The Effect of Migration on Nation-building in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
This broad objective of this study is to analyse and evaluate the following:
- The terms ‘Brain drain’, ‘Migration’ and the current situation of Nigeria’s development,
- Migratory trends during the Pre-colonial Era to the Post-Independence Era and her Emigration of Nigerian professionals outside the country,
- Its impact on her socio-economic structure; and
- Find remedy to correcting human capital flight in terms of brain gain so as to benefit
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Migration
Migration is simply defined as the movement of people from one area of a country (or from one country) to another area of the same country (or to another country) for the purpose of establishing a new residence (IOM, 2011; ACP Observatory on Migration, 2011). Although the definition of migration varies from different perspectives, there is a consensus that it involves the movement of people across a recognized political boundary to establish permanent or semi-permanent residence. The terms migrant and international migrant are been known to have been used interchangeably. While the term migrant is used generically to mean any individual who have moved from his place of usual residence to another place of relative comfort (this could be within or outside the borders of his country of birth). This movement may be politically, economically, socially and educationally motivated. Some could also be as a result of natural disaster, armed conflict or even huge developmental projects. The relatively permanent movement of people across territorial boundaries is referred to as in-migration and out-migration, or immigration and emigration when the boundaries crossed are international. The place of in-migration or immigration is called the receiver population, and the place of out-migration or emigration is called the sender population.
Types of Migration
There are two basic types of migration studied by demographers:
- Internal migration: This refers to a change of residence within national boundaries, suchas between states, provinces, cities, or municipalities. Example from Lagos to Anambra. An internal migrant is someone who moves to a different administrative
- International migration: This refers to change of residence over national boundaries, g.
Nigeria to the USA. An international migrant is someone who moves to a different country. International migrants are further classified as legal immigrants, illegal immigrants, and refugees. Legal immigrants are those who moved with the legal permission of the receiver nation, illegal immigrants are those who moved without legal permission, and refugees are those crossed an international boundary to escape persecution.
International migrants can also be said as individuals who are strictly considered to have left their country of birth for another country based on one or more of the factors mentioned above. (Ifedi, Kingsley: 2018). Jay Weinstein and Vijayan Pillai (2001) denote a third classification: forced migration. Forced migration exists when a person is moved against their will (slaves), or when the move is initiated because of external factors (natural disaster or civil war). The distinction between internal and international migration is crucial because they happen for different reasons. Because structural barriers are more likely to impede the mobility of a potential international migrant than an internal migrant—international migration involves more administrative procedures, greater expense, and more difficulties associated with obtaining employment, accessing state services, learning a new language, and the like—the motivations behind international migration are usually stronger than those behind internal migration (Weeks 1999).
CHAPTER THREE
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY
Research Design
The form of research design adopted for this study is one that deals with information already generated by previous scholars on the subject and to check its relevance and applicability to the present study with the aim of also testing the hypothesis made on the study. Asika (2012) noted that a research design is the structuring of investigation which is aimed at identifying variables and their relationship to one another. It is used for the purpose of obtaining data to enable the researcher test hypotheses or answer the research questions. Kothari & Garg (2014) opined that research design is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted; it constitutes the blueprint for the data collection, data measurement and data analysis. Against this background, this study adopted the trend analysis research design. Effective trend analysis in research will give you an idea about new entries in the market and can be a guide to strategize a plan to maintain market position or improve it. Expansion of economy can happen on the basis of this trend analysis as well. Comparing the statistical historical data and predicting what the future is going to be like will set the ball rolling for the economy. Loads and loads of research go into establishing the factor which determines that if there’s brain drain in Nigeria, it will bring down development over a period of time. The application of trend analysis in research can also be used to understand whether a trend will set another trend in momentum. This design enabled us to generate data to answer the research questions and as well test the hypothesis.
In the first hypothesis, our X variable is “the living standard of Nigerians”, while our Y variable is “emigration of her citizens to other developed states”. In the second hypothesis, our X variable is “the reduction in the number of skilled personnel”, while our Y variable is “the Nigerian socio- economy”. In view of the variables in the research hypothesis outlined above, we seek to measure the living standard of Nigerians and how it has influenced the emigration of her citizens to other developed states. We also seek to measure the reduction in the number of skilled personnel and how it has led to the under development of the Nigerian socio-economy.
CHAPTER FOUR
TESTING OF HYPOTHESIS
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Analysis of Findings
The living standard of Nigeria vis-à-vis Emigration of her citizens
The first hypothesis of this study – Is the living standard of Nigerians responsible for the emigration of her citizens to other developed states- will be evaluated here as try to dissect to different variables “living standard of Nigerians” and “emigration of her citizens to other developed states”. A proper elaboration would be made this clearer in this chapter as we progress.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
This study assessed the trend of the emigration of Nigerians and the Impact of Brain-Drain on the socioeconomic Development Nigeria. The data used in the study were derived from secondary and documentary sources. The result reveal that high-skilled emigration is an emotive issue that in popular discourse which is often referred to as brain drain, conjuring images of extremely negative impacts on Nigeria as a developing country. Recent discussions of brain gain, have been used to argue against this.
Causes of the escalation of brain drain in Nigeria are: poor leadership of the country, poor salaries of workers and conditions of service etc. effects of brain drain on the economy of the country are: underdevelopment of Nigeria in the comity of nations, shortage of manpower resources, loss of tax to the country etc. Solutions to the problem of brain drain are: good leadership, good salaries and condition of service for staff etc.
Conclusion
Economists have been theorizing about brain drain for almost half a century. But until recently, there has been little empirical evidence to support or contradict these theories. The new evidence should counteract some of the myths and reveal some of the most common concerns about brain drain. Brain drain rates are not skyrocketing. Africa is not the most affected region for brain drain; small island states are also affected. Most skilled migrants are not doctors. But neither are they taxi drivers – they enjoy massive increases in living standards as a result of migrating. The rise in skilled migration does not appear to be crowding out migration opportunities for unskilled migrants: instead, skilled and unskilled migration have increased
together. Skilled migrants are remitting back about as much as the fiscal cost of their absence. Existing preliminary estimates of the production externalities of brain drain are quite small.
Recommendations
Based on the above conclusion the following recommendations are made:
- Good leadership:-There should be transparency in leadership to maintain good governance in underdeveloped This will ensure merit system without favouritisms in various institutions in the country.
- There should be solid economy in a country. Sound economy has its root in high levelof industrialization. This arrests unemployment among the masses and subsequently abject
- Manpower assets should be well placed with better remunerations. These make lifeconvenient for manpower assets and the entire populace. Their availability could go a long way in reducing migration of human assets from underdeveloped countries.
- Education should play a powerful role especially in the growing problems of international migration of manpower assets and young
- Offering higher wages for human capital according to their qualifications is very Furthermore, underdeveloped countries should shore up the qualities of their research institutes and provide research incentives for professionals.
- Address issues of research integrity, professional development, and psychological
- General safety of lives and properties of the entire citizenry should be put in
Crises – political, religious, and communal as well as full scale wars should be avoided at all cost. These could forestall migration of manpower assets from leaving the country out of fear for their lives.
- Indiscriminate elimination of manpower asset should stop with immediate
Developed nations do protect their manpower assets from any attack that can take the worth of their knowledge away.
- There should be solution to “train, retain, and sustain” workforces through nationalplans that improve salaries and working conditions, revitalize education, and mobilize paraprofessional and community workers whose services are more cost-effective and who are less likely to emigrate.
- Curriculashould be changed in order to address the most urgent needs of the particular
- Incentivepackages should be ensured to encourage professionals to return after completing their education abroad.
Most especially in the health sector, the following measures should be considered;
- Major challenges in Nigeria’s health sector are attributable to poor health Health needs are infinite and resources are limited. Both health workers and patients suffer from this inadequacy. Globally, there is a call for Universal Health Coverage, which is, individuals having access to the care they need without suffering financial hardships. Sadly, after 12 years of the National Health Insurance Scheme, just a paltry 1% of Nigerians have health insurance. Universal Health Coverage would provide the needed health finance necessary to provide a conducive working environment for doctors. Better financing translates to more remuneration, increased training opportunities for doctors, availability of equipment and other consumables.
- The current poor work environment which several doctors complained about lacks adequate equipment, infrastructure, and medical Part of the challenge here stems from the fact that government at the federal and state level seems to focus on upgrading tertiary health facilities which is capital intensive, whereas there are more secondary and primary health facilities located around the country, which may not require as much resources in upgrading. Focusing on these would also create more job opportunities for medical doctors around the country.
Migration is an inescapable fact of life and part of human existence. It is what makes us understand the different parts of the world we live in, we discover and learn more about different people and culture, but it is never a do or die phenomenon. The obsession for greener pastures outside Nigeria will never solve her problem of brain drain and will only keep promoting developed nations. Therefore it is an individual duty to develop the nation we live no matter how bad the socio- economy may seem and make it conducive for the nearest future and generations to come. The step towards building and developing Nigeria begins with ‘us’.
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