Dr. Chibuzor Onyeama, the founder and CEO of Black Ancestral Native Communities (BANC) and an expert in labor migration, has stated that if the Nigerian government implements a robust industrial system to engage its citizens, irregular migration and unemployment issues may be forgotten.
The Professional Public Speaking & Leadership Academy (PPSLA AFRICA) hosted the 2025 Nelson Mandela Leadership Lecture and Impact Makers Award in Abuja, where Onyeama gave the advice. He emphasized the importance of keeping young Nigerians, whom he described as having great talent, involved in local activities that would allow them to support themselves rather than looking to migrate to other countries to work.
He supported his claim by saying that when towns are industrialized, young people have the chance to work where they need to and that there won’t be any haphazard issues related to their desire to leave Nigeria.
He stated: “I have described a method that can assist in the development of local community enterprises in the areas where people reside, which I refer to as the Cirxuitious Industrialization Scheme. It is indirect and occurs within our communities, which makes it circuitous. It is small-scale but factory-based, allowing young people to find work in their communities.
“You have kept young people at home if you have resolved the employment issue.” However, if you don’t have the chance to interact with everyone who is qualified, including those who aren’t, and if you haven’t given them the right tools to skill up and solve problems, you’re giving them tickets or even making them want to fly away, which is what the Japanese are all about.
Peer pressure was also cited by the BANC founder as a major factor in irregular migration and criminal activity, particularly cybercrime.
In his view, the Nigerian government may improve its standing by establishing avenues for young Nigerians to make their fair share of contributions to the country’s socioeconomic structure.
Everyone starts evaluating your accomplishments and comparing you to your pals as you get older. This is how you discover a group of people committing crimes and figuring out strategies to stay alive, which is how you have today’s Yahoo Yahoo boys.
Despite their lack of importance, they pose a threat and are embarrassing other young Nigerians. You might wonder if you’ve done anything wrong as a Nigerian when you see how people treat your passport when you’re abroad.
We are stating that it is feasible to keep young people engaged by purposefully creating infrastructure and solution-based industrial systems that will enable them to release their energy and potential and be prepared to work for themselves.
In his eloquent homage to Nelson Mandela, Onyeama called on Nigerian leaders to fight and work toward improving the nation by demonstrating a commitment to developing young people with potential and competence.
He urged Nigerians to “look to find the best of the best” as a nation ahead of the general elections in 2027. and position them appropriately. It says, “Square pegs in square holes, round pegs in round holes,” and you’ll have the greatest measurement ever.
He expressed sadness that the numerous leadership and policy crises that the young people of Nigeria were currently facing were caused by “political distancing,” in which the leaders are elderly and had few years to live.
There are times when you question how long some of our leaders will have to live to witness the chaos and destruction they have wrought upon us. Then you discover that these are the individuals who are leading and that they are nearing the end of their lives.
The migration specialist warned that electing young people to leadership roles was one way to address the numerous issues Nigeria was currently facing, but only after curbing the growing practice of “money politics,” which was impeding active youth involvement in politics.
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“How will you consciously contribute to the improvement of a future in which you know you will not participate? Younger leadership is what we know will address this issue because it can occasionally impact the caliber of leadership.
“Money politics should be minimized.” because young people lack the financial resources necessary to participate in Nigerian politics.
“You are a young man with ideas and experience in successful endeavors. It is money politics when someone asks you how much money you have in the bank when you want to take a certain job.
“We should quit engaging in money politics and start taking practical steps to address this nation’s issues. We have everything we need to address the current Nigerian crisis, so it’s not difficult for us to do it.
Dr. Lotanna Okoye, Director General of the Professional Public Speaking & Leadership Academy (PPSLA AFRICA), encouraged African leaders to take inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s selfless life and leadership style.
“Today is Nelson Mandela’s international day. We want the current leaders to observe Mandela’s way of life, the leadership style and system he employed throughout his lifetime, and all of the sacrifices he made for Africa.
Furthermore, we also intend to improve the Teens Resource International Center, a piece of infrastructure located in Abuja. where we will develop and educate young people who will follow Mandela’s example as global leaders.
