Background and Importance

The African brain-drain, or the mass exodus of professionals from Africa, is a serious problem facing the continent. One study claims that about one third of Africa’s professionals have left the continent in recent years.[1] This loss of African intellectual capital has left the continent suffering, as Africa’s brightest are using their talents elsewhere. As Nigerian youth living in the United States, we are also a part of this brain-drain. For all our potential will be used in further developing The United States, as Nigeria becomes even more devoid of its talents. Therefore, we hope to set up an organization and accompanying website (tentatively called Nigerian Promise) that will spark the interest of Nigerian youth abroad in the future of the place affectionately known as “back home.” This organization will provide a forum for Nigerian youth abroad to get in contact with each other. The hope is that this will be a place where the youth can discuss and ultimately implement small scale projects in the country. But it will also serve as a place where Nigerian youth can get updates on Nigeria as well as discuss how they are keeping their Nigerian cultures ‘alive’ (i.e. through certain foods they eat, certain traditions they still follow) in their current places of residence. The “Nigerian Promise” is a promise from Nigerian youth abroad that we will no longer turn a blind eye to the problems of Nigeria. It is a promise that we will no longer use our age as an excuse to why we are not giving back. It is a promise to Nigeria that we will claim our part in the brain-drain, and do our part to mitigate the effects. Although we are do not live in Nigeria, we Nigerian youth abroad should feel like we have a stake in the prosperity of the country. After all, most of us still have a lot of family living in Nigeria. We hope to set up this organization in three phases. Phase one will begin this summer, and it is this phase that the grant will help us cover.

[1]. “Brain Drain Costs Africa Billions.” BBC News. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1605242.stm>. (Date accessed: 2 April, 2009)


Importance to Africana Studies

This research is important to Africana Studies because as was mentioned earlier, this brain drain affects many countries in Africa. It has been said to have “strangled growth on the continent … [and] also nurtured poverty and delayed economic development.”[2] Although this research is specific to Nigeria, the findings of this study can be used to implement youth projects like this for other African countries. Most research on this topic targets African adults, and neglects to take account the youth’s perspective on the issue. As Nigerian youth abroad, we have become frustrated at the lack of places for us to discuss how we want to give back to the country. Thus research like this will encourage broader analysis into the role of African youth abroad to the future of the continent.

[2]. “Brain Drain Costs Africa Billions.” BBC News. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1605242.stm>. (Date accessed: 2 April, 2009)

Purpose of the Research

The purpose of our research is to gather information on:

1. how much of a connection Nigerian youth living in the U.S (those born in the U.S., Nigeria, or elsewhere) feel to Nigeria, and

2. what factors motivate them to give back or not give back to Nigeria.

Thank you very much for your time!

Sincerely,
Nneka Eke and Adaeze Wosu
Johns Hopkins University Center for Africana Studies 2009 Summer Grant Recipients

If you are a Nigerian youth between 16 and 25 and are currently living the Unites States, we would really appreciate your input to our survey. Thank you!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=QsreQ%2b%2fkL4bAvseSE%2fP%2few%3d%3d