It was a great moment when guests gathered at the Main Auditorium of the United Nations House Abuja, for the premiere of the film titled brain drain (the documentary) which was produced by Collins Akpapunam of the Efizzi Communications. The film is an exposition of the reasons behind the explosion of the japa syndrome and what Nigerians do abroad to expand their frontiers in all spheres. Edozie Udeze watched the premiere.
Everybody that spoke on the day of the premiere of the film titled brain drain (the documentary) commended the efforts of the producer Collins Akpapunam by making the film a reality. Venue of the premiere was the Main Auditorium of the United Nations House, Abuja. In attendance were important personalities that matter in the issues of migration not only by Nigerians but across the whole world. It was a great opportunity indeed to view and discuss why people migrate, the problems and situations that necessitate migration. In tow were Akpapunam and his team of the Efizzi Communications, making all the necessary efforts to ensure that the show was a success.
The hall suddenly came alive pronto. Important guests and film buffs that turned up for the premiere were eager to say one or two things about the film. Essentially, the film centred on the migration of highly skilled individuals from one country to another in search of good life.
But in the case of this documentary, Efizzi went on ahead to take viewers deeper into the gains and losses of this migration both to the migrants and the country of origin and to the country where they are migrating to. Therefore, the film became an eye-opener of sorts that allowed the world see the pros and cons of what this trend means in global affairs both before, now and in time to come.
A well detailed film that truly touched on many areas of migration, brain drain took the producers many tireless months to put together. It was so remarkable that the guests really commended the richness of the production. In it, you see many Nigerian professionals, well skilled, doing exceedingly well in places where they have migrated to. But even as they do so, some still think home, wishing also to return home when the situation is conductive to help rebuild the Nigerian nation. The nostalgia they feel is all expressed in the film. You can also see the business empires they have built just because both the environment and the system permitted them to go farther than they did. Migration happens because the system where you are migrating from is faulty, unfriendly or too uncomfortable for you to operate. This is the whole import of the brain drain show, properly enunciated by the Efizzi production.
At the end of the premiere, Abike Dabiri-Erewa of the Diaspora Commission was obviously elated. She did not only thank Efizzi for the documentary, she commended him also for using the film to explore and expose Nigerian skilled talents abroad. She said “This is a good documentary. For me it is one of the best that has exposed some issues on this subject matter. I also thank the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) led by Laurent de Boeck for their interest in this matter. Yes, because the issue of migration is a global phenomenon. But this film celebrates the good in us, whether here in Nigeria or abroad. It shows we got talents and we can develop and harness so wherever we find ourselves. This is why this documentary makes a lot of difference to us; to this nation”.
She went on “we can see the japa syndrome. People leave Nigeria daily to other climes. This is real. It is what happens. But what are we doing to stop it?. Government must do more to stop this trend. But looked at from another angle, people migrate to improve, to steal technology and technical know-how which they also bring back to their country of origin. This is how technology grows and spreads and then the whole mankind benefits from it.
Abike insisted that people should not leave the country in a hurry. They have to first understudy where they are going in order to avoid facing unnecessary hardship abroad.” It is good to be documented; it is good for you to be sure you have a job where you are fleeing to”. Then after you have built up your capacity, you can also return home. Also you endeavor to do remittance to assist people at home. It was on this note also that she suggested that Efizzi should embark on the second and third part of this film. The second should be on those who have returned to invest. The third part should be on those who did not find it easy when they migrated.” In all these”, she said, “let us try to bring out the best in us as a people”.
In his own reaction Laurent M.J de Boeck, Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to Nigeria said “This is a great moment for us all. And I thank the producers of this documentary for using this opportunity to redraw our attention to migration. It will reopen discussions on this issue. It is almost turning into a pandemic and the world has to sit up by addressing the concerns raised in this film. But as it is, the issue at home is just to see away to engage, enable and empower the Diaspora. In it all, we think about human mobility”.
He clarified however, that Nigeria as a nation has already adopted the necessary official policies to regulate the movement of our people across climes. It is not necessarily bad to migrate. It is a natural human phenomenon. It is only bad and terribly reprehensible when it is allowed to become a pandemic. And also when people travel out blindly to meet more hazardous situations where they are going to. And for us to make it work to benefit our people, we have to constantly exchange ideas, share information and so on, on how to increase and improve our living standard and condition”
Boeck whose Organization is an organ of the UN also believes that through brain drain those who have left these shores can constantly remit money home to assist their people. “That way also, you reduce poverty and agony”, he said. Boeck is a strong believer in the exchange of ideas and jobs via migration. Large remittance has direct impact on Nigeria’s economic growth and advancement. Even though brain drain is a serious matter to the world now, it was noted that those who are in the position to make things work for the populace should do so forthwith. As it is now the problem is more prevalent in Africa. Consequently as African nations lose their best brains on a daily basis, so do they also lose their urgent chances to develop speedily.
The gathering observed that many trained skilled workers in Nigeria move out in droves. Even then, this move can, in the end, help to improve trade and relations between Nigeria and the host nations. To Boeck, in a well-structured situation the Diaspora are the best suited now to transfer technology, increase social capital and make life better. This is how brain drain can therefore be turned into brain gain, a situation that is beneficial to all and sundry.
He nevertheless commended Abike Dabiri for her tireless efforts in helping Nigerian Diaspora to regain their rhythm. What Nigeria did in 2021 which pointed to the fact that you can turn brain drain to brain gain in which more remittances and investments were recorded was a good move. Nigerians in Diaspora have done well in this regard. Many of them have been helpful. They also think home as often as they can.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Health Dr. Oluwatomi Coker also spoke. Coker is already considered one of the brain gains. She left Nigeria alongside many of her course mates at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, Oyo State, soon after graduation. Destination was Europe and this was many years ago.
“The situation was not conducive for us at the time”, she reminisced. However with the second coming of the Abiodun-led government in Ogun State, Coker was invited home to help restructure the health sector.
A consultant obstetrician and gynecologist. She is well exposed to render the necessary help to her people. She said “It is good, first and foremost, to create a conducive environment for the japa to return home. Many want to return home. But they cannot return to the same bad situation that drove them away in the first place. I am back because I care. I care for this country. Now, we have to really create the necessary awareness especially in the health sector. Nigerians really need to come together to address this issues and redress the problems for the good of all”.
As a Commissioner, Coker is noted to have taken it upon herself to be of immense assistance to the common folk. She also runs an open door system that makes it easier for people to have access to her. For Akpapunam, the idea of the film is to let the world see the symbiotic nature of migration. He said “I have passion for human situations. As it is now, it is like migration in Nigeria has become a pandemic. This is part of what drove me into the production…. Government has to recreate the society for people to be able to operate very well”. Reactions came from some guests who were equally piqued by the sentiments expressed in the film. Overall, the consensus opinion is that governments at all levels are not doing enough to provide social amenities for the poor to breathe. Consequently, hardship is increasing while only a few have access to the national coffers.
