Human Capital Flight. The New Export Out Of Africa

C+G+I+(X-M) is a very critical tool in administering the affairs of a state. My focus today will be on X-M (net exports). Theoretically, exports are key drivers of growth and economic prosperity for a country but this theorem has become a fallacy for African nations. Africa has been exporting it's natural endowments in its crudest form and therefore received insignificant returns for the valuable products it sells to the world. The latest export out of Africa SHOULD be a major cause for concern for African governments. Authors such as Walter Rodney have delve on the issue of Under Development in Africa and the mass exodus of Africa's prized asset (Human resource). The recent out flow of human capital (back wayers) out of the continent represents an export of a talent pool that Africa cannot afford to part ways with. Our major towns and cities are are being deserted by the emerging young generation of Africans who represent our future leaders, entrepreneurial magnates, teachers, law enforcers etc and this void will further relegate Africa to the periphery of the global development agenda.

Our public policy practitioners are touting the attainment of some of our MDG goals as barometers of a positive development. My argument is what if we attain most if not all the MDG goals and there is no able body left on the continent what good is this achievement for Africa? It is therefore incumbent on African policy experts to go back to the drawing board and critically diagnose the menace that is boosting the export of our young and productive bodies to Europe. This should be an immediate exercise for our governments and owning up to our systemic failure will be the first step in addressing the menace that befell the continent. Globalization and the easy access of information has made the African youth to benchmark his/her existence to their counterparts in the west and being rational human beings, they are yearning for better opportunities for social upward mobility and this is the challenge faced by our leadership class (how to stem the tide of migration). I am yet to see the continental and regional bodies making migration an emergency issue that needs resolution to curb the tide of outflow of much needed African brain power and brute force. Our governments MUST work on opening up the democratic space by enlarging political inclusion, and more leadership roles for the youth folk so as to carve a future for them in the pie called Africa. Finally, I am of the view that leadership is not a reactionary machinery but a futuristic approach to problem solving by mitigating eventualities that adversely affect the well being of the populace. Africa need next generation leaders who can look at Africa's problem holistically and out of the myopic box that most of our leaders look at our ailments from. 2015 public leadership expectation is not only real time but cutting edge with a requisite tool kit to smoothen the development hiccups along our desired trajectory. Africa's youths are crying for help and assistance from the very people they voted in office and to whom much is given much is expected of.