The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) has expressed agreement with Bill Gates, an American Business Mogul, regarding his statement that the significant emigration of young Nigerians and professionals seeking better opportunities overseas is advantageous for the nation.
During an interactive session with innovators in Lagos, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, addressed the phenomenon known as “Japa,” focusing on the theme ‘Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation.’
Gates stated that the recent increase in Nigerians and professionals leaving the country for more favorable conditions abroad is beneficial for the country.
Concurring with Mr. Gates, the former governor of Anambra shared his agreement on his personal Twitter account, emphasizing that the knowledge and expertise gained by Nigerians living in the diaspora will play a crucial role in rebuilding a new Nigeria.
On Thursday, Obi tweeted that he had read and endorsed Bill Gates’s recent statement on the “Japa” syndrome. According to reports, Gates expressed the view that the recent increase of Nigerian professionals departing the country in search of better opportunities abroad is positive and beneficial for Nigeria.
The LP candidate strongly stated that although the current wave of emigration may seem like a loss at present, it will ultimately become advantageous once the nation begins to act responsibly.
“I have consistently advocated and held the same position regarding the ‘japa wave.’ This stance has been evident for years, including during my presidential campaign and my tours to various countries such as Canada, the USA, Germany, the UK, and others.”
“I have consistently maintained that our brain drain today will eventually transform into brain gain. Although the departure of Nigerians from the country may appear to be a loss in the present, it is when we begin implementing proper governance and taking our nation’s affairs more seriously that their knowledge and resources will become crucial in building the New Nigeria. We have witnessed similar occurrences in countries like China, India, and Ireland.
“India, for instance, now boasts one of the world’s largest pools of tech talents and has produced some of the top engineers and computer scientists globally. Many renowned global tech companies are led by CEOs of Indian origin,” he emphasized.
Obi attributed India’s success in the technology industry to their ability to harness the knowledge and resources of their diaspora for national growth.
Furthermore, he stated that when Nigeria focuses on rebuilding and investing in education, healthcare, and supporting small businesses, Nigerians living abroad will return home equipped with their global training, skills, and resources, contributing immensely to the country’s overall development.