rowland adewumi Nigeria

The Brain Drain: There is no doubt that the broken economy, high unemployment, human rights abuses, armed and religious conflict and poor social services are the main reason that have continuously contribute to the outward migration of African professionals from their various countries. The destination is naturally Western Europe and North America. Only few, maybe like me, are interested in ever returning back home, even faced with the economic and political crises that have bedevilled the continent over the last few decades.

The UN Economic Commission for Africa and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimate that 27,000 Africans left the continent for industrialized countries between 1960 and 1975. During the period 1975 to 1984, the figure rose to 40,000. It is now estimated that since 1990 over 600,000 professionals have left the continent. For example, at least 60 per cent of doctors trained in Ghana have left the country since the 1980s. While the continent’s brain are being drained, the same continent, to fill the gap created by the skills shortage, spend are spending approximately $5 billion annually to employ about 100,000 non-African expatriates; painfully paying them nine times the salary of similar trained local skilled labour.

The solution is restrictive policies aimed at delaying emigration, such as one-time exit taxes to bilateral tax arrangement, an imperfect strategy though. Another strategy is to mandate, via international agreements that industrial and developed nations pledge not to recruit skilled people from Africa. This is the simple solution. However, a better strategy is the consciousness of the “drained”, a sense of patriotism and loyalty that involves transferring gained skills, by professionals and intellectuals, back to home countries and the planned repatriation.

The Beauty Drain: Many of Africa’s beauty have left the African soil, only to become prostitutes in Europe, especially Italy, held in a state of practical slavery. There was a recent story of a woman, offered the chance to travel to Germany; instead, she was transported to Italy. This woman was expected to earn 90 million lire (dollars 50,000) from prostitution in order to regain her freedom. A “quickie” in Italy, for those interested is 30,000 lire an encounter. Therefore, she would have to sex 3,000 clients to raise the money.

Recent statistic shows that over 25,000 Nigerian prostitutes are working the red-light district in Italy, many, it is believed, have been lured under false pretences. Sometimes, with no documents (even with documents), arrest, deportation, and humiliation (if sent back to Nigeria) makes most of them perpetually in bondage. The question is how can pervertation and human abuse flourish in Europe in the 21st century? Another question that needs to be asked, however, is whether the Italian government allowed it? This needs no analysis or be subjected to any considerable investigation, Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian president was recently alleged to have F*&# an 18-year-old Moroccan woman who said that she had visited his home outside Milan. She has acknowledged receiving £6,000 from Berlusconi, that she had twice provided sexual services for Berlusconi at €5,000 a time. Even three associates of the prime minister are alleged to be profiting from prostitution in Italy. There is, therefore, an indefinite need for solution?

I know Edo state will comes to many people’s mind, however, the recruitment is beyond Edo State alone, and has entered into other states of Nigeria, particularly the North. A survey by Women’s Health and Action Research Centre in Edo’s capital Benin City a few years ago showed that one in three young women had received offers to go to Europe. It was in the News some years back how Italy and Nigeria entered an accord of a “Readmission Agreement,” whereby, both countries will support the rehabilitation of prostitute deported from Italy. This agreement is history and yet to be signed. The only solution is with Italy, it is time limit, to an avoidable level, reduce their reputation for incompetence and stop this slavery.

Adewumi Rowland, PhD

www.rowland-adewumi.com