Dr Adesina Urges Investment in Nigeria’s Youth to Combat ‘Japa’ Syndrome

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, has called for major investments to reverse Nigeria’s accelerating youth brain drain, often referred to as the ‘Japa’ syndrome, which sees young Nigerians leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad. Speaking during a special lecture to mark the 90th birthday of Nigeria’s former President, General Yakubu Gowon, Adesina emphasised that economic hardships are driving the exodus, a trend that could undermine Nigeria’s potential for economic rejuvenation and global dominance.

“The rate and speed at which Nigerians are leaving the country risks undermining Nigeria’s drive for economic rejuvenation,” Adesina warned during the lecture, held at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja. He stressed the need to turn the ‘Japa’ mindset, which translates to “we are leaving,” into ‘Ja Pada,’ meaning “we are going back.”

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One of the key measures Adesina highlighted is the African Development Bank’s approval of $100 million for the establishment of a Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank in Nigeria. This initiative, he said, aims to support the businesses of Nigerian youth through technical assistance, business incubation, and investments in equity and debt financing. The bank’s focus will be to empower young entrepreneurs and address the root causes of youth migration.

Adesina also mentioned the bank’s investment of $614 million in Nigeria’s Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) program, which aims to create 6.4 million jobs and contribute $6 billion to the country’s GDP. These initiatives are part of broader efforts to stem the loss of Nigeria’s young and innovative talent.

A Global Nigeria Starts with Poverty Reduction

In his lecture, Adesina outlined a nine-point plan to build a “Global Nigeria,” starting with addressing poverty. He noted that 133 million Nigerians are classified as multidimensionally poor, linking this to the rise in crime, banditry, and kidnappings. He urged the Nigerian government to prioritise poverty alleviation, emphasising that a prosperous nation must first be free from poverty.

Adesina also called for urgent action to ensure food security, urging the government to revive successful agricultural programs such as the Growth Enhancement Scheme and the e-wallet initiative, which he pioneered during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture. These programs had delivered seeds and fertilisers to over 15 million farmers, helping to stabilise food prices across the country. He further noted that the bank, in partnership with other organisations, has invested $314 million in emergency food production and $814 million in Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones across eight states.

Investing in Education and Infrastructure

Highlighting the importance of education, Adesina pointed out that only 7% of Nigeria’s population has access to higher education. To compete on the global stage, Nigeria must invest heavily in education and innovation. He also stressed the importance of building globally competitive infrastructure, mentioning the bank’s efforts to mobilise $15 billion for the Lagos-Abidjan trade corridor and support the development of a railway line connecting Kano in Nigeria to Maradi in Niger.

Tackling Nigeria’s Electricity Crisis

Another pressing issue Adesina addressed is Nigeria’s chronic power shortages. He described the country’s reliance on generators as abnormal, urging urgent reforms to provide universal access to electricity. The African Development Bank’s $20 billion Desert to Power initiative, which aims to electrify the Sahel, includes Nigeria among the 11 beneficiary countries. Adesina also announced a joint initiative, Mission 300, in collaboration with the World Bank, which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

Industrialisation and Economic Sovereignty

Adesina reflected on Nigeria’s past industrialisation efforts, lamenting the missed opportunity to become a leader in automobile manufacturing. He praised Innoson, a Nigerian indigenous automobile company, and called for scaling up industrial production to enable Nigeria to compete globally. “Nigeria, 64 years after independence, should not be a developing country. Nigeria should be a developed nation,” he asserted.

A Call to Action for Nigeria’s Leaders

General Yakubu Gowon, in his response, lauded Adesina’s vision and called on Nigerian leaders to heed his advice. Gowon described the lecture as timely and relevant for all levels of government. The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who described the gathering as a moment of national significance. Dr. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, represented President Bola Tinubu, while former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Ibrahim Babangida sent goodwill messages.

Adesina’s lecture underscored the vital role that youth investment, poverty reduction, and infrastructure development must play in creating a thriving, globally competitive Nigeria. As the country grapples with challenges ranging from economic hardship to a brain drain, his call to action resonated as a vision of hope and renewal.

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Source: The African Development Bank