AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina Urges Nigeria to Address ‘Japa’ Syndrome Through Youth Capital Investment
By Dr. Amiida HeadlineNews.News
In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, addressed the growing issue of Nigeria’s “Japa syndrome”—the mass exodus of Nigerian youth seeking better opportunities abroad.
Dr. Adesina described this trend as a dangerous brain drain that weakens the country’s productive capacity and future development. He criticized the government’s approach to youth empowerment, particularly tokenistic handouts like ₦10,000 grants, which he said are inadequate. “Young people don’t need freebies; they need capital to fund their ideas and translate them into wealth,” he emphasized.
He highlighted the vast demographic advantage Nigeria and Africa hold, with over 465 million people aged 15 to 35 across the continent. According to him, this youth population should be transformed into a powerful economic force through structured investments in education, skills development, and entrepreneurship.
As part of a solution, Dr. Adesina revealed that the AfDB had launched a Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank and approved $100 million specifically for Nigeria. The bank aims to mobilize $2 billion in financing to support more than 38,000 youth-led businesses.
Analysis and Balanced Perspective
While Dr. Adesina’s focus on capital investment is commendable, experts argue that addressing the Japa syndrome requires a broader, systemic approach. Financial empowerment alone is not enough—young Nigerians also need an enabling environment to thrive. This includes improvements in infrastructure, access to quality education, political stability, and strong institutions.
Insecurity, corruption, and lack of trust in leadership remain major drivers of emigration. To keep the youth engaged and optimistic, Nigeria must rebuild confidence in its governance structures and create real pathways to success.
Conclusion
Dr. Adesina’s message is clear: Africa’s youth are not a problem—they are the continent’s most powerful asset. If Nigeria invests wisely in its young population and creates opportunities for them to flourish at home, the tide of migration can be reversed. This calls for bold reforms, smart policies, and a genuine commitment to building a nation that works for all.
Dr. Amiida
Headlinenews.news Special report.
https://x.com/irnewsregion/status/1911126073200308617?t=YrAY4IlivUNuX29Edh6dxQ&s=19
Comments from Nigerians regarding this post. For comments, please email: editor.headlinenews@gmail.com
“Japa Syndrome and Nigeria’s Lost Potential: AfDB President Adesina Calls for Bold Youth Investment”, HeadlineNews.News Analysis.
“Stop the Freebies, Fund the Future: Adesina Urges Real Solutions to Nigeria’s Youth Exodus but has failed to take some fundamentals in consideration. HeadlineNews.News Analysis makes sense. Former Senator.
“Capital Over Charity: How Nigeria Can Curb Youth Migration proposed by Adesina unrealistic” – Dr. Imran Khazaly. National Patriots.
“Youth, Capital and the Japa Challenge requires a more realistic strategy than what Adesina is proposing. Prof. Olakunle.
