AAU Decries Impact of Brain Drain to Institutions in Africa
The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa emphasized on the importance of the Diasporas to national development recommending the Nigeria model with over 17 million in the Diaspora and $22 billion annual remittances.
Dabiri-Erewa, who spoke through the Commission’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun stressed the need for Africa countries to have a Commission, Agency or Ministry solely for Diaspora Affairs to be able to harness the potentials of African Diaspora
The NIDCOM Chairperson gave her thoughts during the four-day Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities (COREVIP 2023) in Windhoek, Namibia. The conference noted with concern that brain drain has been one of the greatest challenges facing educational and other institutions in Africa.
With the theme: “Advancing Excellence in African Higher Education” under the auspices of Association of African Universities (AAU), it had 16 sessions including the presentations of summary recommendations.
On his part, Dr Abdulkarim Oloyede, who jointly authored paper on mobilizing Africans in the Diaspora to support African Universities, berated Academics sponsored abroad who refused to return home to give back to their country.
Oloyede, an Associate Professor with the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, listed causes of brain drain in Africa to include instability in some African countries, poverty, lack of infrastructure for research and development and health care, lack of motivation, future consideration, commitments, marriage and job offers.
“Educational institutions in Africa need to find a way of dealing with the situation. Africa needs to address brain drain syndrome in order to retain skilled workers, boost research capacity and knowledge production and socio-economic development,” he stressed.
Acting Director, Centre for Research Development and in-house Training (CREDIT), University of Ilorin also mentioned other factors as, challenges of diaspora exchange programmes, limited funding, cultural and contextual differences, limited awareness and engagement, immigration and visa issues, sustaining long term collaborations, perception and biases and lack of institutional policy.
Oloyede who recommended the strengthening of collaboration, innovative as the ways to improve research and innovation, ecosystems, develop attractive career opportunities, address socio economic challenges and diaspora engagement programme.
He also urged embrace to digital technologies through ICT, digital mentoring, data sharing and collaboration on research, enhance institutional capacity, establish partnerships as well as establish strong alumni networks.
“Mobilizing Africans in the diaspora to support African Universities can bring significant benefits to both the institutions and the broader development of the continent’’, he submitted.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, Secretary -General of Association of African Universities stressed the need that the conference had resolved that it will work towards advancing excellence in all ramifications especially in African higher education using its human and natural resources
