The current trend amongst Nigerian youths is to do everything possible to travel to supposedly “greener pastures”.
Meaning Of Japa: The new term for this exodus is “Japa”, a Yoruba slang, which means to run, flee or escape. Today the dire consequences of this ‘Japa syndrome,’ as it is called, are everywhere for all to see whether at home or abroad.
The hosts on Your View share their various opinions as they discuss a tweet from Senator Adesewa.
According to the Senator, “the JAPA culture is promoting dysfunctionality and maladjusted Ness in the African society and in families, people are missing very important moments of the lives of their parents and vice versa.
“Due to this new culture, parents are missing birthdays, kids that school abroad are missing the developmental stages of their siblings, friends are scattered all over the place, peoples’ parents are dying, and they can’t even see their family, they’ve normalized not seeing their kids for many years and vice versa.
“This is dysfunctional and it’s sad that it’s only common in Africa, Asia and other coloured minorities and mostly the victims of this. It’s very unfair because the majority of white people are present for every milestone that their children achieve.
If they must travel it’s hardly under strict conditions like that of Nigerians or Asians. Our communities are becoming so dysfunctional, people are not seeing their husbands for many years, marriages are breaking, and a lot is happening.
Am really praying for Nigeria to be a great nation so that we can all return and live”. she added
Reactions
Reacting to the senator’s message, Morayo said, “these are real conversations that Families are having today because the reality of JAPA is in our faces.
Everybody wants to leave, we are not counting the cost, we are not counting the losses, we are not counting the emotional torture and torments it’s causing us as a family”.
Tope Mark stated that “everyone is just trying to respond to the inefficiencies in the society.” She emphasized her argument by citing specific instances of the issues our nation faces and the reasons why people have opted to leave the country.
Mariam Longe, however, argues that it is another form of slavery and as a country, we should start putting our energies towards insisting that things work here so that the best will stay here, and our families will work better.
Additionally, Award-Winning Actress, Omowunmi Dada who was invited to the show shared her opinion saying, “Everyone has a right to choose”.
The actor added that love is the most important thing, regardless of the society you are in.
What is your own take on this JAPA Syndrome running through the veins of the citizens?
Watch the video below for more!
