Exploring the Push and Pull Factors of Skilled Youth Emigration in Nigeria

Abstract

This study explores the key push and pull factors influencing the emigration of skilled youth from Nigeria, with a specific focus on migration flows to the United Kingdom. Employing a convergent parallel mixed-methods research design, the study integrates quantitative data obtained from surveys and qualitative insights gathered through key informant interviews with policymakers, and sector experts. The research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the motivations and underlying drivers behind the increasing trend of skilled youth migration from Nigeria in recent years. The findings reveal that the foremost push factors compelling young professionals to seek opportunities abroad include high rates of unemployment, pervasive economic instability, and widespread underemployment that limit career growth and financial security within the country. The study identifies political instability, escalating concerns over national security, and inadequate infrastructure—such as poor healthcare facilities, unreliable power supply, and deficient educational resources— as significant contributors to the decision to emigrate. These challenges create an environment perceived as inimical for professional advancement and personal wellbeing. On the contrary, pull factors in the United Kingdom, such as better employment prospects, higher wages, advanced educational opportunities, and improved living conditions, significantly motivate Nigerian skilled youth. The research highlights an alarming rise in the rate of skilled youth emigration over the past decade, resulting in notable brain drain that adversely affects critical sectors like healthcare, education, engineering, and information technology in Nigeria. This exodus undermines national development and exacerbates existing skill shortages in essential fields. By offering empirical evidence on the complex and multifaceted nature of youth emigration from Nigeria, this study adds to the existing migration literature and emphasizes the urgent need for policy interventions. It advocates for comprehensive strategies aimed at creating sustainable employment, improving political stability, bolstering security, and enhancing infrastructure to retain skilled youth and mitigate the negative impacts of brain drain on Nigeria’s development prospects.