Japa Syndrome Among Nigerian Youths

The word “Japa” is thrown around a lot in Nigerian conversation these days. Originating from the Yoruba language, it literally means “to escape”. But in recent times, it's actually been used as slang for emigration; the act of leaving one’s country for another to go and settle down there.

People have always left the country in search of greener pastures, educational pursuits or other reasons. But recently, the rate of emigration in Nigeria has gotten worrisome. It feels like our youth are running away from the country. And really, judging by our society’s current state, escaping is definitely a weighable option. In 2019, data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) showed that in that year, 12,595 Nigerians relocated to Canada that year, a 300 % increase since 2015, when just 4,000 Nigerians migrated to Canada. Current surveys show that seven out of ten Nigerians would be willing to relocate from Nigeria to other countries to start a new life there.

What are the Causes of Japa Among Nigerian Youths? 

Youths are fleeing the country because they are frustrated, and the reasons for this frustration aren’t far-fetched.

Nigeria’s poor economic situation continues to force people out of the country. Increasing inflation has made the cost of living to skyrocket, and the already high unemployment rate just keeps on rising. People don’t have sources of income to meet up with the rising prices, and so it is just becoming harder and harder for people to survive in Nigeria.

Our education system just isn’t working; the curriculums are outdated, grading structures in our federal universities are rigged, and learning environments are beyond unconducive. It all seems set up to frustrate learners. And this is the major reason why so many young Nigerians are leaving this country for places like America, Britain, Canada among others. The fees there are high, but at least it's certain that one is getting value for their money. 

Furthermore, Nigerian leaders seem to be good at everything else aside from leading peaceful, stable democracies. Time and again, the country is fraught with political instability. Corruption, riots, kidnappings, terrorism and other negatives have become the order of the day in our country.

Our health sector is in shambles too. The hospitals are full of outdated equipment, and lacking qualified doctors, most of whom have “fled” abroad. 

All these factors would push anybody to leave the country, especially youths, who hate being sitting ducks, and are obsessed with the idea of “trying something different”. The living conditions in Nigeria are unmistakably harsh, and almost impossible. Lately, everyone seems to be in survival mode. Every passing day brings a new joke or meme about the perpetual hardship that Nigerian youths face every day. While some use comic relief and laughter as coping mechanisms, others are taking concrete steps towards escaping this hellhole called a country.

The idea of moving abroad is a very attractive one, as almost all of these earlier mentioned problems do not exist, or are at a very bare minimum over there.

How Japa is Affecting the Society and Our Youths

But it's not all a bed of roses. 

Nigeria is losing talented, capable individuals who could actually move this country to a higher level if only given a fair chance. This is known as “brain drain”. And it is not just professional workers that are affected, our youths; the future of this nation are massively hurt by this mass exodus from our country.

In 2022, the Association of Nigerian Students in Europe reported that there were more than three million Nigerian youths enrolled in tertiary institutions of learning across Europe. These youths aren’t going abroad with the mind to study for a short while and return, so in a few years, we might not have anybody left in the country to run it properly. That could equal an end to Nigeria as we know it.

Also, many of the youths who leave the country complain about feeling isolated and lonely. They’ve lived all their lives here in Nigeria, made valuable relationships that are impossible to recreate with foreigners who they are just meeting, and hence they end up feeling alone. Video calls just don’t cut it really, and distance from family members can cause a serious lack of rootedness, and result in more isolation.

The result? Our youths could begin to slip into depression. Not communicating with the people you love for long periods does bad things to one’s mental state. And when depressed, youths could turn to drugs, alcohol, and other such vices just to fill the void that long distance has left them with. Besides, they are in a foreign land, with almost no one to really care about them or regulate their behavior, so it becomes so much easier for them to go astray into things that would hurt them seriously. It's a serious freefall, really.

How NBYF is helping the ‘Japa’ pandemic

The government has clearly turned a blind eye to this emigration pandemic. And ignoring the populace is something they've proven adept at. If things will get better, change has to come from us, or else, our youths; the hope of tomorrow, will remain caught in this crossfire called living in Nigeria.

This is where NBYF comes in. Our primary aim is to protect and empower the Nigerian Youth. Support systems that could provide our “estranged” youth with a sense of belonging and family would go a long way in ensuring that our youth remain rooted and not lacking in companionship.

Your donations could even help us build skill acquisition centers and other vocational opportunities that would offer our struggling youth a shot at success outside the limiting boundaries of Nigeria.

We all have a part to play in securing our youths from this pandemic. You may not be able to go into the field, but your donations would certainly give our youths a higher chance at a brighter tomorrow in Nigeria, not abroad, away from family and the people who love them.

Save a Nigerian youth today, and make a donation!