Africa's prosperity depends on its professionals

Africa's brain drain has almost become a cliche despite deplorable statistics and ominous reports about this phenomenon since the turn of the 21st century.

The causes of this observable fact varies according to countries in the region. The continet is touted as the next "tiger" in the global landscape of economic growth and yet its intelligentsia seems to have been forgotten in the pheriphery of the looming boom. In the second decade of the century set to be an African one,  African professionals in the Diaspora are plying their skills in the West where they are recognised than back at home. Many youngsters studying abroad have no intention to come back to their home countries.

Despite initiatives of organisations such as  Association for Higher Education and Development (AHEAD), a Diaspora group based in Canada, The South African Network of Skills Abroad (SANSA) and Digital Diaspora Network Africa, this substantial issue has not received its seriousness it diserves from the appropriate stakeholders in the name of governments. Dire warnings have been expressed and they seem to have fallen on infertile ground. To quote Dr. Lalla Barka, Assistant Director-General for UNESCO’s Africa Department;“African governments have a great responsibility to ensure that brains remain in the continent; otherwise, in 25 years’ time, Africa will be empty of brains.” She expressed this in early 2000's. Professor Edward Ofori-Sarpong said something profound to the same effect that“[By] failing to offer greener pastures for its own intelligentsia, [Africa] is committing suicide.” For a prosperous and inclusive growth, Africa should look to and involve its jewel in the economic and social development of the continent.