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BRAIN DRAIN OF SKILLED PROFESSIONALS AND ITS EFFECT ON FAMILY REMITTANCES AND LIVING STANDARDS IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA (2019–2025)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Abstract
This study examines the brain drain phenomenon among skilled professionals in South-West Nigeria from 2019 to 2025, assessing its impact on family remittances and household welfare. By analyzing survey data from migrant-sending households in Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun states, combined with remittance inflow statistics, the research measures remittance volumes and evaluates their distribution across consumption, education, health, and investment expenditures. The results indicate that economic challenges and global opportunities have intensified brain drain, yet remittances have substantially enhanced family income and living standards. However, this economic benefit coincides with social costs, including familial separation and shortages of skilled labor in domestic industries.
1.1 Background of the Study
South-West Nigeria, comprising Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states, serves as the economic powerhouse of the country, hosting a concentration of skilled professionals in sectors such as information technology, healthcare, finance, and education (Nnabuihe et al., 2024). The region benefits from urban centers like Lagos, which attract talent from across Nigeria and beyond, yet it has also become a primary source of emigration for skilled workers seeking better opportunities abroad. The period from 2019 to 2025 witnessed a surge in this brain drain, often termed the “Japa” syndrome, a Yoruba slang for “escape”, driven by factors including economic recession, naira devaluation, high inflation, insecurity, and the COVID-19 pandemic’s aftermath (EHF Foundation, 2025; Umar et al., 2025).
Data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicates that Nigerian emigration rates doubled between 2019 and 2023, with over 100,000 skilled professionals departing annually, many from the South-West due to its proximity to international airports and exposure to global networks (IOM, 2023). Destinations primarily include the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Australia, where policies like the UK’s Health and Care Worker Visa and Canada’s Express Entry system have facilitated the influx of Nigerian doctors, nurses, engineers, and IT specialists (Umar et al., 2025). For instance, the UK alone issued over 20,000 visas to Nigerian health workers between 2020 and 2024, exacerbating shortages in Nigerian hospitals (British Medical Association, 2024).
While brain drain depletes local human capital, it generates substantial remittances that flow back to families in the South-West. World Bank estimates show that remittances to Nigeria rose from $23.8 billion in 2019 to a peak of $25 billion in 2023 before stabilizing at $21 billion in 2025, representing about 5% of GDP and often exceeding foreign direct investment (World Bank, 2025a). In the South-West, these inflows are particularly vital, supporting household consumption, education fees, healthcare expenses, and small business startups (Babatunde, 2020; Nnabuihe et al., 2024). Surveys reveal that remittances have enabled families to improve housing conditions, access better nutrition, and invest in children’s schooling, thereby elevating living standards amid domestic economic challenges (EHF Foundation, 2025). However, this dual-edged impact loss of skills versus financial gains requires nuanced examination, especially in a region where urban-rural divides amplify disparities in remittance utilization.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The accelerated brain drain of skilled professionals from South-West Nigeria since 2019 presents a paradox, depleting critical sectors of expertise while simultaneously increasing family remittances that may improve living standards (Umar et al., 2025; EHF Foundation, 2025). Economic pressures, such as a 34% inflation rate in 2024 and youth unemployment surpassing 50% in certain states, have driven migration, leaving families dependent on overseas earnings (National Bureau of Statistics, 2025). However, this reliance raises sustainability concerns, as remittances often focus on immediate consumption rather than long-term investments, potentially exacerbating inequality and diminishing local productivity (Nnabuihe et al., 2024).
In Lagos and Oyo states, the departure of IT professionals and medical personnel has strained service delivery, with families experiencing both benefits, such as improved access to education and healthcare, and emotional stress due to separation (IOM, 2023). While existing studies emphasize aggregate remittance advantages, they neglect regional nuances, including how South-West households distribute funds within cultural frameworks prioritizing extended family support (Babatunde, 2020). Without empirical analysis of these dynamics between 2019 and 2025, a period shaped by post-COVID recovery and exchange rate unification, policymakers lack the necessary insights to effectively leverage remittances for equitable growth or mitigate the talent exodus hindering regional development.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objective is to examine the brain drain of skilled professionals and its effects on family remittances and living standards in South-West Nigeria from 2019 to 2025.
Specific objectives are:
- To assess the scale and drivers of skilled professional emigration from South-West Nigeria during the study period.
- To evaluate the volume and utilization patterns of remittances received by migrant-sending families.
- To analyze the impact of these remittances on household living standards, including consumption, education, health, and poverty alleviation.
1.4 Research Questions
- What are the magnitude and key factors contributing to the brain drain of skilled professionals from South-West Nigeria between 2019 and 2025?
- How have remittances from emigrated professionals been received and allocated by families in the region?
- To what extent have these remittances influenced living standards among recipient households in South-West Nigeria?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This research offers valuable insights into the relationship between brain drain and remittances, shaping policies for diaspora engagement by institutions such as the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (Nnabuihe et al., 2024). It supports state governments in Lagos and Oyo in designing talent retention incentives while improving remittance pathways for sustainable investment (EHF Foundation, 2025). The study advances migration economics literature by presenting a regional perspective on brain gain potential in developing economies (IOM, 2023). Development actors, including the World Bank, may apply these findings to enhance poverty alleviation strategies that utilize diaspora resources.
1.6 Scope and Limitations of the Study
The study examines skilled professionals in health, IT, education, and finance who emigrated from South-West Nigeria between 2019 and 2025, analyzing how remittances influence family living standards. Survey data were collected from households in Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun states, supplemented by official remittance records. The research deliberately excludes undocumented migration flows. Key limitations involve possible recall bias in self-reported responses, logistical difficulties in reaching diaspora participants, and the dynamic economic landscape post-2025 which could affect migration patterns.
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms
- Brain Drain: The emigration of highly skilled professionals from South-West Nigeria to foreign countries for better opportunities.
- Skilled Professionals: Individuals with tertiary education or specialized training in fields like healthcare, IT, engineering, and finance.
- Family Remittances: Financial transfers sent by emigrants to their households in Nigeria for support.
- Living Standards: Household welfare measured by income, access to education, health, housing, and food security.
- South-West Nigeria: The geopolitical zone including Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states.
- 2019–2025 Period: The timeframe covering pre-COVID stability, pandemic disruptions, and post-reform recovery.
References
Babatunde, R. O. (2020). Welfare impact of remittances in South-West Nigeria. The Journal of Development Studies, 56(10), 1914–1928. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2020.1725486
British Medical Association. (2024). International recruitment in the NHS: Annual report 2024. BMA.
EHF Foundation. (2025, September 12). Nigeria’s brain drain: Causes and consequences. Esangbedo Humanitarian Foundation. https://ehfoundation.africa/2025/09/12/nigerian-brain-drain-causes-and-consequences/
International Organization for Migration. (2023). Nigeria migration profile 2023. IOM. https://publications.iom.int/books/nigeria-migration-profile-2023
National Bureau of Statistics. (2025). Nigeria labour force survey 2024. NBS. https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/elibrary
Nnabuihe, O. E., Ashindorbe, K., Oni, O., & Kosoko, D. (2024). Exit and voice: Diaspora population and national development in Nigeria. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1), Article 2390219. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2024.2390219
Umar, A. A., Salihu, H. M., & Azuine, R. E. (2025). Crisis of brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector: Challenges, opportunities, and the path forward. International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS, 14, Article e011. https://doi.org/10.25259/IJMA_11_2025
World Bank. (2025a). Migration and development brief 41: Remittances remain resilient but are slowing. World Bank Group. https://www.knomad.org/publication/migration-and-development-brief-41