Introduction
This Article will discuss what ‘Japa’ means and how the Japa Syndrome has impacted Nigeria’s labor market and economy. The term “Japa” is widely used, particularly among young Nigerians living overseas. ‘Japa’ is a colloquialism from the Yoruba language, which is spoken in South-West Nigeria. It translates as “leave a difficult situation as soon as possible.” These days, the term is used to describe someone who moves from Nigeria to another country.
Even in countries with the best economic or environmental conditions, individuals would naturally wish to migrate; migration is not inherently bad; rather, it is a fact of life. But when the numbers are rising every day and displacing skilled workers in specific economic sectors, it becomes concerning. The amount of health professionals leaving Nigeria for the West has had a significant influence on the country’s health sector recently, raising questions about the country’s current level of strength.
Punch Newspaper Analysis of the Japa Syndrome
According to a Punch newspaper analysis, net migration figures show a steady reduction, falling from -0.29 per 1,000 population in 2000 to 2021 and then anticipated to fall by -0.16 per 1,000 population in 2022 and 2050. Nigeria’s net migration rate is predicted to be -0.267 per 1000 people in 2024, down 2.2% from -0.273 per 1000 people in 2023, according to the United Nations World Population Prospects report. These ostensibly contradictory patterns cast doubt on the veracity and accuracy of migration data. Even while the numbers at first glance seem to indicate that things are looking up for the nation, it is important to remember that they only include legal migration. A significant amount of human capital is still leaving Nigeria illegally, and this underscores the need for more accurate methods of gathering migration statistics. The current data is not comprehensive enough to account for illicit journeys over dangerous routes and deserts.
Factors Fueling the Japa Syndrome
Research carried out using a state in the southwestern part of Nigeria as a case study reveals that environmental and socio-economic factors influence mass emigration causing the Japa syndrome to escalate as expressed by the youths. These factors are as follows:
Environmental elements:
89% of the respondents concurred that the Japa Syndrome, or the widespread emigration of young people, was mostly caused by environmental issues like violence and insurgency. One reason causing significant youth exodus was the absence of an environment that supported small-scale firms and unfavorable working conditions. According to an analysis of the mean values, the main cause of the mass departure was environmental problems (violence and insurgency in various states) in specific regions of the nation.
Insecurity:
This is one of the major factors fueling the Japa syndrome, In the research, 67% of the respondents agreed that insecurity was responsible for the mass emigration of youths.
Bad Economic Situation:
65.5% (131) of the youths responded that the bad economic situation in the country was responsible for mass emigration among youths.
Unemployment:
90.5% (181) opined on the unemployment situation in the country, It can equally be seen that 86% (172) of the youths responded that high numbers of graduates competing for the limited jobs available were responsible for youth mass emigration.
Poor Health Facilities:
Out of the total 200 respondents, 149 (74.5%) chose poor health facilities as a factor responsible for the mass emigration of youth.
Standard Education:
This is also responsible for the Japa Syndrome as the need for education and the acquisition of skills in various vocations made some people migrate.
Environmental and socio-economic factors were found to have a significant influence on mass emigration among youths. This implied that the socio-economic factors were significantly related to mass emigration among youths.
How Can The Japa Syndrome be solved?
To address the mass emigration of youths in Nigeria, it is important to focus on various environmental and socio-economic factors that contribute to this issue. These factors include violence, insurgency, insecurity, poor environmental conditions, seeking greener pastures, high unemployment rate, infrastructural deficit, human trafficking, bad governance, and poor conditions for workers. To combat these issues, it is important for.
1. Equip young people with the 21st-century employability skills needed to land well-paying jobs or launch their businesses in the IT, agricultural, and allied areas.
2. Curriculum designers should modify the academic programs to emphasize the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of Bloom’s Taxonomy to provide students with the tools they need to create their independent careers.
3. To lower youth unemployment rates, affluent people should be urged to establish factories and other industries, and non-governmental groups should offer youths training, seminars, and programs on employability.
4. To improve the overall management of the Nigerian economy, the National Planning Commission should make sure that sufficient and reliable data from all economic sectors are gathered and examined. Ministries of Education and Curriculum Developers should concentrate on incorporating formal education with Vocational and Entrepreneurial Education into the school curriculum.
5. Governments should manage the economy well, enact laws that can assist end poverty, and offer young people employment opportunities and a supportive environment for small and medium-sized businesses to flourish;
6. With the required manpower and equipment supplied by the government, Nigerian armed forces, police, and other security organizations should guarantee the proper security of every Nigerian’s life and property.
Conclusion:
If environmental and socioeconomic factors like insecurity, bad living conditions, violence, insurgents, occupation, education, income, and standard of living are positive, there will be less youth emigration from the nation, which will lessen the impact of the Japa Syndrome.
Also Read- 15 Best Job Sites in Nigeria.
References:
Japa Syndrome: Environmental and Socio-Economic Factors as Drivers of Mass Emigration of Nigerian Youths – Research Gate.
Intangible wealth and Japa syndrome – Punch Newspapers
The Japa syndrome and its effect on talents in Nigeria – FITC
