Many years after the last African country gained independence from its colonial masters, ending the poaching of resources from Africa to develop the west, Africa still loses some of its best talents daily to other continents.
The best brains and individuals from various fields like sports, education, science and technology, health and other sectors are being lured and poached by other continents to help develop their world.
The trend has been said by some persons to be of great benefit to, not just the individual but also the continent while to some it has done more harm than good to Africa.
So, the big question is: Does exportation of talent make or break Africa? Let’s dive into it!
- SPORTS: Over the years we have seen sportsmen and women of African descent go on to win laurels and achieve great things for other continents while Africa stays off the podium.
In the 2018 Men’s FIFA world cup France, a European country won the trophy with a team constituted majorly of players of African descent. A whopping 71.4% of the 23 man squad were made up of players either born in Africa or born to African parents yet no African countries have ever laid its hand on the coveted trophy.
Lewis Hamilton, Mo Farah, Patrick Viera are just a few Great sports personalities of African descent who have
gone on to achieve greatness flying the flag of another continent.
- SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Science and technology is said to be a critical factor in economic development of a country and a continent at large, yet Africa still loses some of its best and brightest minds to the west and other continents.
In 2017, Dr. Osatohanmwen Osemwengie made headlines for his innovation for the United States military.
He is the developer of the famous solar eagle, a solar panel that has the ability to remain airborne for 24 hours.
He was born, brought up and was educated till his Bachelor of Science in Africa but today his greatest innovation is being enjoyed by the Americans.
- HEALTH CARE: Dr Bennet Omalu is a physician of African descent who is well known for his discovery of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease that affects athletes and people who have received severe blows in the head.
His research made it easier for the diagnosis and treatment of head injuries and concussion.
Dr. Thomas Mensah is a chemical engineer and an inventor whose role in fiber optics and nanotechnology can not be rivaled and Dr. Sheri Sesay-Tuffour is another African who has improved maternal and child healthcare.
All these great Africans have achieved outside the shores of our great continent.
We can not accuse Europe and other continents of stealing our best hands because they all left willingly.
But for Africa to rise and be on par with the west, we have to keep our best and brightest minds and this is where the leaders come to play, the facilities, working conditions and everything to keep the great geniuses of the continent must be provided.
Above all, patriotism must be upheld, we all have a role to play and must make sacrifices if Africa must reach the Zenith.
