Systemic challenges over morality in Nigeria’s talent loss, By Mohammed Dahiru Aminu

It appears that evidently in Nigeria, patriotism is usually invoked to query the choices of Nigerian students who select to work overseas slightly than return to their homeland. This critique, nevertheless, could also be misdirected. The core subject shouldn’t be the bodily presence of extremely expert Nigerians however slightly the structural inefficiencies that restrict their potential influence throughout the nation. Slightly than scrutinising the patriotism of individuals based mostly on their location, the dialogue ought to heart on how Nigeria’s programs stymie the experience they’ve painstakingly developed overseas, rendering their return an train in unrealised potential. This “mind drain” narrative, which blames folks for not returning to Nigeria after superior research overseas, ignores the actual causes they hesitate to return again. Many Nigerians would eagerly return if significant alternatives aligned with their expertise existed. However in a system tormented by energy outages, insufficient analysis amenities and inconsistent funding, it’s virtually not possible for them to function at their highest capability. For a lot of Nigerian students, staying overseas doesn’t equate to a scarcity of patriotism however as a substitute a recognition of the place they’ll most successfully contribute to their nation and the world at giant.

A standard perception amongst many Nigerians is that previous generations who studied overseas and returned had been by some means inherently extra patriotic or virtuous than immediately’s students. This perception ignores each the historic and modern realities of human nature. As fashionable thinkers like Robert Greene, together with basic philosophers corresponding to Machiavelli and Freud, have argued, human nature is complicated, with folks all the time exhibiting a mixture of self-interest and neighborhood spirit. This has not modified over the centuries. Returning to Nigeria after learning overseas in earlier generations was not solely pushed by altruism or sacrifice, however, usually, the alternatives and social context again then had been extra conducive to returning. In the present day’s circumstances are vastly completely different, and the narrative that “folks had been higher again then” oversimplifies a fancy actuality. Students who resolve to remain overseas immediately should not pushed by a scarcity of morality or patriotism however slightly by a rational evaluation of the circumstances they might face upon their return and the probability of realising their skilled objectives in Nigeria. The assumption that Nigerian students ought to merely “pay their bonds and transfer on” additionally fails to handle the deeper, systemic points at play. Whereas fulfilling contractual obligations is essential, decreasing the problem to ethical compliance oversimplifies a fancy state of affairs. When a scholar is unable to seek out the required assets, infrastructure, or assist to conduct significant work in Nigeria, anticipating them to return and contribute meaningfully to the nation turns into unrealistic. This attitude overlooks the truth that patriotism and the will to contribute exist independently of 1’s bodily location.

A Nigerian with a PhD from a prime UK establishment returning to a public college in Nigeria usually faces important limitations. Nigeria’s public universities, constrained by restricted infrastructure and persistent energy points, continuously lack the assets wanted to leverage superior coaching. For example, complicated experiments that require fixed energy and steady circumstances could also be just about unfeasible as a consequence of persistent energy outages. I recall one experiment carried out throughout my PhD that required steady publicity of samples to specific pressure-temperature and salinity circumstances for 9 months on the British Geological Survey. A single energy failure would have invalidated months of labor. Returning to a system that can’t maintain such tasks is a missed alternative not just for the scholar however for Nigeria itself.

The argument that sure Nigerian professionals, notably in medical fields, publish analysis in respected journals and thus show the nation’s analysis functionality wants nearer scrutiny. It could be true that some Nigerian researchers contribute to world scholarship, however it’s difficult to establish transformative options to essential well being challenges, like malaria, sickle cell anemia or gynecological circumstances, that originated from Nigeria’s analysis atmosphere and have had a big world influence. This limitation highlights a systemic subject, which is the shortcoming of the Nigerian educational and analysis system to foster groundbreaking, globally influential improvements. With out verifiable proof of Nigerian-originated medical breakthroughs addressing world or native well being crises, it’s troublesome to argue that the analysis atmosphere in Nigeria is sufficiently strong to assist world-class scientific progress. These additional stresses the purpose that the structural deficiencies, corresponding to insufficient funding, restricted infrastructure and unreliable programs, pose important limitations to producing high-impact analysis. For Nigerian students, the problem is not only patriotism however the actuality of an atmosphere that limits their capability to make significant contributions to each native and world issues.

This systemic weak point undermines the declare that Nigeria gives an enabling platform for globally acknowledged analysis in most fields, together with medication. If some Nigerians argue that the nation’s public universities are acting at a degree the place graduates who research in Western international locations can return and make significant contributions, this declare could be simply challenged. One would possibly ask why Nigerian public universities are predominantly staffed by Nigerians, at the least 99 p.c of the college and employees are native in most public universities. If it had been true that folks with superior levels, notably in STEM fields, may seamlessly reintegrate and thrive in Nigerian universities, we’d count on to see a big presence of educational employees from different nationalities. Globally, universities are thought of common establishments, attracting expertise from numerous backgrounds and nations. The absence of such variety in Nigerian public universities suggests in any other case. It signifies that their dominance by Nigerians could stem much less from the applicability of superior expertise acquired overseas and extra from components like nationwide ties and private circumstances. This statement undermines the argument that expertise gained by way of overseas schooling can readily be utilized throughout the Nigerian public college system.

Additionally, even essentially the most superior coaching overseas can develop into out of date or underutilized in Nigeria’s educational atmosphere. In just about all technical fields, researchers are sometimes unable to construct on their experience or contribute progressive options as a result of lack of infrastructure and specialised assets. Returning to Nigeria then turns into extra about surviving the system’s limitations than creating groundbreaking influence. Students educated to handle complicated points like power, local weather and expertise discover themselves restricted to duties that hardly make the most of their capabilities, resulting in skilled stagnation and unfulfilled potential. Patriotism shouldn’t be measured by geographic location however by the intent and influence of 1’s work. Many Nigerian professionals, myself included, work from varied elements of the world and contribute to the African continent’s growth. My work, for example, focuses on creating constructive influence for Africa, regardless of being globally oriented. In some circumstances, these based mostly overseas could make a extra significant influence than those that stay bodily current on the continent. By way of worldwide analysis collaborations, funding streams or coverage advocacy, Nigerians overseas can drive change in ways in which transcend borders. Nigerian establishments want to acknowledge that, in a globally linked world, bodily presence inside Nigeria shouldn’t be a requisite for impactful contribution. One other argument usually made is that students on government-sponsored scholarships ought to fulfill return bonds no matter Nigeria’s inner circumstances. This view overlooks the aim of those contracts, which is to create alternatives for students to use their expertise for nationwide profit. If the atmosphere doesn’t assist or worth their experience, imposing bond obligations turns into counterproductive. Students returning to circumstances that basically hinder their work contribute little to nationwide growth. The idea of power majeure can also be related right here. Usually invoked in contractual regulation to alleviate events from obligations as a consequence of extraordinary circumstances past their management, power majeure displays the lived realities in Nigeria. Energy failures, insufficient infrastructure and safety points in sure areas basically alter the context by which these bonds had been initially signed. Latest reviews spotlight how cities particularly in northern Nigeria have been with out electrical energy for days, leaving hospitals, companies and academic establishments in disaster. For students anticipated to return to such circumstances, fulfilling their bond is extra an train in private sacrifice than a contribution to nationwide progress.

Underneath these circumstances, imposing a bond can appear unjust. The worth of a bond is misplaced if it fails to meet its goal of fostering nationwide growth. Requiring, for instance, a nuclear engineering skilled to return to a college with out amenities for nuclear analysis undermines each the individual’s potential and the nation’s objectives. The query turns into not whether or not bonds ought to be enforced however whether or not the circumstances permit these students to contribute meaningfully upon their return. For a lot of Nigerian PhDs, securing high-paying jobs overseas makes fulfilling their bonds not simply possible however comparatively trivial in monetary phrases. Whereas the controversy usually frames bond compensation as a big monetary burden, it’s value noting that well-paying employers in Nigeria hardly ever impose these bonds. Decrease-paying establishments, nevertheless, are likely to bond staff, and the sum usually concerned is a fraction of the wage many students earn overseas. For students in STEM fields, the place they’ll rapidly earn sufficient to offset years of Nigerian college salaries, fulfilling these bonds shouldn’t be a troublesome process.

Addressing this complicated drawback would require Nigerian establishments to create extra engaging circumstances for expert professionals. Merely imposing bond compensation does little to deal with the foundation causes stopping students from returning. If we wish to cease this cycle of expertise loss, the main focus ought to be on making a supportive atmosphere that aligns with the experience and aspirations of returning students. These reforms would possibly embody improved infrastructure, aggressive salaries and analysis funding that empowers students to proceed their work at a world degree from inside Nigeria. Framing the problem solely as an ethical obligation for PhDs to return house and fulfill their bonds by instructing undergraduates or managing operational points in Nigerian public universities is neither sensible nor respectful of their coaching. Nobody pursues a PhD solely to handle points like water, electrical energy or safety issues that don’t require superior levels to unravel. Implementing return bonds with out addressing these elementary limitations will solely lengthen this dialogue for many years. The problem shouldn’t be about morality however about constructing a system that may assist and make use of superior experience. Students should not defaulters in an ethical sense however folks making rational decisions based mostly on the circumstances they face.

The suggestion that previous generations who returned had been extra self-sacrificing overlooks the structural and financial adjustments over time. Students immediately face a worldwide job market the place they aren’t solely in a position to work overseas but in addition to be compensated in accordance with their expertise. This was not essentially the case in earlier generations, the place each the worldwide job market and Nigeria’s personal programs had been completely different. Slightly than viewing these students as morally poor for selecting to remain overseas, we must always acknowledge the restrictions of Nigeria’s establishments in offering the atmosphere they should thrive. If we’re severe about tackling the foundation causes of bond breaches, we’d like a systemic method that goes past imposing compensation. Many students who select to not return achieve this as a result of they’ve discovered considerably higher alternatives overseas, the place only a few months’ wage can offset everything of their bond obligations. Anticipating them to return and serve in environments that don’t permit them to make use of their expertise totally is a disservice not solely to the students themselves however to the nation’s potential for growth. Slightly than specializing in morality, the answer lies in constructing a system that gives these students with the assist and assets they should thrive at house.

Implementing bond repayments with out addressing the structural points will solely perpetuate the cycle of expertise loss. Paying again just a few million naira in college salaries, whether or not in installments or abruptly, does little to resolve the bigger drawback or stop future breaches. A really patriotic method would contain creating sustainable programs that permit expert Nigerians to return and contribute successfully to nationwide development. Till this occurs, we are going to proceed to lose a few of our brightest minds to programs that provide the respect, assets, and compensation that their experience deserves. That stated, addressing Nigeria’s mind drain requires transferring previous superficial options and ethical arguments. Students should not leaving as a result of they lack patriotism or morality. They’re leaving as a result of the programs at house should not but able to assist their work. The main target ought to be on constructing environments that respect and empower these students by providing them the chance to return and make a significant influence. Solely then can Nigeria actually reverse the mind drain and create a future the place proficient professionals can thrive at house.

Mohammed Dahiru Aminu (mohd.aminu@gmail.com) wrote from Abuja, Nigeria.