Professor of English and Literary Studies at the University of Nigeria, Prof. Florence Onyebuchi Orabueze, has described Nigeria’s growing migration trend, popularly known as Japa, as a reflection of deeper governance and socio-economic challenges, saying many young Nigerians are leaving the country because they have lost confidence in the system.
Orabueze, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNN Branch, made the remarks during an interview with Freedom Square Tv, by Uchenna Cyril Anioke Ph.D, where she spoke on leadership, youth development and the future of Nigeria.
While acknowledging that many Nigerians leave in search of better opportunities, the professor cautioned against viewing migration as a guaranteed path to success, noting that migrants often face discrimination, uncertainty and difficult living conditions abroad.
“The Japa syndrome shows that there are serious problems in the country. Everybody wants to leave because they are looking for better opportunities. But I always tell people that there is no place like home,” she said.
She pointed to global migration realities, noting that many countries are becoming increasingly protective of their labour markets and immigration systems.
According to her, Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad should understand that every nation naturally prioritises the welfare of its own citizens.
“You can see what is happening in different parts of the world. Migration has become a major issue. Every country wants to protect its own people. One day, those countries may begin to question why migrants are there,” she said.
Orabueze lamented that many young Nigerians undertake dangerous journeys across deserts and seas in pursuit of a better life, with some never reaching their destinations.
“Some people pass through the Sahara Desert. Some die there because of dehydration. Others lose their lives in the Mediterranean Sea. These are painful realities,” she said.
The professor argued that the desperation driving many young people to migrate is rooted in unemployment, economic hardship, insecurity and declining confidence in public institutions.
According to her, rather than merely condemning the Japa trend, government should address the underlying conditions pushing citizens out of the country.
She maintained that creating quality jobs, improving security, strengthening educational institutions and restoring confidence in governance would reduce the pressure on young professionals to seek opportunities abroad.
Beyond migration, Orabueze expressed concern over what she described as Africa’s failure to harness its enormous natural wealth for the benefit of its people.
She observed that despite possessing vast deposits of strategic minerals such as cobalt, lithium, gold, diamonds and uranium, many African countries continue to struggle with poverty and underdevelopment.
“God has blessed Africa with enormous natural resources, but we have not managed them well. We have cobalt, lithium, gold, diamonds, uranium and many other resources. Yet people come here to exploit those resources while many Africans remain poor,” she said.
She attributed the situation to poor governance and weak civic responsibility, arguing that both leaders and citizens share responsibility for the continent’s development challenges.
“It is because we do not have good leaders, and we also do not have good followers. Leadership is important, but followership is equally important,” she added.
The scholar urged Nigerian youths not to abandon hope despite prevailing challenges, encouraging them to remain disciplined, develop themselves and contribute positively to nation-building.
She also called on governments across Africa to invest more deliberately in education, infrastructure, industrialisation and youth empowerment, stressing that sustainable development would only be achieved when citizens are provided with opportunities to thrive within their own countries.
According to Orabueze, reversing the migration trend requires more than policy pronouncements. It demands visionary leadership, accountable governance and sustained investment in sectors capable of creating meaningful opportunities for young people.
“The solution is not simply telling people not to leave. The real solution is creating a country where young people can see a future for themselves,” she said.