HomeTechnology PoliciesBrain Drain in Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem Technology Policies Brain Drain in Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem A popular quote by Dr. Martin Luther King JR says “You can never do the right thing at the wrong time or at the wrong place. The world is seemingly unfair. If it were actually fair, why would I have been born in Africa? A country which has proven a key protagonist in concedes to convert the sheer fantasies of young technological conjectures to mere illusions. Although not all of her citizens have been cajoled into tolerating the impoverished state of the dysfunctional economic and technological status of their country, they have taken a long walk to freedom and opportunities even beyond the wings of imagination of their technological mindset. Statistics have proven that in the last decade one third of Africa’s technological potentials have left the continent and more than 50% of this working potential is from Nigeria. The question now is “what effect does this emigration infuse on the technological state of Nigeria”? BRAIN DRAIN is basically the emigration of resourceful citizens with talents and gifts from a country with less or low quality resources to one which has resources to offer. In simpler words this is called talent mobility. A popular quote by Sean Covey says that; “before you climb the ladder of success, make sure your ladder is leaning on the right building. Many technological innovations cannot lean on to the economic state of Nigeria towards the embracement of their dreams. America most especially, and other developed countries have therefore conceptualized the infidelities of Africa in adapting fully into the technological jungle resulting in the most congenial solution thereby exporting Africa’s talent solely to develop their productivity even more than it already is . Nigeria has proven itself worthy of international consciousness even from the late 19th century. Contributions have been made by notable Nigerians like Philip Emeagwali who developed the world’s fastest computer. Philip chased opportunities abroad when Nigeria nearly jettisoned the young man’s dreams to make an impact towards technology. The atmosphere seemingly is more and more frenzied as the days go by. To be plausible enough, Nigeria has not gotten any better even at the advent of the 20th century although some resuscitation attempts have been made. This is fully because the government has acted in synergy of destroying the greatest resource to technological development. This resource is EDUCATION. Sandwiched with strike and insurgency, Nigerian universities are nightmares to its members as they have trivialized the value of age. How will the most prestigious university of a country keep its students in stagnancy at the same level for 3 years? The vast exodus of technological talents shouldn’t be surprising. Developed countries need those minds that Nigeria is trivializing upon. The maple leaf country- Canada, has received more immigrants from Nigeria than heaven has received saints from Nigeria in the last decade. These countries have good educational systems and companies that are willing to support innovative minds and they are giving it out on a platter of gold expecting to also benefit from it. Imagine a country banning crypto currency which has seemed to be a source of revenue that youths of Nigeria just started meddling with? Even the government does not support the good atmosphere of innovation. Brain drain is actually a blessing in disguise. The day Nigeria regains consciousness of how we can utilize our brain drain into brain gain only then will the technological ecosystem of Nigeria itself experience tremendous growth. This brain drain can actually serve as a solution to Nigeria’s dysfunctional economical system. Why are professionals employed from China when Nigeria has about 30% of technological presence overseas? Let Nigeria begin to become scrupulous about the blessings God has deposited in her all around the world. There should be a special organization empowered solely for keeping intuitive communication between all Nigeria’s brained drained individuals overseas. Research has proven that about 70% of its individuals actually want to come home, but this can’t be possible if the government continues making the environment suffocating for its citizens. The bitter truth is that the land on the other side will always be greener if the figurative ground of Nigeria’s technological ecosystem is watered by potentials and when I say potentials, I mean indigenes of this great country who have gained skill all over the globe. Moreover, why will I leave Massachusetts Institute of Technology to come and lecture software development at the University of Ibadan, when I know fully well how Nigerian government has been tangling with their lecturers salaries for years? The most celebrated profession in Nigeria is terrorism not education, not innovation or technology. This must change. Also, there should be creation of companies and institutes in which the younger generation will see congeniality to express their thoughts and ideas on information technology. Let us germinate ideas and let them be developed under our nose. It may just be one adolescent guy in an indigent neighborhood but with innovations that are richer than the country Nigeria itself. And finally to all those lucky privileged persons out there, please don’t behave niggardly about your opportunity. Turn your brain drain to brain gain. The future of technology is bleak in Nigeria if the protagonists of this great future are all over Asia and America abetting their development. We can transform our brain drain to brain gain. Support PisonTechAfrica.com For inspiring tech content and articles, PisonTechAfrica.com is the platform to go. Great content takes a lot of resources; we are poised to motivate young start-ups and give them leverage with our platform. It is a platform for inspiring tech entrepreneurs to display their talents. Africa is the next big thing for technology. PisonTechAfrica.com is the tech media platform committed to positioning Africa in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Donate Ajibade Temitope Emmanuel Share This Previous ArticleThe Rise of the Cryptocurrency Emperor Satoshi Nakamoto Next ArticleHow to Build Africa's Economy through Technology 2 March 9, 2021
