Brain drain and sustainable development in Nigeria, 2000-2015

Abstract

The study examined brain drain and sustainable development in Nigeria. One of the major concerns about brain drain is the erosion of highly skilled professionals, especially in the health and education sectors of Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to (i)Identify how the sustainable depletion of healthcare and education professionals through brain drain affects sustainable development. (ii) Examine the measures taken by the Nigerian government to halt the country's brain drain. The study used the push-pull theory of migration as the theoretical framework. The theory establishes that socio-economic conditions have been potent push-factors in the growing phenomenon of brain drain in Nigeria. On the other hand, the pull factors are the prosperity elements in the rich countries, which are nicknamed "greener pastures" by Nigerian professionals who migrate to those countries. The study made use of a secondary method of data collection. The findings of the study reveal that the sustained depletion of the stock of Nigeria’s health and educational professionals through brain drain necessarily leads to inefficient health care delivery in Nigeria. Although it has also contributed to the lowering of the standard of education in the country, the crop of academics that are available have been doing their best to improve the standard of education in Nigeria. It was recommended, among other things, that enhanced remuneration and a good working environment would help to reduce the level of brain drain and hence enhance sustainable development.