Abuja: Prof. Godwin Akper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Technology, Innovation, and Research at the National Open University, Abuja, has urged Nigerians to reclaim their moral values to stem ‘Japa syndrome’. ‘Japa Syndrome’ refers to the significant wave of Nigerians emigrating to other countries in search of better opportunities, security, and a higher quality of life. Akper, who stated this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said that the mass exodus of skilled professionals from Nigeria is fueled by frustration and moral decay plaguing the nation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the solution for ‘japa’ may lie not in economic reforms alone but in reclaiming the nation’s moral soul. Akper said that this was amid a deepening national crisis as reports reveal that Nigeria’s healthcare system is strained by malnutrition, poverty, and medical brain drain. This, he said, had made the sector collapse under the weight of neglect, children starving, hospitals languishing, and professionals fleeing.
Akper emphasized that fixing the economy is futile without a moral foundation. He traced Nigeria’s struggles to the neglect of core religious values not as dogma, but as a framework for public morality. He urged Africans to seek identities that unite rather than divide and to return to values prioritizing collective well-being over personal escape.
Akper called on religious institutions to model authenticity, championing justice and inclusivity rather than privilege. He said the blueprint for National Renewal for combating ‘Japa’ through moral revival includes education reform, integrating Ubuntu ethics into curricula to foster national pride. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ubuntu ethics is a sub-Saharan African concept centered on the belief that a person’s humanity is affirmed through their relationship with others.
On leadership accountability, Akper reiterated the need to hold religious and political figures to public moral standards and address poverty not as a statistic but as a moral failure. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Technology, Innovation, and Research, Akper had pioneered AI-proctored examinations during COVID-19, becoming Africa’s first virtual examination host. NAN reports that it scaled enrollment to over 80,000 graduates, expanding access to education for marginalized communities.
