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 resolved.
At the Professional Public Speaking & Leadership Academy (PPSLA AFRICA) in Abuja, Onyeama delivered the 2025 Nelson Mandela Leadership Lecture and Impact Makers Award. He emphasized the importance of keeping young Nigerians, whom he described as exceptionally talented, involved in local activities that would allow them to support themselves rather than pursuing migration to other nations for employment.
He backed up his claim by saying that when communities are industrialized, young people can work where they need to and there won’t be any haphazard issues related to their desire to leave Nigeria.
In his own words: “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. Because it is indirect and occurs within our communities, it is circuitous. It is factory-based yet small-scale, 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 solve problems, you’re giving them tickets or even making them want to leave, which is what the Japanese are all about.
The founder of the BANC also attributed irregular migration and criminal activity, particularly cybercrime, to peer pressure.
In his opinion, 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.
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“As you get older, people start evaluating your accomplishments and comparing you to your friends. 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.”
“Even though they are insignificant, they are a menace, they are also causing a lot of embarrassment to other young people, young Nigerians. You would almost wonder if being a Nigerian has made you guilty when you witness how people treat your passport when you leave the country.
Therefore, we are arguing that it is possible 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 a heartfelt homage to Nelson Mandela, Onyeama called for Nigerian leaders to fight and work toward improving the nation by demonstrating a commitment to developing young people with potential and competence.
He called on Nigerians to “look to find the best of the best” as a nation in the run-up to the general elections in 2027. And position them appropriately. You know, you have the best measurement ever when it says, “Square pegs in square holes, round pegs in round holes.”
He lamented 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 have few years to live.
There are moments 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 they are the individuals in charge and that they are nearing the end of their lives.
The migration expert warned that electing young people to leadership roles was one approach to address the numerous issues Nigeria was presently facing, but only after curbing the growing practice of “money politics,” which was impeding active youth involvement in politics.
“How will you purposefully contribute to the advancement of a future in which you obviously know you will not participate? Sometimes it impacts the quality of leadership therefore youthful leadership is what we know that will remedy this problem.
Money politics ought to be minimized. because the younger generation lacks the financial resources necessary to participate in Nigerian politics.
“You’re a young man with ideas and experience in successful endeavors with a proven track record. It’s money politics when someone asks you how much money you have in the bank when you want to take a certain job.
“We ought to quit engaging in money politics and start taking practical steps to address this nation’s issues. We have all we need to fix the current Nigerian crisis, thus it’s not difficult for us to do so.
Dr. Lotanna Okoye, the 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.
Nelson Mandela’s world international day is today. We want today’s leaders to take inspiration from Mandela’s way of life, his leadership style and system during his lifetime, and everything that he sacrificed for Africa.
In addition, we wish to improve the Teens Resource International Center, a facility located in Abuja. where teens who will grow up to be world leaders like Nelson Mandela will be cultivated and trained.
