The Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, has announced that the Federal Government is actively working to create an enabling environment for Nigerian youths, aiming to curb the “Japa Syndrome” – the trend of young Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad.
He emphasized that with a conducive environment, Nigerians, especially the youth, would be encouraged to stay and contribute to the country’s development.
Olawande stated, “President Bola Tinubu is working to ensure an enabling environment so that people that ‘Japa’ will return and live a normal life. ‘Japa syndrome’ is good only when people invest in something and then come back to the country to develop and create employment.”
He said the government’s focus is on providing opportunities for engagement and personal growth, encouraging Nigerians to explore various fields while contributing to the nation’s development.
Olawande emphasized that the administration aims to create an environment where citizens are engaged in meaningful activities, providing opportunities for entrepreneurship, job creation, and knowledge acquisition.
The term “Japa syndrome” describes the phenomenon where young Nigerians migrate abroad in search of better opportunities, often without plans of returning.
To address the trend, Olawande stated that the government is working on comprehensive solutions to create an environment that encourages self-employment, small-scale industries, and entrepreneurship.
He added that the government plans to engage the youth and support small-scale industries.
He further stated that there will be availability of loans and grants to empower young entrepreneurs and improve security to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
The minister also said there are plans to streamline the business registration process, offer tax holidays to startups, and provide interest-free loans and grants to small-scale businesses.
”All these collective efforts aim to address the root causes of the “Japa Syndrome” and create an environment where Nigerian youths can find opportunities, build successful careers, and contribute to the nation’s development,” he concluded.