Japa or Join Hands? Youths Across the Globe Confronts Nigeria’s Reality
By Staff Reporter - RYNIblog News Desk
@DoublePrince
ABUJA, NIGERIA | June 16, 2025
Young Nigerians across the globe gathered virtually on Saturday, June 14, 2025, to unpack one of the most defining questions of their generation: To Japa or to Join Hands? The high-level summit, hosted by the Resourceful Youth Network Initiative (RYNI) in collaboration with the Motherof Redeemer Catholic Old Student Association (MORCOSA), brought together thought leaders, professionals, and youths from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada for a rigorous discussion themed “Japa Dilemma vs Nigerian Survival Culture: Exploring the Challenges, Benefits and Opportunities.”
Held on Zoom, the event provided an interactive platform for candid conversations around the realities of youth migration, the dream of a better Nigeria, and the urgent need for systemic transformation.
Opening: “We Must Begin to Build Together”
In his opening remarks, Dr. Lawson Obazenu, CEO of RYNI, set the tone by emphasizing the urgency of youth involvement in Nigeria’s future:
“This summit isn’t just about debating Japa. It’s about empowering our generation to think critically, act boldly, and lead responsibly—whether within Nigeria or from the diaspora. We must begin to build the Nigeria we want.”
Also delivering opening remarks was Mr. Uzum Emmanuel, National President of MORCOSA who highlighted the summit’s purpose:
“We are here because we believe in the capacity of young Nigerians to change the course of this nation. This platform is not for lamentation—it is for solution-driven dialogue.”
Most Youths Say “Japa”—Systemic Failures Blamed
The summit’s live chat section was a torrent of hard truths. Most youths voiced their frustrations with Nigeria’s current state—from corruption and insecurity to unemployment and lack of infrastructure.
“We don’t want to run, but we are forced to. We fight our environment daily,” one participant typed.
Another echoed, “Japa isn’t a trend—it’s a coping mechanism.”
Yet even amidst disillusionment, a recurring sentiment emerged: If the system works, we will stay.
Clash of Realities: Painful Truths, Powerful Visions
Moderated by Dr. Lawson Obazenu, CEO of RYNI, the event featured ten panelists—five based in Nigeria, five in the diaspora—who shared deeply personal reflections.
Panelists didn’t sugar-coat. They faced Nigeria’s harshest truths: systemic rot, epileptic power, unemployment, insecurity, poor healthcare, and failing education.
Diaspora panelists insisted life abroad offers structure, stability, dignity, and safety. “You are not spending 80% of your energy fighting the system just to exist,” one said. “You are free to build.”
Yet, home-based panelists countered powerfully: “In Nigeria, if you think outside the box and hustle smart—you make it faster. Impact is quicker. You can be your own system.” Another panelist added, “Chaos is our currency, and those who master it become kings.”
Still, on both sides, there was agreement: the real enemy is not those who leave or stay. It’s the systems that push them out—or hold them down.
The key highlights from panelists
Amb. Ogagaoghene Ogheneyolega, Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Government on Talent Development, delivered one of the most heartfelt takes:
“Yes, there are systemic failures, but I still believe there is hope in Nigeria. It is actually easier to make it here than abroad, if you’re focused and determined. Our youth should stop waiting for perfect conditions and start building their future now.”
Engr. Donald Umunna, a UK-based energy consultant, summarized the dilemma poignantly: “It’s not like we’ve completely left—one leg in, one leg out. If economic, political, and security issues are addressed, we’d move back to base.”
Dr. Chukwudi Ochuba, Global Medical Services Lead at Lilly Hospital, urged youths to take charge of their destinies: “Do a personal SWOT analysis. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Grab opportunities and guard against threats. At Lilly, we make hospitals feel like home for the sick—that’s the future we want.”
Emmanuel Onwuka, a tech delivery expert in the UK, encouraged realism: “Not everyone thrives abroad. Abroad gives equity in opportunity. In Nigeria, juicy jobs often require connections. But make a decision based on what works for you.”
From Nigeria, Engr. Yahaya Moses of Senior Lecturer at Petroleum Training Institute, Delta State took a nationalistic tone: “I can only holiday abroad. For me, Nigeria is home. Let’s strive for academic excellence. Oil companies come to PTI for top graduates. Our politicians send their kids abroad to study, then they return to rule us.”
Japa and the Diaspora: Give Back or Stay Away?
Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, former NARD president and a U.S.-based orthopedic surgeon, was straightforward : “We leave because there’s no enabling environment. If the government provides it, people will stay.”
When asked what policy could stop the Japa wave, Mr. John, based in Nigeria but with family abroad, replied: “Security, good roads, and energy. Nigerians have ideas that can rival any Western country, but the system stifles them.”
Mr. Peter Pemu, a nurse practitioner in the U.S., reflected: “Survival is human nature. Yes, there’s a survival culture in the U.S., but it’s structured. Here, you work and earn dignity.”
For Obinna Ugwuanyi, the story is different. He’s thriving in Nigeria: “It is possible to make it here. I did. But you need focus, strategy, and grit.”
Emuobosa Orode, a Canadian administrative officer, acknowledged the pull of functioning systems abroad: “Education is a major legal route to Japa. But it also equips you to give back to Nigeria. Systems work better in Canada, but we can build better ones here too.”
The Turning Point: The ₦15 Million Question
A pivotal moment came when Dr. Lawson Obazenu asked: “If given ₦15 million today, would you Japa or invest in Nigeria?”
To the surprise of many, two participants said they’d invest in Nigeria—not flee. From agritech to education startups, attendees listed opportunities they would explore if basic infrastructure and support were in place.
“We need systems, not saviors,” one youth wrote.
Closing Reflections: From Conversations to Action
In his closing remarks, Mr. Uzum Emmanuel, President of MORCOSA, praised the event:
“I’m deeply impressed by the energy, the insight, and the active participation of young Nigerians. This is what nation-building looks like.”
Dr. Obazenu echoed this optimism, while calling for action:
“Believe in the Nigerian dream. Yes, the government must do more, but we—diaspora and local youths—must also unite. Together, we can create the Nigeria we desire.”
He emphasized the need for partnerships, policy advocacy, and follow-up engagements.
Plans are already underway for a sequel summit in July/August 2025, aimed at developing a youth-led action plan for nation-building.
The Verdict: Japa or Join Hands?
The summit didn’t end the migration debate, but it reframed it. For the youth of Nigeria, the real question is no longer “Should I Japa?” but “What can I do for Nigeria—whether home or abroad?”
As Amb. Ugagaoghene Ogheneyolega aptly put it:
“Nigeria is not just a location—it’s a people. Whether you stay or go, you must contribute to the nation’s healing.”
Whether in Lagos or London, Port Harcourt US or Ottawa, the message is the same:
The time to build Nigeria is now. Together.
Build. Lead. Empower.
Japa may be the symptom, but the solution lies in our hands.
Comments
Post a Comment