There couldn’t have been a better time than now, to present for public discussion and engagement, the choice of theme of The Companion 2024 Conference and 6th National Discourse.
The exercise is encapsulated with the theme: “Between Patriotism And Self-Preservation” and topic: “Dilemma Of The Nigerian Youth: Challenges At Home, Uncertainties Abroad”.
In the country of over 200 million population, with struggling economy, fraught with stagflation; high interest rate; food insecurity; rash of underemployment; insecurity challenges and most devastating of all, prevalent hunger, frustration and hopelessness, no doubt, the theme of the incoming public presentation and interaction is very timely and promises to be eye-opener and compass not to few Nigerians, irrespective of age, class, ethnic and religion background.
As we speak, it appears that most Nigerians, especially, fresh University graduates and certain categories of working class have no other critical assignment before them, than planning on how and when to depart the country for foreign lands, to settle down and make a living.
Can anyone really blame them? I doubt if yes, will come as an answer here. And this is the situation. First, the Nigerian economy is oil based and to worsen the situation is “dollarised”. This is a country ranked the 6th largest oil producing nation in the world. It also has one of the best crude oil buried under its soil, trailing closely, behind countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and Iraq.
For many years, the country’s refineries have been in comatose and successive administrations, up until now, seem incapacitated to confront, crush and demystify the “principalities” that have held the facilities down.
What follows is that the government explores crude oil back home, exports it to the west and ferry it back to the country, all transactions in FOREX!
When the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote single refinery came on board, the public had expected a relief with respect to crude oil products availability and healthy market competition. Alas! That is not to be and the narrative presently.
Again, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited NNPCL and African Export-Import Bank, AFRIXIM $3b crude oil for loans deal couldn’t change anything significantly! Instead, the Nigerian economy is still wobbling and crawling. The fact and bitter truth of this crude approach is that the country’s economy has been forced to remain at the mercy of the few but powerful mafia – who are determined to ensure that the present absurdity remains – only to serve their parochial and criminal interest.
The missing fundamentals in our main stake – the oil sector had overtime resulted in economic hardship. This has escalated year-on-year.
Ever Since, the biting effects are evident in various economic and social lives in the country, frontline among them is brain drain, otherwise described today as “japa”.
In as much as it’s very obvious that, hardly one could fault attempts by many Nigerians aspiring to travel abroad and settle down, still, the question is: Is japa the best option?
Unarguably, Nigeria is not an enabling clime. Again, travelling abroad has its mix, which every ‘aspirant’ must be conscious of, understand and master how to relate with and manage – for one to make a meaningful and peaceful living.
Japa is a syndrome that has been with us for long, but the difference today is that it has cut across all ages and professions. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NiDCOM and National Agency for the Prohibition Trafficking NAPTIP have, at different times, intervened in many unpalatable international and inter-border crossing crises.
Having established all of these, who are those supposed to be in attendance at the upcoming Discourse, holding in Abuja, on August 10, 2024? Also, why the attendance?
Specifically, every category of Nigerian is relevant. The issue is that if you are not aspiring to shift the base, you have your children and grandchildren who do.
Similarly, the attendance is significant, so as to receive, share and be equipped with practical experiences of life outside Nigeria. Most significantly, to be properly sensitised and guided in decision-making.
In other words, for the audience to know that, if the situation is bad at home, there’s no 100 percent assurance that it would be better after departing the country. This is food for thought for all.
Therefore, you should and must be part of the session. You’re all cordially invited.
Tajudeen Balogun can be reached via tjaysuccess10@gmail.com
