African Youth Forum: Brain Drain

Simisola: Today we’re going to be discussing a very hot topic: brain drain in Africa.  I have a panel of very young, intelligent people.  Welcome.

All: Thank you.

Simisola: We are all Africans in the diaspora and we are all products of the brain drain, so I want to ask each of you, starting with Funmi, why did you leave Africa and do you plan on returning?

Funmi Akinyele: I left because when I was in university, there were several strikes by the professors because they hadn’t gotten paid, you know, that sort of thing.  So I basically came to get a better education, if you will.  And I actually do plan to return in some capacity, in the sense that I believe that I am called to sort of create a home for adolescent girls, in terms of helping them — helping to empower them in terms of developing leadership skills and helping them to become who God has called them to be.  And I believe that that’s part of the reason God has me here is to help me learn how to do that so I can go help empower people there.

Simisola: Awesome.  You, Billy?

Billy Ekofo: I was evacuated in 1998 when the current president’s father was marching over in the capital.  I’m actually an American citizen, I just happened to live abroad for the majority of my life.  One of the places I lived was in the Congo.  And so when he came to power, there was a lot of war-mongering and even some fighting and the American Embassy decided that all American citizens should be evacuated, so that’s how I left.

I wasn’t really planning on leaving, but that sort of happened and, you know, I’ve been in the United States since then.  Do I plan to go back?  Yes, in some capacity.  I don’t foresee myself quite living there, because, you know, I just feel like the Lord is calling me to do certain things here in the U.S., but I would like to go back.  I would like to challenge people, I would like to expose some of the fraud, some of the injustice going on, so.

Simisola: Awesome. How about you, Faith?

Dr. Faith Chilongo: Well, I came here because my father went to school here.  He went to medical school here.  He came when he was 16, on his own with a suitcase, the typical story and just worked his way up.  So, we came to support him and be with him.  I have such a heart for Africa.  I want to go back.  I want to do missions.  One of the things we want to do is open up some orphanages, particularly in my country Malawi, but Southern Africa.  And then also do some schools of leadership, not only training people in ministry, but training them to be capable leaders, training up apostolic leaders.  So, I foresee myself living in Africa probably six months out of the year.

Simisola: How about you, Kwabena?

Kwabena Asamoah: Yeah, definitely. I came to United States as a child with my parents.  My father was pursuing graduate work here in the United States and then as we got older we went back to Ghana and then I came back to the United States again to pursue an education, and, I do look forward to going back.

On the issue of brain drain, I think that’s one issue that tends to be over blown because people are always going to pursue opportunities.  And, you know, in order for us to develop, somebody’s got to live in development, taste development, see development in order to bring it back.  And it’s estimated that Africa loses about $4 billion a year due to so called “brain drain,” even though I prefer to call it “brain gain.”

But if you look, there was a recent report by the United Nations, research on resource inflows into Africa, and it estimated between 2000 and 2003, there was $17 billion transferred to Africa from diasporans.  And in 2006, it was estimated to be $20 billion. Now, I might not be a genius, but, you know, if you’re losing 4 billion, but you’re making 20, that’s a pretty good deal.  (ALL LAUGH)

So you know, I think the issue is over blown a little bit, but it is what it is and hopefully, a lot of people are going back and if the Lord lays it on your heart, you should do it.

Simisola: We’ll get back to the brain drain topic, but I do want to give Njiba a chance to tell us why she left.

Njiba Kasonga: I came here in 2002 at 11 and just came to join my family. My dad and my mom were here and everything.  It’s always been my dream since I was young to pursue medicine. For me, it was hard because I lived in a town that was mostly by a hospital and to see people having to travel days and days after days to make it to the one hospital, like, in the one city, and people were dying on the roads, to me, that’s just sad.  So, I plan on going back and hopefully build more hospitals in the areas. That would be my dream.

Simisola Komolafe: Awesome.  There’s this term called “Afro-politan.”  I don’t know if you have heard of it.  It’s internationally mobile young people of African descent in the global diaspora. That’s the definition.  Kwabena, you’ve talked a little bit about that, but how do think this generation of Africans living outside of Africa will impact the nation?  Anyone can feel free to take this.

Dr. Faith Chilongo: I’ll take that real quick. I think it’s wonderful. I have sisters that live in England, and just doing amazing work there, but they’re going back.  You know, like he was saying, there’s so much that is coming out of people leaving.  But even within my country, Malawi, my mom just came back there two weeks ago, she says there’s that group of young people, even in our countries that are growing up and they’re so excited and just really taking leadership and really not taking the things that they’ve seen in the past and wanting to go forward in a new direction.  So, I think it’s very exciting.

Simisola: So you think it will be positive for Africa?

Dr. Faith Chilongo: I think it will be positive. I think it will definitely be a positive.  And, you know, one thing we also want to be careful about is, we shouldn’t make the assumption that the young professionals left behind on the continent aren’t doing anything.  Because actually, there are a lot of young people on the continent who overcome very difficult odds each and every day, and honestly have it in some way a little tougher.  We got it a little easier than they have.

Simisola: So thank you all.  I’m sure you will do great things for the future of Africa.  And to our viewers at home as well, if you’re in Africa or Europe or anywhere you are, just know that you can make a difference in Africa.  So please join the conversation.  Log onto facebook, turningpointzone is our page and-and share your thoughts.  We want to hear from you.