The federal government has been asked to take immediate action to stop the brain drain syndrome that is now devastating the nation.
This call was made by Abass Lawal, president of the Association of Students Communicators, Polytechnic Ibadan, Eruwa, 2006 Alumni set, during the association’s 2022 reunion, which took place concurrently in Lagos and Ibadan.
The Association’s vice president, Toyin Adesina, read Abass’ welcome speech on his behalf. Mr Abass, a financial technology expert, urged the federal government to establish a talent-rewarding system and an environment that supports SMEs.
In his words, “it’s easy for developed countries to tap into our talents for their own development because we don’t appreciate and reward our talents in this part of the world.
“Some SMEs owners have also been frustrated into abandoning their businesses to ‘japa’ because of lack of enabling business environment. If this is allowed to continue, the country’s future looks bleak especially in the health, academic and financial fields which are worst hit by the brain drain syndrome”, he said.
While appreciating the Association’s members for how far the group has come, Abass, popularly called JINGLE said, “when this group was created on September 15, 2015, I never envisaged that we would get this strong. Looking back now at the bond, trust and consistency we have built, I am convinced the group is destined for greatness.
“Within that period and now, there has been a lot of individual and group wins, one of them being the appointment of one of us Kolawole Akanmu as Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde.
“Many of our colleagues have relocated abroad for better opportunities.
“There has been business transactions in thousands of dollars and millions of naira among group members.
“There has been group and individual soft loans among members, the most recent being the #100k interest free loan each given to some members of the group to boost their businesses.
“This shows the level of trust we have so far built, especially, considering the fact that some of us have not even met physically since we graduated 16 years ago”, Mr. Abass revealed.
