I am delighted to be in your midst at this auspicious occasion of the Year 2024 edition of the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.
I will like to commend and congratulate Sir Fidelis and Dr Mrs Rita Egugbo Ph.D, ACA for berthing this idea of immortalising their late daughter, Stella-Maris Chukwufunimnenya Egugbo with this annual public service lecture of which we are witnessing its 5th edition today. I also, commend the Maris Trust Council for ensuring that every year, topical issues are discussed which has made it such that people all over the world look forward to every Wednesday before Easter Sunday, a very solemn period for Christians to know the solutions to identified societal challenges discussed at this annual lecture series.
I have perused and dissected the topic for discussion today, ‘Flight of Talents: Navigating Nigeria’s Brain Drain Predicament,’ to be delivered by no less a person than the renowned Professor of Computer Science and pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delta, Agbor, Professor Stella Chinye Chiemeke.
I am very well convinced that she is adequately qualified and well prepared to deliver on this all important topic of concern to our nation and the world at large.
As a preamble to the keynote speech, let me bring to the fore my experience as a private sector player and as a politician and representative of the Isoko Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. As an oil and gas professional, I have through my interests in the downstream and upstream sector, provided jobs for numerous Nigerians, however, the rate at which Nigerians are leaving the country in geometric proportion in search of greener pastures abroad is becoming worrisome.
What is more pathetic about the situation which is now termed “japa syndrome” is because the best skilled professionals from Nigeria are leaving the country which is creating vacuums in several sectors of our economy.
Without prempting what will be dissected by our respected Guest Speaker and well chosen panel of discussants, perhaps what is fueling these “flight of talents” from the country include economic hardship, lack of jobs, gross unavailability of power for production, inflation and galloping exchange rates, among other factors.
The exodus of highly educated and skilled individuals not only deprives Nigeria of its human capital but also exacerbates the brain drain predicament.
I trust that the erudite keynote speaker and the capable discussants would dissect the topic and proffer adequate solutions to this conundrum that is threatening the fabric of our existence as a nation.
Once again, I welcome you all to the Year 2024 edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture, thank you and God bless you all for coming.
REMARKS BY HON. (ENGR) JONATHAN AJIRIOGHENE UKODHIKO, MEMBER REPRESENTING ISOKO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND CHAIRMAN OF OCCASION AT THE YEAR 2024 EDITION OF MARIS ANNUAL PUBLIC SERVICE LECTURE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2024, AT THE UNITY HALL, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ASABA.
