The silent migration: What happens after talented Nigerians leave?
While the departure of skilled professionals continues to reshape Nigeria’s workforce, the story is not one of loss alone.
On October 20, 2020, armed forces opened fire on young Nigerians gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate, abruptly ending the #EndSARS protests that had captured the nation’s imagination. For many who took to the streets demanding police reform and good governance, the violence didn’t just crush a movement—it severed their belief that Nigeria could change. What followed was a wave of departures that has yet to stop.
The timing couldn’t have been more pivotal. COVID-19 had already reshaped the world of work, making remote opportunities accessible and exposing the cracks in Nigeria’s social and economic systems. As borders reopened, countries like Canada and the UK dangled new pathways—talent visas, relocation programs, and the promise of stability. By 2022, what started as a trickle had become a torrent.
Today, the departure halls of Nigerian airports tell a story we grow weary of knowing all too well. Every week brings another round of goodbyes—families quietly sobbing at departure gates, friends gathered for yet another send-off, conversations laced with nervous laughter that thinly veil the realisation this may be the last gathering of its kind.Then follows a social media post, often the “Japa” meme from the Nollywood film King of Boys, where Eniola Salami (played by Sola Sobowale) raises a glass with a knowing smile beneath the caption: “Welcome to a new dispensation.”
This picture from a scene in King of Boys – a Nigerian movie has become a well-known meme on social media
“Japa,” a Yoruba term meaning “to flee” or “to run away,” evolved from a slang into a national migration strategy, particularly among young professionals who had once believed they could build something better at home. Recent surveys show that 71% of young Nigerians are considering relocation, with 85% saying they would leave if offered the opportunity.
Consultancies have sprung up to meet the demand. Blaise Aboh’s Traavu Global, for instance, has seen nearly 20,000 people take its automated global talent vi...
