‘’Brain drain, rural-urban migration and the implications for sustainable economic

development in Nigeria.’’
By Wukari Midong St. Lea
The biggest irony of life in Nigeria is that of the fact that our fore-fathers were forcibly carted
away from their homelands in Africa, Nigeria inclusive over 200 years ago in what is referred
to as the “Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade”. This posed a profound impact on the nation’s
development as the country’s best men were taken away to work in several countries across
the world. Fast forward to today, a new wave of what happened several years ago has
returned in two similar situations. On the one hand, the country’s best and brightest are
leaving “willingly “to other countries for greener pastures, over the past years, this migration
from Nigeria to other parts of the world is widely known as “japa”. As playful as the term
may seem, millions of Nigerians can do every possible thing legal or illegal to leave the
country. On the other hand, countless are leaving in search for better lives from the rural
areas to urban areas. Whenever the thought of brain drain or rural-urban migration comes to
mind, the story of Omotola follows suit. Omotola is a brilliant Nigerian girl who lived in the
village, where the reminder of inadequate healthcare systems continues to haunt her. She had
witnessed many of her friends and family migrate to different countries and even different
cities across Nigeria but she resolved to stay. Determined to make a difference, she applied
for a scholarship in the Uk and went to study medicine. Upon the completion of her studies,
instead of coming back to help her community, she stayed back in the United Kingdom where
she earns a good salary and lives a very comfortable life. The story of Omotola is a heart-
breaking echo of Nigeria’s twin challenges: brain drain and rural-urban migration. Every year
thousands of talented individuals, intellectuals and professionals bid farewell to their
homeland, seeking brighter horizons in urban areas and at home. As they depart, the areas
and the country they live behind suffers a great deal and amongst other things. The economic
development of the country stagnates. This essay explores into the far-reaching and dire
consequences of brain drain and rural-urban migration on Nigeria’s growth and development
and how they both hinder progress in the country.
Merriam Webster Dictionary defines brain drain as the departure of educated or professional
people from one country, economic sector or field for another usually for better pay or living
conditions. It is also seen as a slang term that refers to the loss of human capital from one
area to another. It usually occurs when skilled individuals and professionals leave their home
countries often developing nations (in this case, Nigeria) to developed countries to improve
their standard of living. It is also seen as substantial emigration or migration of individuals
out of a country. It can result from turmoil, the existence of favourable professional
opportunities in other countries, or the desire to seek a higher standard of living.
Rural-urban migration on the other hand is simply a situation where people move
permanently from rural areas to urban areas. it is another form of internal brain drain It is the
movement of people from rural areas to cities in search of work, better living conditions or
other opportunities. This leads to the concentration of skills and expertise in urban areas,
leaving rural areas with limited access to essential services and hindering their development.
In both cases, the push factor driving the migrations are often the same: lack of opportunities,
poor living conditions and limited access to essential services.
The major reasons for brain drain and rural- urban migration explained are lack of job
opportunities. There are limited employment options in Nigeria and this reality drives skilled
professionals to seek work abroad. Poor working conditions is another reason for the exodus
of Nigerians from rural to urban areas and from the country to other countries as inadequate
infrastructure, equipment and resources hinder professionals’ ability to perform their jobs
effectively. Low renumeration is one of the vital reasons for these phenomena. Compared to
global standards, Nigerian professionals are underpaid and these causes them to seek better
pay in other countries. Insecurity and instability is another reason that can not be overstressed
as political unrest, kidnapping and terrorism make the country a very unattractive place to
work. Insufficient funding for research and development limits opportunities for
professionals in various fields, On the part of rural-urban migration, poverty and
unemployment, lack of basic amenities such as water, electricity, education and so on.
Agricultural challenges, banditry, search for better education and healthcare are just few out
of the several reasons why people move from rural areas to urban areas.
Migration in Nigeria, both brain drain and rural-urban migration, has been on the rise over
the last ten years due to various factors, with economic instability being the primary driver of
the exodus. The situation of the economy has led to widespread unemployment, poverty and
lack of opportunities. The country’s over- reliance on crude oil exports has indeed made it
vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices, resulting in economic instability. This has had a
ripple effect on various sectors, leading to the closure of businesses, jobs losses, and a decline
in living standards. As a result many Nigerians have been forced to flee the country in search
of better economic prospects. The appeal of foreign lands with stable economies, decent jobs
and Improved living conditions has become irresistible. The United Kingdom. United states,
Canada and Australia are among the top destinations for Nigerian emigrants. Aside from the
brain drain. Those who live in the rural areas face more hardship that Nigerians who live in
the urban areas. Poverty, lack of infrastructure and limited access to basic amenities are
amongst the several reasons driving people to the cities. Cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port
Harcourt experience overcrowding, strain on infrastructure and increased poverty because of
the amount of people that move into them from rural areas.
The national pandemic of brain drain in Nigeria has reached alarming proportions, with
significant numbers of highly skilled professionals emigrating to other countries. A national
statistical report published by the UK government in August 2022 revealed that 13,609
healthcare workers have left Nigeria for the UK between 2021 to 2022. This figure is second
to India at 42,966 while third to Philippines with 11021 Nigeria has only 40, 000 doctors for
a population of 200 million with a ratio of one doctor to 5,000 patients, while between 2015
and 2020, 0ver 10,000 Nigerian teachers emigrated to the UK. Nigeria has a shortage of 1.2
million teachers with a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 1;70. The number is staggering and a clear
indication that a lot of work needs to be done in the country. as it now rubbing shoulders with
countries that have always had high emigration rates since time immemorial.
The pain of seeing Nigerians excel and make significant contributions to other countries is a
bitter pill to swallow. It is a stark reminder of the brain drain and loss of human capital that
Nigeria has endured over the past years. Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, a Nigerian-born surgeon
performed a ground-breaking foetal surgery in the United States, saving the life of unborn
baby is one of the many examples of Nigerians that are doing so well abroad. Another
notable example worthy of mention is Dr. Biodun Ogunbo, a Nigerian neurosurgeon who is a
leading expert in brain surgery in the UK. These individuals, and many more like them are a
testament to the talent, skills and dedication of Nigerians. However, it is painful to see them
making significant contributions to other countries, rather than their homeland.
The two phenomena in question: brain drain and rural-urban migration have far-reaching
consequences for the country’s economy. Reduced economic growth occurs when the country
loses its most productive citizens, leading to decreased innovation and entrepreneurship.
Increased inequality arises when some regions and individuals benefit at the expense of
others, aggravate poverty and social unrest.
Increased inequality is one of the important consequences of brain drain and rural-urban
migration. Brain drain leads to the shortage of skilled workers, driving up the wages of those
who remain, while rural urban migration leaves behind a pool of unskilled workers,
exacerbating income inequality
As a country affected by brain drain, we are experiencing what is called “Dearth of Human
Capital”. Which in simple terms is the lack or scarcity of human capital. Professionals who
have gone elsewhere have left a large gap behind that is difficult to fill up. Consider the many
medical professionals that have left the country to other parts of the world for better
opportunities. There are not enough qualified people to replace them when they leave and this
affects the overall quality of the healthcare system in the country which in turn affects the
work force because they would not be productive if they are not healthy. This would then
cause a downturn in the economy.
Another effect that Nigeria experiences due to brain drain and rural- urban migration is the
loss of revenue from the migrated manpower. In rural areas and the country at large,
government rely on the income taxes to fund their social programmes and infrastructure.
With over 50% of Nigerians leaving the rural areas for cities, the rural areas ae left under-
developed because of shortage of funds. The mass exodus of t he country’s citizens has led to
a drop in tax receipts, which has in turn resulted in stunted economic growth and
development in both rural areas and the country at large.
Decreased competitiveness is a significant effect on brain drain and rural- urban migration on
the sustainable economic development in Nigeria. Brain drain leads to the shortage of highly
skilled professionals reducing Nigeria’s ability to compete within the country and most
importantly, globally. With fewer experts and innovators, Nigeria’s economy misses out on
new ideas, technologies and processes that drive competition. On the hand of rural- urban
migration, there is shortage of skilled workers, further reducing Nigeria’s competitiveness.
This leads to the over-dependence on foreign experts, increasing cost and reducing local
capacity. Decreased competitiveness hinders economic growth as the country struggles to
attract investments and expand its economy. It also aggravates poverty and inequality as
fewer job opportunities and low wages affect vulnerable populations.
Compromised human capital refers to the degradation of the country’s workforce, and it is
one of the many consequences of the brain drain and rural-urban migration that Nigeria is
facing’. As earlier established, brain drain leads to the emigration of skilled professionals,
reducing the number of experts available to contribute to Nigeria’s economy. The remaining
workers, though not all but a large chunk lack the skills and expertise to maintain high
productivity levels, leading to economic output. In the rural areas, as a result of the younger
generation moving to the cities to find greener pastures, aging or declining workforce is what
is commonly found in those areas.
To mitigate the effects of brain drain and rural- urban migration, Nigeria needs to implement
policies that address the root cause of these phenomena because at the moment there is no
potent policy on ground that sees to these issues. Investing in education and training can help
develop a skilled workforce, reducing the likelihood of brain drain. Improving rural- urban
linkage and infrastructure can reduce the strain on urban resources and promote even
economic growth. Enhancing the healthcare and social services can improve the quality of
life for all citizens, reducing the incentive to migrate. Promoting inclusive economic growth
can ensure that all regions and individuals benefit from economic growth. Fostering
international cooperation and knowledge transfer can bring in new ideas and expertise,
mitigating the effects of the brain drain that have eaten so deep
In conclusion, brain drain and rural-urban migration pose significant challenges to Nigeria’s
sustainable economic growth. Addressing these phenomena requires urgent policy
interventions that invest in human capita; development, promote inclusive economic growth,
and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. By doing so, Nigeria can break through the
barriers to sustainable economic growth.
REFERENCES:
 Lukman Lawal, Abdulwahao Oluwa, Tomisin Lawal, Tonderai Murwira (2022). The
COVID 19 Pandemic and the Health Workforce Brain Drain in Nigeria
 Oluwakemi T. Osigbeni (2007). Medical Brain Drain and its Effects on the Nigerian
Healthcare Sector. 1-3
 Julie Young (2024). Brain Drain: Definition. Causes, Effects and Example.
Investopedia.com
 Samuel Kehinde Okunade and Oladotun E Awosusi (2023). The Japa Syndrome and
the Migration of Nigerians to the United Kingdom; an Empirical Analysis

Wukari, Midong St. Lea