Understanding brain drain in Nigerian universities
Abstract: Global migration of both skilled and unskilled persons from developing countries to developed countries is on the increase and to understand the underlying factors behind the increase, this research examines how migration theories like pull-push factors of migration, world system theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of need explain those factors that cause migration among Nigerian university workers. I reviewed the data from the research conducted by Omonijo et al (2011) titled: ’’Understanding the Escalation of Brain Drain in Nigeria from Poor Leadership Point of View’’, ‘’An Examination of the causes of Brain drain in Nigerian universities’’ conducted by Aliyu 2005, ‘’Effect of brain drain of librarians on service delivery in some selected Nigerian Universities’’ examined by Okolo et al (2014) and a research titled ‘’An analysis of the cause and effect of the brain drain in Zimbabwe’’ conducted by Chetsange and Muchenja (2003). Variables which drive migrants out of their home countries are push factors while pull factors are positive variables which attract and draw immigrants to receiving countries. This theory identified push variables that exist in Nigerian universities working environment as poor leadership, poor salaries and mass unemployment, etc. these factors are responsible for a mass exodus of Nigerian university's workers to developed countries. The world system theory explains that reason why workers from Nigerian universities migrate is that ‘’core region’’ (powerful and developed countries) offer better and attractive incentives that lure them (from periphery region) to migrate. Core regions have better technology, salaries, and conditions of service which attracts Nigerian university workers to migrate. In support of pullpush and World system theory, Maslow’s hierarchy of need explains that Nigerian university workers migrate because they are in need, first (physiological: food, water, shelter) and second (safety: security of employment, of health, of property and of resources) stage in the hierarchy. According to Maslow, an individual will not stop needing until he gets to the apex rank in the hierarchy. Maslow explains that Nigerian university workers migrate because they cannot actualize their higher needs if they choose to remain in the Nigerian university system, hence their migration. These theories provide us with the answers that Nigerian university workers migrate because of poor salaries, poor work conditions and poor leadership.
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