…inaugurates Governing Councils of federal tertiary institutions

The Federal Government on Thursday lamented that the education sector was worst hit by the migration of Nigerians abroad in droves to seek greener pastures.

Recall that a 2023 Nigerian Immigration Service report states that over 3.6 million Nigerians migrated in two years to other countries in search of better opportunities.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman who raised concerns over the brain drain in the sector while inaugurating the Governing Councils of Federal Tertiary Institutions in Abuja, argued that the impact on the education sector was much more than in the medical profession as popularly noted.

He said: “Unknown to a lot of people, the education sector has actually suffered the most in the Japa syndrome than any other sector in Nigeria. We have lost even teachers in primary and secondary schools because of Japa. They have left for Europe, everywhere.

“A lot of times we talk about the medical personnel but I can confirm to you that we have lost more teachers in Nigeria than any other sector. And especially for teachers in tertiary institutions, it takes at least 15 years to have somebody with a Ph.D. So if you lose one, it’s a very major loss to the country”.

Addressing the newly inaugurated Councils, the minister urged them to follow due process in the appointment of principal officers, tackle other challenges affecting the smooth running of their institutions, block loopholes and generate ideas that would boost internally generated revenues.