Wikipedia defines the term brain drain as "the large-scale emigration of individuals with technical skills or knowledge". African nations have suffered enormously in the last century and she will still continue to suffer in this 21 century as a result of the huge brain drain out of Africa to the developed nations of the world, especially to the western hemisphere. The best, the brightest, the sharpest and the most educated Africans that were trained in the universities and research centers across the African countries are now using their education, academic and professional knowledge as well as their skills and varied experiences they have acquired in Africa elsewhere. Africa remains the prime loser, while the developed nations gain from the mass exodus of these highly trained and very educated professionals in all the fields of human knowledge under the sun.
THE EFFECTS OF BRAIN DRAIN ON THE AFRICA'S QUEST FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Economic Commission of Africa estimates that between 1960 and 1989, some 127,000 highly qualified African professionals left the continent. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Africa has been losing 20,000 professionals each year since 1990. This trend has sparked claims that the continent is dying a slow death from brain drain and belated recognition by the United Nations that “emigration of African professionals to the West is one of the greatest obstacles to Africa’s development.”
WHAT ARE THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE BRAIN DRAIN OUT OF AFRICA?
A number of factors can be identified to be primarily responsible for the mass exodus of the African highly trained professionals to the developed world:
(i) Political instability, the rule of lawlessness or brutality, human rights abuses and civil wars in many African nations promote brain drain in those affected countries to the democratic nations of the western world.
(ii) A serious and a rapid decline in the national economies of most of the African nations, leading to weak and worthless national currencies.
(iii) Decades of failure by the African governments and her leaders in providing adequate social services for their citizens.
(iv) Low wages and salaries for these professionals, and the lack of opportunities for career advancement on their jobs.
(v) Personal interests or preferences to live in another country or to explore other nations, opportunities and cultures.
(vi) Attraction to the political stability, democracy, freedom, justice, the rule of law, enormous opportunities for money making and career advancement, as well as the better living conditions in the western nations.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS MAJOR BARRIER TO AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT
African nations and government must address all these factors that are enumerated above that are primarily responsible for the mass exodus of their brightest brains and minds out of Africa as a matter of urgency. Wages, living conditions and opportunities for career growth and advancement must be put in place in order to retain these highly educated professionals to stay and help in the development of Africa. Having a good government in place that follows the rule of law and have respect for human rights in many war-torn and politically unstable nations of Africa could go a long way in stabilizing these situations. This may encourage these highly trained professionals to stay, work and help in the national development of the African continent.
THE URGENCY OF THIS MATTER IN THIS 21ST CENTURY
The United Nations have already warning about the grave consequences of the brain drain out of Africa to the West which this global organization considered to be one of the greatest obstacles to Africa’s development. I conclude this write-up with a dire warning and a word from Dr Lalla Ben Barka of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). “In 25 years, Africa will be empty of brains.” Only time will tell.
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