Tinubu calls for efforts to address exodus of skills from Africa 

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On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu urged African leaders to take more strategic and intentional actions to curb the brain drain of skills and talent from Africa.

In a statement on Thursday, Tinubu’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, shared that the President made these remarks during a dinner held in his honour at the People’s Palace in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

President Tinubu stressed the need to promote research and development through proper incentives, noting that Africa’s progress will start when the continent begins to seek solutions from within.

“Why are we complaining about healthcare problems if our doctors cannot have a home in our continent? If our nurses are faced with destitution, and if our judicial system is archaic? Tribalism has no place in our nation or region. We have to strengthen the continent. Cultivate and maintain peace together and help one another.

“We have to develop our resources for our progress. Find solutions among ourselves focus incisively on research and development, and reward those research and development programmes. We must bring out the results ourselves. We must not outsource them or sell them out. To the international organizations, we are partners. We will continue to be partners, but we must implement more than half of the results of the research established here. We have many youths to take care of. Millions yearning for progress,’’ the President said.

Mr Tinubu thanked President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo for the invitation to visit Malabo. 

“It is a joy coming down here from Abuja, and for me, it is a homecoming. We are one single family on the continent. We are like twins held together at the hips. We have nowhere to go but to cling to each other. Our gathering here is a significant milestone in the history of Africa, particularly for West and Central Africa; between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. I am happy to hear very deep thoughts coming from my brother, the President of Equatorial Guinea, concerning Africa.

“Africa must solve its problems. For the world, Africa is wretched and ragged, full of conflicts. We say no. Peace, stability, and democracy are the way forward for our collective and progressive development. We have agreed on that with President Mbasogo. We definitely will continue to promote peace and stability throughout the continent. Some of our other brothers in shackles are still there, at each other’s throats. We will both work together and do whatever is possible to promote peace.

“What we are seeing in certain parts of the continent and areas of the Sahel is not pleasant for our today and not promising for our tomorrow. We have to work together to make peace the focus of our development. Without peace, we cannot have development. Our problem is not that we do not understand what to do. We identify them, and we understand what to do. Our problem is how and when we should do them. I say the time is now. We had better roll up our sleeves, put on our knickers, and move strongly for the peace and stability of our continent,” the President stated.

The President of Equatorial Guinea expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for accepting his invitation.

He emphasised the need for greater collaboration and solidarity between the two nations, noting that Nigeria has always occupied a special place in our foreign policy.

President Mbasogo urged the strengthening of the existing momentum and dynamism in their bilateral relations, highlighting past mutual agreements in education, mining, defence, security, and agriculture.

“It is with utmost affection and respect that I would like to greet President Tinubu and wish him and his delegation a warm welcome to Equatorial Guinea. We wish to express our gratitude for your acceptance of our invitation. We feel honoured to host this meeting that brings us together in Malabo.

“We recognize Nigeria’s potential and experience as the largest economy in Africa since 2015, and we consider it as one of the great global emerging markets. Mr. President, this visit is an opportunity to further strengthen our historical relationship to be much greater,’’ the Equatorial Guinean President said.

President Mbasogo said deeper partnership is needed between both countries to fight piracy and insecurity while working with other countries of the African Union and the United Nations in tackling climate change, food shortages, and terrorism.