The federal government has called on “frustrated” Nigerian youths to remain in the country instead of travelling abroad to take up menial jobs to survive.

Specifically, the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) advised Nigerian youths to shun the ‘Japa syndrome’, saying it does not guarantee a shortcut to affluence.

Olusegun Runsewe, NCAC director-general, gave the advice during a tourism and culture stakeholders meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Runsewe gave instances where some youths travel abroad to embrace menial jobs, which they found difficult to practice in Nigeria. He said it was high time the ‘japa syndrome’ was addressed as he urged the youth to remain creative and work on being self-employed.

The NCAC director-general noted that travelling abroad did not allow for automatic affluence.

“It is our duty to culturally guide the country, our youths are frustrated due to the state of the economy, but it is not enough to travel out of the country to embrace menial jobs when they can stay and be creative to create wealth,” said Mr Runsewe. “There is a growing feeling of alienation among the vast majority of our youths, manifesting in various forms of restiveness and the internationalisation and exhibition of vices that are at variance with our culture.”

He added, “We need to wake up to this reality and ensure the situation is promptly corrected by the government and parents.”

Mr Runsewe also noted that the meeting was deliberately planned to guide the incoming government on what to be done in the cultural sector.

He appealed to Nigerian leaders at all levels to work as a team to provide the enabling social environment for the nation’s development by preaching peace, living in peace and working together.

(NAN)