Ade Odutola

Name: Ade Odutola
Company: WazobiaJobs.com
Position: Founder and Managing Director

Nigerian expatriate professionals have in the last couple of years been returning to their homeland in droves as the continent's biggest oil producer reaps an energy windfall that has created immense opportunities. The returnees have strings of degrees and work experience from the best companies in the West, making them attractive prospects for foreign firms in Nigeria. Nelly Nyagah spoke to Ade Odutola, the founder of West Africa's premier recruitment portal WazobiaJobs.com about Nigeria’s "brain gain" phenomenon.

1) Tell us about the "brain gain" trend in Nigeria.

The large exodus of qualified African professionals over the last 20 years has been a huge burden on the economies of African nations. Conservatively it is believed that over 400 000 African professionals currently reside outside Africa. What we have seen over the past few years is a gradual increase in the number of Nigerian professionals based abroad returning home to work. This phenomenon is referred to as "brain gain". For these professionals, there is an increasing awareness of the extraordinary opportunities in Nigeria’s booming economy. Nigerian companies are embracing these returnees because they bring with them international best practices that local resources may not have been exposed to.

2) Why are so many Nigerians in the diaspora returning home now?

The current economic challenges in the West: Credit crunch, real estate market crisis and general economic uncertainty, which appear not to be affecting the developing economies in Africa much makes many professionals believe it makes good career sense to move back at this time. Others feel their careers would grow faster at home largely because they can easily get top jobs which come with more responsibilities and perks than what they are currently enjoying in the West. And there are some who just feel after 10-20 years of working in the West, it is time to go back home to contribute to the development of their continent.

3) Nigeria's work force is highly educated: Give us a brief overview on the levels of education we are talking about.

According to the US Census Bureau, Nigerian immigrants in the US have one of the highest levels of education in the US. Although Nigerians in the US are a very small minority, 17% of them had a Master's degree, while 4% had a doctorate. In addition 37% had a Bachelor's degree. To put these numbers in perspective, the same report states that only 8% of the indigenous population in the US had a Master's degree, about 1% held doctorates, and about 19% had a Bachelor's degree. A recent study in Nigeria found only 18.5 doctors per 100,000 people, yet there are at least 30,000 Nigerian doctors practicing in the US alone. We have placed over a hundred professionals back in Nigeria this year alone. Nigeria still has significant infrastructural challenges; and herein lies the opportunities for some returnees. They see these challenges as entrepreneurial opportunities.

4) What are the effects of Nigeria’s "brain gain" on the economy so far?

Several firms in Nigeria have returnees in key strategic positions. Nigerian businesses are benefiting tremendously from the knowledge and experience of these returnees in the form of international best practices, revenue generating ideas, to mention a few. Additionally, they are involved in entrepreneurial ventures across the country, creating much needed jobs and opportunities for other Nigerians. It is relatively cheaper for multinational corporations to hire a local, or a returning local than to bring in an expatriate. The cost of doing business in any country is undeniably cheaper if there is a vast pool of qualified and experienced workforce available locally. WazobiaJobs.com provides an empowering platform that bridges the gap between opportunity and talent in Africa. We offer a tailored approach to our client's requirements for experienced professionals, and work with clients in all West and Central African countries.

5) What motivates Ade Odutola?

The desire to see Africa benefit from the knowledge and experience of the highly skilled Africans currently contributing to the further development of the "already developed" Western world.

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