For Nigeria to benefit from emigration of the Nigerian citizens to foreign countries, the country needs to build a robust and highly enabling and enviable environment to attract investments from Nigerians and Nigerians in the diaspora.

Am i correct or not?

shegzhkn:
Hahaha hahaha. So hilarious.

Love800:
Am i correct or not?

Lol. You find out.

Alright.

shegzhkn:
Lol. You find out.

FutureFocus:
I see , even guys some Nigerian in dispora buy gadget cheaply from me, they claimed it’s too expensive over there and then send fund to Nigeria , I will advice the Nigeria government encourage this gadgets companies to produce here as it would reduce unemployment, those companies will employ our people here

Tell Bose, JBL to produce whatever they want to sell here.

We don't need to tell them. Give them light and they will come by themselves.

We need to fix the structural issues.

SmartyPants:
We don't need to tell them. Give them light and they will come by themselves.

We need to fix the structural issues.

I agree

ShenTeh:
Lol.

There is no paradox here. It is rather the results of our government's lack of foresight and long term planning that are ruffling.

I have said this repeatedly, for instance, our population, as is, is an asset if we know how to explore that. And one of the ways is to look at the number of willing JAMB candidates who are turned down from studying medicine and offered less competitive uni courses like Agric and zoology for instance.

We could increase our capacity for admitting core medical students into our unis with a grand plan towards exporting their services to around the world when they graduate. We could design a simple pathway for that. We would have more than enough for domestic healthcare and for export benefits. We could begin to reap benefits under 10 years and that is even a very short term ROI in the life of a country.

But no, we would moan on one hand that we don't want our people to japa and cry on the other that diaspora remittances are needed.

This has been my thoughts as well. Take India and even Philippines for example. Let's establish more specialized schools, medical schools, technical schools.

FutureFocus:
some Nigerian in dispora buy gadget cheaply from me, they claimed it’s too expensive over there and then send fund to Nigeria , I will advice the Nigeria government encourage this gadgets companies to produce here as it would reduce unemployment, those companies will employ our people here

Tell Bose, JBL to produce whatever they want to sell here.

Nigeria should FIX POWER & SECURITY FIRST! Then, Bose, JBL and many more companies will do anything to manufacture & run business in Nigeria!!

id4sho:
Japaaaaa oOoOO, Tinubu is after my life

Hahaha 🤣, wetin Tinubu, Buhari Osibanjo and APC do you, haha 🤣

datola:
Japa is actually good for Nigeria economy

You are correct...meanwhile ... kindly note that Nigeria no get economy to start with...


Naija economy don die tey try

Na other countries economy we dey run for here

For every Nigerian that travels abroad...he/she will most likely remember to send something home whether to show benevolence or to build a project

And for every penny sent home...improves the economy at home

Now see the number of Nigerians we have in Europe, Asia , middle east , America

ShenTeh:
Lol.

There is no paradox here. It is rather the results of our government's lack of foresight and long term planning that are ruffling.

I have said this repeatedly, for instance, our population, as is, is an asset if we know how to explore that. And one of the ways is to look at the number of willing JAMB candidates who are turned down from studying medicine and offered less competitive uni courses like Agric and zoology for instance.

We could increase our capacity for admitting core medical students into our unis with a grand plan towards exporting their services to around the world when they graduate. We could design a simple pathway for that. We would have more than enough for domestic healthcare and for export benefits. We could begin to reap benefits under 10 years and that is even a very short term ROI in the life of a country.

But no, we would moan on one hand that we don't want our people to japa and cry on the other that diaspora remittances are needed.

You made sense. Increase the capacity of the universities (federal, states and private) to be able to take more medical students instead of letting talents, brilliance and intelligence goes to waste

SmartyPants:
We don't need to tell them. Give them light and they will come by themselves.

We need to fix the structural issues.

Lol they would come themselves
Like they care about you and want you to produce for them to buy . Oga west give us education, but for their side small boy dey create electricity appliances and co . Wetin Nigerian electelect graduate dey produce

Zooboytwo:
Lol they would come themselves
Like they care about you and want you to produce for them to buy . Oga west give us education, but for their side small boy dey create electricity appliances and co . Wetin Nigerian electelect graduate dey produce

You don't understand what we are talking about here. Take your time and read what the poster I responded to said.

theophorus:
Diaspora Remittance, that one self he good.

Make me self dey reason this Japa things.

Ps: who get 20Milla wen he no need make he DM for my Opay details, I Wan use the money runs some package.

How , u dey use jazz?

No need to sensationalize.

Positiveme2020:
How , u dey use jazz?

Wetin you think?

DM make I send you Opay Details for #20M deposit.

SapaProMax:
The crux of the matter be say. This pattern is not sustainable. After 2 or 3 generations of person wey japa, dem no go remit shishi here again.


No be small paradox

Happening in India already. No body at home to send money to

mmsen:
A large population is rarely an asset for the people who make up that population. It is only an asset for exploiters who have a large pool of typically ill educated, poorly socialized people to take advantage of.

See India, China and Nigeria as prime examples.
It does not matter how much those economies grow the people will never stop trying to leave those countries because large populations are bad for the populace itself.

poorly socialised people

That is my punchline from your post
That was lovely

ShenTeh:
Lol.

There is no paradox here. It is rather the results of our government's lack of foresight and long term planning that are ruffling.

I have said this repeatedly, for instance, our population, as is, is an asset if we know how to explore that. And one of the ways is to look at the number of willing JAMB candidates who are turned down from studying medicine and offered less competitive uni courses like Agric and zoology for instance.

We could increase our capacity for admitting core medical students into our unis with a grand plan towards exporting their services to around the world when they graduate. We could design a simple pathway for that. We would have more than enough for domestic healthcare and for export benefits. We could begin to reap benefits under 10 years and that is even a very short term ROI in the life of a country.

But no, we would moan on one hand that we don't want our people to japa and cry on the other that diaspora remittances are needed.

You spoke well and truthful

anonimi:
Why did you forget to include the data and the source/link for the bold claim?

Meanwhile, is Nigeria as populous as America? Do you have data on Americans never stopping to leave their country as Nigerians are leaving

America is a terrible example as the world's only superpower, largest economy, a nation of "immigrants" and thus the glaring exception to the rule but if you narrowed the field to OECD nations the image is not at all favorable. While Americans are less likely to leave their home (most don't have passports) their life chances on average are lower than other high income countries.
https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low

Why do Americans have shorter life expectancy and worse health than people in other high-income countries?
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4112220/

Indians are leaving the country in droves
https://m.economictimes.com/nri/migrate/indians-are-leaving-the-country-in-droves-heres-where-they-are-headed-and-why/articleshow/96847173.cms

China to see biggest millionaire exodus in 2024 as many head to U.S.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/Wealth-Management/China-to-see-biggest-millionaire-exodus-in-2024-as-many-head-to-U.S

China’s millionaires eye the exit as economic storm clouds gather
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/1/8/chinese-millionaires-eye-the-exit-as-economic-storm-clouds-gather

Why Are More Chinese Migrants Arriving at the U.S. Southern Border?
https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/05/07/china-us-southern-border-migration-darien-gap/

FutureFocus:
some Nigerian in dispora buy gadget cheaply from me, they claimed it’s too expensive over there and then send fund to Nigeria , I will advice the Nigeria government encourage these gadgets companies to produce here as it would reduce unemployment, those companies will employ our people here

Tell Bose, JBL to produce whatever they want to sell here.

How is it possible?

If you produce in US and you export to Nigeria, the price will broadly be Production cost + Export costs + Profit margin.
Going by this, whatever you buy in US should be cheaper than in Nigeria because Export costs are not charged to the product.

Drella:
How is it possible?

If you produce in US and you export to Nigeria, the price will broadly be Production cost + Export costs + Profit margin.
Going by this, whatever you buy in US should be cheaper than in Nigeria because Export costs are not charged to the product.

Check my previous post to find out if possible or not