Before country’s independence, it used to be that Nigerians went abroad for their higher education, because we didn’t have a lot of universities then. But most of them always returned to put their knowledge to good use in th coutry. Examples are Odumegwu Ojukwu, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti just to mention a few.
Shortly after independence, Nigerians began migrating to the diaspora, some for better education, but more in search of greener pastures.
But in recent times, we’ve noticed a growing trend in the country and it’s been happening for the past few years now. Second generation Nigerians are beginning to return in droves to their home country, because they’ve realised that there are massive opportunities here.
This video “Nigeria: the “repats” who’ve returned” deals with this.Michael Ugwu, who works with Sony West Africa, is one of the returnees. Born and bred in the UK, he sees Lagos as home now and has no regrets with moving base to the fatherland.
While watching this video, you can’t help but have the notion that the repats in this video don’t know what they are on about. A prime example is Aisha Shaba, who returned in 2012 and is now a successful actress in the country.
In the video, she asks the question “Why are you begging” with a look of contempt and disgust.
Isn’t it better to just ignore them if she didn’t want to give them money? No one chooses that kind of life for themselves.
Another repatriate, Baba Epega, believes that Nigerian is in an era of meritocracy. The government has changed and Buhari is in power. All we can say is…
As much as this video tries to tell the “I just got back and I’m doing well” story and the system of things currently in the country, it doesn’t do justice to matter as it’s about a select few, who have beliefs that don’t apply to majority.
All in all, we are glad that our brothers and sisters are coming home.
