Former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, has called on Nigerians to turn the challenges of brain drain into opportunities for economic development.

Mr Mimiko made the call while delivering the convocation lecture of the University of Benin titled: “The Poor also Deserve Education: Our Founding Heroes’ Legacies in Educational Equity and Equality.”

According to him, the current trend of Nigerians migrating to other countries, popularly known as “japa syndrome,” can be converted into a veritable platform for economic growth.

Mr Mimiko cited the significant contribution of diaspora remittances, which had exceeded $20 billion annually.

“This development can be a veritable platform on which Nigeria can build as a basis of strengthening the economy going forward,” he noted.

The former governor, however, called for a heavy investment in education, saying the poor, now than ever before, deserved education.

“With the demographic advantage, heavily skewed in favour of younger Nigerians, the country would be able to have enough educated and well-trained hands to join the task of developing the country and as export of professional labour.

“This is having it right on both ends of the stick. The emphasis here is on investing in education so massively such that at any time, the country would have an abundance of well-educated labour.

“From this, local developmental initiatives could be drawn and be driven, and the need for export of educated labour from the country would be met,” he said.

The former governor regretted the disparity in educational standards between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions, urging policymakers to address the inequality.

Mr Mimiko also blamed Nigeria’s centralised power structure as a major impediment to growth and development.

He reiterated a call for constitutional reform to empower federating units and ensure equitable resource distribution.

Lilian Salami, the vice-chancellor of the University of Benin, said the journey of the university, which began 54 years ago, has been marked with monumental achievements.

(NAN)