Brain Drain And The Development In Nigeria

A growing number of Nigerian intellectuals and professionals are entering the stream of international migration away from the continent not just from the country of birth. 

This research work examines the growing numbers of Nigerian intellectuals and professionals to developed countries and the focus of the paper will be on the causes of the migration, its history and current trends, the consequences on Nigeria’s economic development; and the prospects for future emigration and policy options for Nigeria.

Migration in perspective shouldn’t have been a problem considering the increase in population against the resources available per person but it is a cause for concern because trained individuals in different fields whose services contribute to the socioeconomy are depleting. Hence political reasons, insecurity, a substandard education system, unequal wealth distribution amongst others become justifiable grounds for ‘checking out’ of the country. 

The collection of data in this work is documentary; analysing historical facts as well as drawing figures and statistics from public reports, archives, journals etc.  Using Neo-classical migration theory, we connect the missing dots as to show the correlation between emigration and brain drain and highlight the push-pull factors responsible for it. 

At the end of the study, it is indeed cognizant to say that Nigeria has to assure her people by developing employment security, ensuring a better education system and improving the social economic status of workers to make certain that they are employed for their skills and paid according to the measure of their services- all these for the benefit of the development of Nigeria.