Japa Syndrome: Oyedepo Warns Youths Against Fleeing the Country

News - Women's Perspective

The Chancellor of Covenant University and founder of the Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, warned Nigerian youths against the ‘Japa syndrome,’ meaning, fleeing the country for greener pastures.

In the last 2 years, the country has witnessed a high number of youths who are leaving the country due to the economic situation.

Bishop David Oyedepo

The situation has left large percentage of them without jobs or spending much longer than anticipated in tertiary institutions due to incessant strikes by lecturers.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, the Bishop Oyedepo said parents need to reorientate their children on the ‘japa’ syndrome.

According to him, everyone needs to stay in Nigeria to rebuild it as they all have a part to play in the recovery of the nation.

He also advised the government to massively invest in citizens to restore the lost esteem of the country stressing that human capital development remains the most viable and stable stock of any nation.

Oyedepo noted that an enabling environment for youths would reduce the number of those leaving Nigeria adding that many youths are stranded in foreign countries but cannot return because of shame

He said: “Parents need to reorientate their children. We all need to stay in Nigeria to rebuild. Everyone has a part to play in the recovery of his nation.

“There is the need for more investment education because this is the bedrock of sustainable national development for any nation.”