Nigeria is a very populated country with more than 600 people per square mile, nearly double the population density of California; it also has a substandard educational system and insufficient jobs.

As a result, many Nigerian students study abroad to look for better opportunities, and this process is called Japa, meaning escape and flee.

Once these Nigerians become successful in foreign countries, they send money back to their families in Nigeria. This sum of money is called remittances, and an issue arises with the fact that Nigeria relies heavily on it to boost their economy.

According to the World Bank, Nigeria alone received 20.5 billion in remittance in 2023. Not just Nigeria, other countries-particularly in East Asia-have students flying to foreign countries yearly to study because the competition in the education systems in their native countries is steep.

This trend seems to be problematic because instead of improving their own systems and improving the job markets in their own nations, these countries send off their best and brightest students to get a job in foreign nations, improving their economy instead. Noah Ortiz, a junior in Dublin High School, says, “this method of getting money seems like it will be temporary, as I do believe Nigeria should create better strategies obtaining the financial aid they need.” Kaylyn Kim, a senior from Sunny Hills High School, hopes that those students “use their talent and money to possibly start an organization or bring more jobs to their country to fuel the economy!”

As an immigrant myself, I am in the position of these japa students. My family moved to America for a better education opportunity for my sister and me because of Korea’s tough competition for universities and jobs and rising suidice rates among Korean students.

I firmly believe that countries like Korea and Nigeria should adopt better education systems not only for the future of its economy but also for the good of its future citizens. And instead of relying on money sent back from successful students who “fled,” Nigeria should provide an environment that fosters them.

<Irene Oh Diamond Bar High School 10th grade>