By Saheed Ibrahim

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Experts have argued preference for foreign certifications is one of the reasons for the mass exodus of students from Nigeria 

They further argued that the Japa syndrome among the youths and professionals has reportedly led to the shortage of skilled manpower in the country.

Proffering solutions, a Deputy Director at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Dr. Babatunde Asenuga, expressed fears that Nigerians will continue to leave the country to study abroad if employers continue to give preference to foreign certificates.

Asenuga advised that Nigerians should learn to value their certificates above that of other countries.

“Nigerians need re-orientation to accept their own. Foreign certificates are given more preference at job interviews than local certificates, this practice has to be stopped if we do not want citizens to keep leaving for foreign education,” he said.

Asenuga added that if the government and private sector collaborated and employed quality hands to teach, Nigerians would not see the need to travel out for education.

Also, an Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), warned that the Japa syndrome has become a dangerous threat to the country.

The Director of the group, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, described the massive human capital flight to other countries as “a bad phenomenon.”

Akintola said, “We are greatly disturbed by what is now called the Japa syndrome. Oftentimes, running away from your country ends up taking you from the frying pan into the fire. For instance, life in Britain, France and America is no longer all milk and honey it used to be. A recent assessment of economic conditions has proven this.

 “Nigerians should stop thinking low of their country. We may not have everything we need, but no country does. But we have moved a great deal away from our pre-independence position and we have not done too badly.”