As global borders tighten and immigration policies become more selective, recent statements by Mrs. Kemi Badenoch, a British-born woman of Nigerian descent and current UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, have sparked mixed reactions, especially within the Nigerian community. She is pushing for tougher immigration controls and claimed that Nigerian laws prevent her children from acquiring Nigerian citizenship. These sentiments, alongside former U.S. President Donald Trump’s strict immigration stance, reflect a reality we Nigerians can no longer ignore: the world is changing, and the open-door privilege for Nigerians is gradually closing.
Rather than viewing these policies with bitterness or anger, we must respond positively and introspectively. These developments are not attacks on Nigerians but reflections of sovereign nations prioritizing internal stability, security, and economic sustainability. And for us, they should serve as a mirror and a loud alarm.
Let’s be brutally honest. For many Nigerian youths, the only visible paths to success today seem to be politics, cybercrime (popularly dubbed “Yahoo Plus”), or other illegal ventures. Young people with genuine ideas and powerful innovations are frustrated, ignored, or outright discouraged. Those of us with passion for national development are often left knocking on locked doors. I personally can count numerous initiatives I’ve presented to various Nigerian leaders, sustainable education reforms, development blueprints, youth empowerment models, none of which have seen the light of day.
Meanwhile, poverty has become a political weapon. Our leaders distribute food palliatives in exchange for votes, not policies. They prioritize elections over education and infrastructure. It’s no surprise then that young people would risk death on the Mediterranean just to seek greener pastures. The “Japa” syndrome is not about wanderlust; it’s about survival.
Mrs. Badenoch’s push for tougher immigration and her frustration with Nigerian citizenship laws should not be taken personally. She is doing what leaders do, protecting the interest of her country. What about us? When will our leaders protect the interest of Nigeria? When will they create policies that empower innovation, reward merit, and invest in the youth?
It’s easy to point fingers at Western nations for closing their borders, but the real question is this: What are we doing to make Nigeria a place worth staying in?
Dear Nigerian leaders, this is your moment of truth. The time has come to stop playing politics with the destiny of our nation. A country with over 70% of its population under the age of 35 should be an innovation hub, not a migration factory. Youths are not asking for handouts, they’re asking for opportunities. They want to build, to contribute, and to thrive. But they need an enabling environment.
We must:
Prioritize youth development, not just by words, but with policies, investments, and action.
Create functional systems where skills, ideas, and merit matter more than nepotism and connections.
Promote industries that absorb talent and reward innovation, agriculture, tech, manufacturing, and creative arts.
Rebuild public trust in governance and reduce systemic corruption that chokes hope.
However, it may benefit our leadership to take a closer look at existing government agencies such as NASENI (National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure), FIIRO (Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi), and NITDA (National Information Technology Development Agency). These institutions were created to promote innovation, technology, and industrial advancement. But why are they not effectively serving the people who truly need empowerment?
These agencies must go beyond slogans and ceremonial programs. They must be repositioned to genuinely support serious-minded Nigerians, not just the youth, because knowledge and innovation are not exclusive to young people. In fact, global research shows that many individuals reach the peak of their knowledge, creativity, and leadership capacity well into their 60s and 70s.
It is not enough to simply establish agencies; the right people must be appointed, those with passion, integrity, and a genuine commitment to national development. Unfortunately, many of our leaders are neither approachable nor accessible. It has become common practice for them to change their phone numbers once appointed into political office. This creates a dangerous disconnect, making it difficult for citizens to share ideas or offer constructive advice that could help them perform more effectively in their roles.
Instead of condemning Mrs. Badenoch or Trump, let us thank them for the reminder: the world owes us nothing. If we want dignity, we must create it for ourselves. The only way forward is to make Nigeria a land of opportunity, not just a prayer point.
Let us stop glorifying illegal wealth. Let us stop validating fraudulent success stories. Let us create a Nigeria where our brightest minds don’t dream of Canada but invest in Calabar; where innovation thrives not only in Silicon Valley but in Sokoto.
This is my call to our leaders, and to every Nigerian youth reading this: Let us rise. Let us build. Let us reclaim the soul of this nation. The time is now.
Dr. Tofunmi Ogunronbi is a passionate advocate for sustainable development, youth empowerment, and national transformation in Nigeria.
