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Bill Gates' observation on Nigeria's "Japa" syndrome, according to Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, is one with which he agrees.
Obi said that he shared Gates' view that "the recent surge of Nigerian professionals leaving the country for greener pastures is good and healthy for our country."
Obi said in a statement published on his verified Twitter account on Thursday that he has always argued that "Our brain drain today will be our brain gain tomorrow."
According to the former governor of Anambra State, while the expertise and resources that Nigerians who leave the nation bring with them may appear to be a loss today, they will be crucial in creating a new Nigeria.
He continued by saying that the country will gain if people start acting morally and seriously about governance, arguing that this is what happened in China, India, Ireland, and other emerging nations.
According to sources, Bill Gates recently commented on the "Japa" condition and said that the recent uptick in Nigerian professionals leaving the country for better opportunities was beneficial and healthy for our nation. He added, "I read and agree with Bill Gates's recent statement on the "Japa" syndrome.
"I have consistently advocated for and upheld this stance on the "japa wave." For years now, notably during my campaigns for the previous Presidential election and while traveling to Canada, the USA, Germany, the UK, and other nations, I have firmly believed that "Our brain drain today will be our brain gain tomorrow." Nigerians leaving the country may appear to be a loss today, but when we start acting responsibly and seriously about the governance of our country, their knowledge, and resources will play a crucial role in creating the New Nigeria, just as they did in China, India, Ireland, and other developing nations.
"India prides itself on having some of the best engineers and computer scientists in the world, making it one of the nations with the most tech talent today. CEOs of several leading international IT businesses are of Indian descent. India's success in the IT sector may thus be partially ascribed to its capacity to use the expertise and resources of Indians living abroad for the benefit of its own national development.
"When we create a New Nigeria that places an emphasis on supporting small companies, investing in education, and upholding the rule of law, Nigeria will advance on all fronts and experience growth and development.
"Then, with their international education, experience, and resources, our diasporan Nigerians will come home and make an immeasurable contribution to creating a new and better Nigeria. We won't give up on the New Nigeria we envision."
