Belema Kalada Meshack-Hart, founder of the Engage Empower Educate Initiative (EEEI), has urged African governments and development institutions to take bold, practical steps towards addressing youth migration by creating viable opportunities at home.
Speaking as a panelist at a fireside chat during the 6th International Conference on Communication and Development, hosted by the Institute of Strategic and Development Communication, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Meshack-Hart said migration among African youth is largely driven by limited economic opportunities, insecurity, and poor access to quality education.
The event, which held from March 27 to 28, 2025, focused on the theme “Japa: Communicating Migration, Diaspora, and Africa Development”.
Meshack-Hart contributed to a panel discussion on the topic: “Empowering Africa’s Youth: Strategies for Addressing Migration Challenges and Promoting Local Opportunities”.
He warned that the rising trend of “japa”—a local term used to describe the exodus of young Nigerians and Africans abroad—should concern all stakeholders.
“Young people are not leaving just for adventure; they are fleeing unemployment, insecurity, and despair,” he said.
According to him, while remittances from the diaspora play a role in economic support, the long-term impact of brain drain on Africa’s development is severe.
“Migration should be a choice, not a necessity,” Kalada-Hart said.
He argued that to stem the tide of irregular migration, countries must prioritise investment in youth-focused education, digital skills, and entrepreneurship development.
On some of the work being done through the EEEI, Kalada-Hart pointed to projects such as the She-Tech Project, which trains young women in digital technology; entrepreneurship programmes for MSMEs; and financial literacy initiatives aimed at building business sustainability among youth.
“Through She-Tech, we’ve seen young women build careers in tech and train others in their communities. These are the kinds of scalable solutions we need,” he said.
He also stressed the need to leverage the digital economy by expanding internet access and encouraging youth to embrace remote work, freelancing, and digital entrepreneurship.
“Our young people can work for global clients while staying in their hometowns—if we invest in digital infrastructure and training,” he said.
Meshack-Hart called on African governments to enact policies that promote youth employment and education reform, urging them to work collaboratively with the private sector and civil society.
He further advocated for structured diaspora engagement and reverse migration strategies, noting that Africans abroad can play a key role in mentoring, investing, and transferring knowledge to those at home.
“Imagine a new generation of African innovators mentored by returning diaspora experts—that’s the kind of transformation we need,” he said.
He concluded by calling for a multi-stakeholder approach to empowering Africa’s youth and creating opportunities on the continent.
“We have the talent. What we need is intentional investment and commitment,” he said.
“Let’s build a continent where our youth don’t have to run away to survive but choose to stay and thrive.”
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