Dangers of Brain Drain.

Have you ever wondered what it means for a country who suffers from brain drain and the implications that follows it. Back then in high school, I first learnt about what brain drain was in an economics class, and the reason for its occurrence. I was taught back then some of the economic implications of brain drain.

What is brain drain and why does it occur in the first place? Brain drain refers to the emigration of individuals often high trained and qualified to another country from their own country. It's a reduction in human capital.

Considering Nigeria as a country that suffers brain drain, there are many young and brilliant intellectuals who have left the country in search of greener pastures,. In narrower terms, they leave the country to better their lot professionally or financially. Once they're established abroad, instead of them to come home to be a useful human resources for the development of their country, they stayed abroad and help increase the foreign gross domestic product (GDP) without coming back to their home country. Many a times such people are often blamed but sometimes they aren't to be blamed. Why, because they didn't find their home country rosy or conducive enough for them. If you ask an average Nigerian nurse if he or she is given an opportunity to work in Nigeria or abroad, where will she work? I believe most of them will prepare to practice their expertise and professional skills abroad rather than home.

Why is this so? because they believed that working abroad will bring more better pay and job security than working at home where they can be sacked anytime.

If a country is experiencing brain drain, one of the implications is that such country will suffer lack of human resources needed to improve and develop the country. When people of professions like engineering, medical practitioners, financial analysts all leave the country for a better place abroad, it will reduce a country potential to grow and develop. Because all the brains that can help to boost the economy of a nation are nowhere to be found. Most of these foreign countries know the implications of brain drain and how it can affect them positively if they can lure in talents from different countries. Hence they look for means to lure intelligent ones into their country by many means. Such means can be in form of free scholarship and grants to non indigenes. Those countries will look for the best means to attract the best, they train them and then retain them to work for them.

It's essential that to reduce brain drain, the government of such country must work diligently by providing incentive and encouragement for her citizens so that the will to work for their own country is established. Many people love to contribute to their society and country at large but they don't find support from the government of their country. There should be incentives like free education, job security for employees and higher wages. All these will help to reduce the number of people trying to emigrate out of the country. Human capital should be encouraged especially in African states, so that the best are retained.