Harnessing the Brain Drain for Productivity in Nigeria AfricaRecruit The Nigeria British Forum 26 th June 2004

Brain drain can be described as a situation where educated and skilled personnel loss is greater than the ability to replace or produce these personnel, resulting in a shortage of skills. The emphasis is on brain drain not brain trade as Nigeria exports its talents to the developed world at no cost, despite its educational investment in the talent. Brain drain…

It is estimated that since 1983 Nigeria has exported over five million educated and talented Nigerians to the developed countries. I came to appreciate the sheer quantum and quantity of Nigerians resident abroad and working as professionals and academics, whose expertise in my view could be harnessed for national development (H.E President Obasanjos endorsement of AfricaRecruit) In many ways, the loss of skills could be counted as Nigeria's foreign assistance to the developed world! Andrews checking out!!! Departures…

Cost of the Assistance In 1970 the US government calculated that it gained US$20,000 per skilled worker trained in the developing country 41,000 Medical doctors = US$ 820 million Over 8,000 lecturers Over 1million skilled personnel

Value of the Diaspora has dramatically increased in the last 20 years as demonstrated by the official remittances – 70s -US$12.8 million 90s - US$1.3billion 21 st century to over 2billion US$ Global remittance flows total nearly $100 billion per annum Significantly larger - and growing faster than - official development assistance. (Press release recent G-8 Leaders' meeting by White House) Nigerias valuable offshore asset - Nigerians in the Diaspora already account for 5% of structured Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria Show Me the Money…

Skills.. Brain drain = new skills and knowledge Entrepreneur SMEs Job creation Service industry Quality of life Trade Cooperation Global links Mutual partnership Private sector Mentorship Best practices Transfer Productivity Public sector Infrastructure Policy National development Investment Transfer of resources

Nigeria interest is OUR interest Skills and Knowledge Interest Community/ Alumni/professional Interest Business Interest Strength of patriotism Celebrate success stories

Sabbaticals Mentorship Consultancy Interims Interns Exchange Voluntary Permanent Ask not what Nigeria…. ADDED VALUE Repatriate – Expatriate

Foster a debate both in and out of Nigeria with the Nigerian Diaspora on how to contribute to a Nigeria-wide skills strategy Work on creating an enabling environment that will change attitudes and perspectives of the Diaspora to working in Nigeria Provide a framework that will attract investment and create attractive jobs in Nigeria The Nigerian Diaspora and Nigeria

Ensure they work in partnership with the private and development sector, to make skill transfer easier including opportunities to self-employed Nigerians Develop and implement sound policies Provide incentives that encourage transparency and good governance in recruiting and retaining Nigerians within and outside Nigeria Adopt best practices The Nigerian Diaspora and Nigeria cont..

You will never solve the problem with the mindset that created it Albert Einstein

Building robust and enduring productive capacity in Africa The one stop employment search engine for Africa Thank you!