The Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate has agreed with American business mogul Bill Gates that the increasing departure of young Nigerians and professionals seeking better chances abroad is advantageous to the country.
The Microsoft co-founder, who was in Lagos on Wednesday for an interactive session with innovators, addressed the so-called “Japa” problem at the programme titled “Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation.”
According to Gates, the recent surge of Nigerians and professionals leaving the country for ‘greener pastures’ abroad is healthy for the country.
Agreeing with Mr Gates, the Anambra former governor wrote on his personal Twitter account that the knowledge and expertise that Nigerians living in the diaspora have acquired will be crucial in re-establishing a new Nigeria.
“I read and agree with Bill Gates’s recent comment on the “Japa” syndrome, where, according to reports, he stated that the recent surge of Nigerian professionals leaving the country for greener pastures is good and healthy for our country,” Obi tweeted on Thursday.
The LP candidate asserted that while the wave may appear to be a loss right now, it will eventually turn into a benefit once the nation starts acting upright.
“I have always preached and maintained this same position on the ‘japa wave’. For years now, and throughout my campaign in the last Presidential election, especially during my tours from Canada, the USA, Germany, the UK, and other countries.
“I maintained that our brain drain today will be our brain gain tomorrow. Nigerians leaving the country may look like a loss today, but when we start doing the right things and taking the governance of our nation more seriously, the knowledge and resources from them will be critical in the building of the New Nigeria, as it happened in China, India, Ireland and other developing countries.
“Today, India prides itself as one of the countries with the biggest tech talents in the world, having produced some of the world’s top engineers and computer scientists. Many top global tech companies are headed by CEOs of Indian origin,” he stated.
Obi attributed India’s success in the technology industry to its ability to harness the knowledge and resources of Indians in the diaspora for their national growth.
He additionally stated that when Nigeria rebuilds and prioritizes investments in education, health, and assistance for small companies, Nigerians in the Diaspora will return home with their worldwide training, skills, and resources to contribute tremendously to the country’s national development.