The Complex Issue of Diaspora Children Returning to Nigeria
It’s a very complex issue. You can’t blame our children overseas who don’t want to come back to Nigeria in particular. The stories emanating from Nigeria can be very disturbing. Secondly, they have grown up in a different culture.
Indians, Jews, Chinese, and Syrians usually reside together in any country they find themselves. This leads to bonding and a nostalgia for their home country.
My children were part of building the businesses we own here in Nigeria. My eldest son was a bus conductor in our school bus system before he left for medical school in Europe, so he has a sense of ownership. They all were teachers in the school before going overseas. They can also see that my investments in Nigeria are yielding dividends.
I sent two of them to the US from Europe to get the American experience, but I have not been to the US. I only went to Europe in 2012 for a graduation ceremony. I have not gone to visit any of them since. My case is very different from those who had some of their children overseas or sent them very early. You can’t blame these children.
However, I don’t understand how the Igbos, Yoruba’s, and the northern brethren manage to bring their children home. But the insecurity in the east and north might also lead to the same phenomenon.
I deliberately created accommodations that they will be comfortable in when they come home because any negative experience in Nigeria will scare them away. But the reality is that we can’t tie our children to a Nigeria where they don’t feel safe and secure.
I have deliberately not listened to the judgment of the Presidential election tribunal. I don’t watch Nigerian TV stations and have stopped appearing on TV talk shows. I tried to invest for one of them before going to Europe, so he has a publishing company in Nigeria and real estate here.
There is also a problem of trust. We at home have not been very trustworthy. Your children hear stories of how our people have defrauded those of you in the diaspora. I have in my custody documents of real estate worth close to 500 million naira belonging to our people in the diaspora, just because of trust. You can’t blame our children.
Kenyans, South Africans, Namibians, Ghanaians, and several other Africans I mentor in the diaspora have children who are eager to go home. Additionally, our pastors talk too much about witches and demons in their messages, which scares our children in the diaspora.
The other point I want to make is that those of us in Nigeria put too much economic pressure on those of you in the diaspora, as if you pick money in the streets of Canada, the US, and Europe. This parasitic and entitlement mentality filters into the ears of your children. It irritates them and they hardly see hope from the motherland.
In my case, I am going to establish a trust that will manage our family businesses. Our children will get dividends at the end of each financial year. Some part of our resources will be devoted to a foundation. It’s a sad situation we find ourselves in as Nigerians in particular.
I remain your friend, Dr. Charles Apoki. You are my responsibility.
