Sixty per cent of African youths, including Nigerians are looking to leave because unchecked corruption threatens their future, according to a poll of more than 5,600 youngsters in 16 countries released Tuesday.

Corruption is seen as the “single greatest hurdle” they face to achieve their own potential and a better life, said the Johannesburg-based Ichikowitz Family Foundation which commissioned the poll of 5,604 people aged 18 to 24.

“Most of all, they don’t believe their governments are doing enough to address this scourge and because of it almost 60% are looking to emigrate in the next five years,” it said.

Japa is a Yoruba language word used as a Nigerian slang term that has gained widespread usage among Nigerian youths. The term is used to describe the act of escaping, fleeing, or disappearing quickly from a situation, often in a hasty and urgent manner.

The 2024 African Youth Survey, which the foundation says is unparalleled in scope and size, was conducted via face-to-face interviews in January and February in countries ranging from South Africa to Ethiopia.

North America was the top pick for emigration for this age group, followed by Western European countries such as Britain, France, Germany and Spain.

More than half (55 per cent) of those polled said Africa was headed in the “wrong direction”, although there was a modest rise to 37 per cent in “Afro-optimism” from the 2022 survey.

“They want tougher sanctions against corrupt politicians, including banning them from standing for office. They also want a different form of government,” the foundation said.

Although about two-thirds of those interviewed believe in democracy, around 60 per cent were in favour of an “African-infused” form.

Nearly one in three believe that non-democratic systems, from the military or one-party rule, could be preferable under certain circumstances.

– China influence –

Most of those polled (72 per cent) said foreign influence was an issue. “They are concerned about their countries being exploited by foreign companies especially their natural mineral wealth being mined and exported without any further benefit to the people,” said the foundation.

A large majority (82 per cent) considered China’s influence as positive, with 79 per cent saying the same for the United States.

Perceptions of Russian influence increased, notably in Malawi and South Africa, with more than half of those with a positive view of Russia citing its provision of grain and fertiliser.

Most said a Donald Trump victory in the US presidential elections would be a far worse outcome for Africa than a win by Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

The African Youth Survey, first conducted in 2020, aims “to give voice to Africa’s youth in a scientific manner,” the foundation’s communications director Nico De Klerk told AFP. It also provides useful data to governments, NGOs and investors.

Africa has the world’s youngest and the fastest-growing population.

The median age on the continent in 2020 was 19.7 compared to 31.0 in Latin America, 38.6 in Northern America and 42.5 in Europe, according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

Africa is home to nearly 420 million youth aged 15-35, one-third of whom are unemployed, the African Development Bank says. The population is expected to double to over 830 million by 2050, it says.

The 2024 African Youth Survey was conducted by PSB Insights in Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

Nigeria And The Japa Syndrome

The mass exodus of Nigerians to the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other advanced nations in search of greener pastures has been tagged “japa” which the elite referred to as a syndrome responsible for brain drain and modern slavery.

Recently, a scholar of Systematic Theology at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Godwin Akper, revealed that the unpalatable Nigerian environment is pushing many Nigerians out of the country to the developed nations.

Speaking about the japa syndrome, Akper said that the future of Nigeria was dependent on its people and the early realisation of the ethics of hospitality and ubuntu in the country’s local communities.

The don advocates that the Nigerian society should be hospitable to everyone including the youths, who are leaving the country en masse for other parts of the world to explore.

Akper said, “The future of our dear nation depends on our early realisation of the ethics of hospitality and ubuntu in our local communities.

“We teach ‘Nigerian peoples and cultures’, yet our graduates find it difficult to identify who they are as Nigerians; this may be a factor contributing to the ‘Japa’ syndrome among adults and our youths.

“This may be a factor contributing to the ‘japa’ syndrome among adults and our youths. Our graduates today hail their mates who secure either work permits or green cards to commence what I consider to be a journey towards slavery to Asian, middle Eastern and Western economies.

“We have left the dreams and ideals of the founding fathers of Africa and Nigeria. So, we are now reaping what we never planted.”

In the latest move to address the ‘Japa’ syndrome starting with the health sector, the Federal Government in August approved a new National Policy on Health Workforce Migration.

In a post on X, the minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling the challenges surrounding healthcare human resources in the country.

He said President Bola Tinubu presided over the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the policy was approved.

“This policy is more than just a response to the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals; it’s a comprehensive strategy to manage, harness, and reverse health worker migration,” the minister said.

“It envisions a thriving workforce that is well-supported, adequately rewarded, and optimally utilised to meet the healthcare needs of all Nigerians.”

The country has been plagued with doctors and other allied medical professionals leaving for greener pastures in the United Kingdom, USA and major European countries.

In March, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, disclosed that in the last five years, the country lost about 15,000 to 16,000 doctors to the Japa syndrome while about 17,000 had been transferred.

Pate has also indicated that of the 300,000 health professionals in Nigeria, an assessment showed 85,000 to 90,000 were registered Nigerian doctors which was a big concern to the health sector.

“There are about 300,000 health professionals working in Nigeria today in all cadres. I am talking about doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and others. We did an assessment and discovered we have 85,000 to 90,000 registered Nigerian doctors.”

According to Pate, the goal of the new policy is to encourage the return and reintegration of Nigerian health professionals from the diaspora. (Channels TV)

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