Japa: Bury idea of relocating abroad, no place better than Nigeria, Dalung advises youths

Japa: Bury idea of relocating abroad, no place better than Nigeria, Dalung advises youths

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development Solomon Dalung has urged Nigerian youths to reconsider their plans to relocate abroad in search of better opportunities, commonly referred to as “Japa.” Speaking at the annual lecture organized by Crisp Nigeria (CrispNG) on Saturday to mark the 2024 International Youth Day, Dalung emphasized the uniqueness and potential of Nigeria as a place to live and thrive.

Over the past few years, many young Nigerians have been leaving the country in significant numbers, driven by challenging economic conditions. However, Dalung, who has traveled to over 70 countries, expressed his belief that there is no better place to live than Nigeria.

“I want to discourage every young person who has the instinct to japa. I have traveled to over 70 countries worldwide and discovered that there is nowhere I can live as comfortably as in Nigeria,” Dalung said. “There is no place better than Nigeria, and Nigeria can work. So let’s change our frustration into positivity and see how we can improve this country for all of us.”

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He encouraged the youth to stay in the country and work towards improving it, stressing that every Nigerian has a role in building a better future. “Nobody is more Nigerian than anybody else. We’re all Nigerians, and I encourage you to stay, fight for your country. All of us will fight to have a better country.”

Dalung also called for unity among the youth, urging them to organize themselves strategically to gain access to power and leadership in the country. He highlighted the importance of involving young people in governance and supported their participation.

“To the young people in Nigeria, I think my last words would be that quite a number of our generation believe in you. All you need to do is reorganize yourselves, come together, and ask reasonable questions to gain access to power and leadership,” Dalung added. “Since our own dreams cannot materialize, we should not frustrate your dreams.”

His message was clear: Nigeria holds immense potential, and it is up to its youth to harness it and work towards a brighter future for the nation.

Japa: Bury idea of relocating abroad, no place better than Nigeria, Dalung advises youths