Dabiri-Erewa to youths: Don’t ‘japa’ to where you’ll get frustrated… go to better places

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chair of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has advised Nigerian youths to migrate to good countries instead of places where they will get frustrated.

Dabiri-Erewa spoke on Saturday during the convocation ceremony of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti state capital.

The NIDCOM boss delivered a convocation lecture titled: ‘Diaspora Engagements for National Development’.

In her lecture, Dabiri-Erewa said there is a need to discourage irregular migration in which some people pass through the desert.

The NIDCOM boss advised youths to migrate to places where they can become better persons

“It is important to also discourage irregular migration. You can’t stop migration – irregular or regular. We can’t keep having people just go and die in dessert. How do we reduce irregular migration?” she said.

“We are not saying don’t japa. We are saying that if you do japa, japa to a better place. Japa to become a better person, not japa to frustrate yourself. I’m glad that people have begun to japada (to return back).

“For the young people, when you are done with your education here if you get a job abroad, I am sure you will take it. Be careful where you are going to.”

Japa is a Yoruba word that means to escape or run away. The word has been mainstreamed into the Nigerian lexicon to describe the wave of migration out of the country.

‘BE PART OF NIGERIA’S PROGRESS’

The NIDCOM boss urged Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute to the progress and development of the country.

Dabiri-Erewa said Nigerians in the diaspora are doing well in many parts of the world, adding that their achievements must be replicated in Nigeria.

She said there is a need to encourage and engage Nigerians in the diaspora to invest in Nigeria.

“I have done a lot of traveling. Home will always be home. What kind of home do we want to come back to? What kind of home do we want to build? That is the challenge that I have posed to a lot of our disaporan brothers and sisters,” she added.

“A lot of them want to come back, but they will tell me ‘no light, insecurity’. We are here. This is ABU. There was no light. I don’t think you have 24 hours of light for PHCN, but you set this up. If we wait for everything to be perfect before we join hands to build our country, we may wait forever.

“How do we encourage the diaspora to come back home and do what they can? We tell them, ‘you don’t have to pack your bags and come home but be part of the progress and development of our country.

“Americans built America. Indians built India. Chinese built China. Only Nigerians will build Nigeria. Nigerians at home need to work with Nigerians in the diaspora to ensure that this happens.”