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Corruption pushing 60% of Nigerians, other African youths to emigrate – Poll reveals
By Francesca Hangeior.
A poll conducted by about 5,600 youngsters in 16 countries has revealed that about sixty percent of African youth are looking to leave because unchecked corruption threatens their future.
The report was made available to the public on Tuesday.
Corruption is seen as the “single greatest hurdle” they face to achieve their own potential and a better life, said the Johannesburg-based Ichikowitz Family Foundation which commissioned the poll of 5,604 people aged 18 to 24.
“Most of all, they don’t believe their governments are doing enough to address this scourge and because of it almost 60% are looking to emigrate in the next five years,” it said.
The 2024 African Youth Survey, which the foundation says is unparallelled in scope and size, was conducted via face-to-face interviews in January and February in countries ranging from South Africa to Ethiopia.
North America was the top pick for emigration for this age group, followed by Western European countries such as Britain, France, Germany and Spain.
More than half (55 percent) of those polled said Africa was headed in the “wrong direction”, although there was a modest rise to 37 percent in “Afro-optimism” from the 2022 survey.
“They want tougher sanctions against corrupt politicians, including banning them from standing for office. They also want a different form of government,” the foundation said.
Although about two-thirds of those interviewed believe in democracy, around 60 percent were in favour of an “African-infused” form.
Nearly one in three believe that non-democratic systems, from the military or one-party rule, could be preferable under certain circumstances.
Most of those polled (72 percent) said foreign influence was an issue. “They are concerned about their countries being exploited by foreign companies especially their natural mineral wealth being mined and exported without any further benefit to the people,” said the foundation.
A large majority (82 percent) considered China’s influence as positive, with 79 percent saying the same for the United States.
Perceptions of Russian influence increased, notably in Malawi and South Africa, with more than half of those with a positive view of Russia citing its provision of grain and fertiliser.
Most said a Donald Trump victory in the US presidential elections would be a far worse outcome for Africa than a win by Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
The African Youth Survey, first conducted in 2020, aims “to give voice to Africa’s youth in a scientific manner,” the foundation’s communications director Nico De Klerk told AFP. It also provides useful data to governments, NGOs and investors.
Africa has the world’s youngest and the fastest-growing population.
The median age on the continent in 2020 was 19.7 compared to 31.0 in Latin America, 38.6 in Northern America and 42.5 in Europe, according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
Africa is home to nearly 420 million youth aged 15-35, one-third of whom are unemployed, the African Development Bank says. The population is expected to double to over 830 million by 2050, it says.
The 2024 African Youth Survey was conducted by PSB Insights in Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
HhouseBy Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has reiterated that performance must justify any requests for additional funding by agencies in the 2025 budget.
Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Fuad Kayode Laguda, made this clear during the budget defence session of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), presented by its Executive Secretary, Professor Idris Bugaje.
Laguda acknowledged the funding challenges faced by polytechnics but emphasised the importance of demonstrating effective utilization of allocated resources before seeking more.
“Performance is very key. It is a known fact that polytechnics are poorly funded, but we need to justify why more resources are needed. To be honest, not all institutions have demonstrated this. The role of this committee is to ensure accountability and drive improvements”, he said.
He highlighted the importance of the NBTE’s role in technical education and urged the agency to foster better synergies among polytechnics and stakeholders. He also charged rectors to be proactive in introducing modern and relevant courses tailored to their environments.
Professor Idris Bugaje, while presenting the NBTE’s 2024 budget performance and 2025 proposal, called for increased budgetary allocation to address manpower shortages. He noted that the agency, responsible for supervising over 700 institutions, currently operates with only 330 staff, which he described as grossly inadequate.
“For personnel, we need improvement. Similar agencies with fewer institutions and more funds have more staff. We need more hands to adequately supervise these institutions,” Bugaje stated.
On internally generated revenue (IGR), Bugaje explained that earnings primarily come from service charges during accreditation visits. He revealed that the agency’s IGR for the year amounted to just N25 million, describing it as “dismally low.”
He further noted that the agency’s capital performance for 2024 stood at 50%, with the remaining half of the budget yet to be released.
“We need to introduce more contemporary programs and improve funding mechanisms to better meet the demands of technical education,” Bugaje added.
The session underscored the lawmakers’ commitment to ensuring transparency and efficiency in funding allocations while challenging agencies to enhance their performance to secure additional resources.
The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has condemned the alleged brutal killing of a 50-year-old Nigerian citizen, Jeremiah Okoye, by the country’s police, while in their custody.
Okoye, a native of Eziniffite Nnewi, in Anambra was said to have died while being detained in Limpopo Province, on Jan. 13.
NICASA President-General, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, said investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deceased’s death.
“We implore the police authorities to follow the rule of law in discharging their constitutional duties,” he said.
Onyekwelu said that Okoye, who resided at No. 71, Magazyn Street, Polokwane, Limpopo Province, had lived in the country for 22 years.
He said NICASA had officially informed the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate in South Africa, as well as contacted the Okoye family and friends in Limpopo, following the sad incident.
“Nigerian citizens in South Africa say no to police brutality and killings and demand justice for the late Okoye.
“Our lives matter, nationality is not criminality.
“We implore all our citizens to be law-abiding and allow the authorities to utilise all their resources, to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Okoye,” he said.
Onyekwelu expressed hope that Okoye’s death would not become another statistic like others before him.
“The death of Nigerians in South Africa, particularly under police custody has become a recurring issue that needs to be stopped.
“We fear that these recurring deaths of Nigerians in police custody, if unchecked, will become a dangerous pattern. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” he added.
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