MIGRATION and POVERTY?
Bamgbose JohnOludayo
POVERTY- A JUSTIFICATION FOR MIGRATION: THE PLACE OF ENTERPRENEURSHIP
Poverty is not only endemic; it is the very origin of the woes of most developing nations. Indeed a hungry man is an angry man. It is a catalyst for several social vices in these nations. It has been established at several fora that positive relationship exists between poverty and migration levels. This explains why most migrants are usually individuals from nations with epileptic economic systems and who believe that as soon as they step their feet on the magic land of Europe and America where milk and honey flow on the street, their status will instantly change for the better.
Some are meaningful engaged in their respective nations before embarking on this adventure (traveling either by road or through sea). One of the speakers during the recently conducted Focal Group Discussion on Migration Awareness coordinated by the CHILODOLOESCENT AND FAMILY SURVIVAL ORGANIZATION narrated his ordeal as follows: He had saved above N300, 000 ($2,000) to embark on a trip to Europe. While in the desert for two and a half years, he and his colleagues even drank their urine to show how horrifying their experiences were. Unfortunately, they have nothing to show for this.
This hope for greener pasture has prompted several individuals to embark on a voyage of irregular migration and end up without either reaching their destinations, or eventually finding their ways into such (desired) territory only to become illegal slave. They disappointingly embrace non-dignifying jobs worse than their experiences by at home.
Poverty and joblessness have been established as leading twin factors responsible for migration. In view of this, entrepreneurship will be a way out. While several individuals believe that the onus lies on the government to create jobs for its citizenry, a social contact which several governments have woefully failed to maintain, however, development is usually recorded more, where jobs are created through the private sector participation and the government’s role, being in the areas of creation of enabling environment and formulation of right policies for business to thrive.
Youths who constitute the bulk of migrants need proper orientation on how to discover their innate abilities and how to actualize this in creating a better lease of life. Hence, when youths are gainfully employed, they won’t jettison their jobs to embark on such dangerous and unrealistic trips by road or sea.
It is imperative to have a paradigm shift from the erroneous mentality of seeking white collar jobs to having a positive mindset of creating jobs. Here, the curriculum of various ivory towers in these countries will need to accommodate the realities of the contemporary times. Also, strengthening vocational education will be pivotal to the realization of this.
Finally, it is “unafrican” for a man who is given accolade in his hometown to become a slave in another man’s land irrespective of whatever reason(s). Deportation from overseas is very rampant in developing nations. Only last week were 46 Nigerians deported from South Africa. Also, 105 Nigerian who thought they would be able to cross to Europe were deported from Libya on Thursday 22nd April, 2010. These ones were even lucky to have been deported alive, other are executed in the process. A phenomenon which Amnesty International and other human rights groups have faulted.
This ugly trend may continue until we improve on our economy .If the vision 2020 initiative of making Nigeria one of the top 20 economies of the world by the year 2020 is to sail through, there has to be remarkable reduction in the rate of emigration by Nigerians, particularly, the very set of youth who should drive the economy. The same goes for other developing economies.
BAMGBOSE, Oludayo John
Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan.
The writer acknowledges the effort of Childolescent and Family Survival Organization for championing the Campaign against irregular migration in Oyo State.
D. Tola Winjobi
Dear Colleagues,
I think this piece is a must read for all so as to get informed about the issue of irregular migration. I commend the efforts of Dayo Bamigbose for being the most vibrant and articulate youth among the members of MigrationAware list serv. His comments have been useful and thought provoking. Perhaps he himself would have checked out of Nigeria without documentation but this project has been an eye opener to him and his friends who intended to migrate illegally.
Happy reading.
Tola
Principal Coordinator, CAFSO-CPCM National Coordinator, GCAP/MDGs Nigeria Plot 5 Akingbade Street, Opposite New Gbagi Market, Off Old Ife Road, Box 15060, Agodi P. O, Ibadan 200003, NIGERIA. +234 80 306 18326 +234 80 820 08222 http://www.wiserearth.org/user/TolaWinjobi/section/main http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/profile/TolaWinjobi |
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