Volume 1 Issue 3 in a Series of Articles: By Femi Senu |@Femi Senu |Sunday 4 February 2024 | 00:00 GMT
Why do people leave home? The phenomenon of African emigration is a complex one, and recent insights shed light on why individuals might choose to leave their homes for new countries. According to Afrobarometer, over a third of Africans have contemplated moving abroad, with the young and educated being the most likely to consider such a move. Interestingly, contrary to common assumptions, most Africans looking to emigrate prefer to relocate to another African country rather than Europe or North America.
A primary motivator driving this trend is the pursuit of employment opportunities. With job scarcity and economic challenges at home, people are compelled to seek better prospects in other countries, aiming to transcend poverty. The survey across 34 African countries reveals that employment and economic factors are pivotal in the decision to emigrate, with a significant 44% citing jobs as their reason for leaving, followed by 29% who leave due to financial struggles.
Family connections also play a role; those with relatives abroad are often influenced by these ties. Remittances from family members overseas are crucial for one in five Africans, sometimes funding their migration. Additionally, a quarter of survey respondents reported having family members who have lived abroad in the past three years.
Regional Preferences and Destination Choices
Regarding preferred destinations, the study shows a regional preference for relocation within Africa, with 29% choosing to stay within their own region and 7% open to moving to other regions within the continent. South Africans, in particular, show a strong tendency to remain within their region (58%), while North Africans are less inclined to do so (8%). In contrast, those looking to leave Europe largely favor North America, with 27% eyeing a move across the Atlantic.
Demographics of Potential Emigrants
The demographic most likely to emigrate comprises well-educated young adults, with nearly half of this group considering moving abroad. The desire to emigrate is prevalent among both men and women, though slightly more men (40%) entertain this thought compared to women (33%). The inclination to leave is consistent across urban and rural dwellers, with 44% of city and town residents and 32% of rural inhabitants considering emigration.
The Unique Nature of Emigration Decisions
The decision to emigrate is a deeply personal one, influenced by an array of individual circumstances and life experiences. It transcends mere geographic relocation, often embodying a quest for new beginnings or an escape from untenable conditions.
Reluctant Departure from One’s Country
Leaving one’s homeland is rarely a trivial decision and often is not a matter of choice but of necessity. For those who have experienced this, the journey and its outcome can vary greatly. The real question becomes, for those who have undertaken this significant life change to escape and start anew, how has the reality measured up to the expectation?
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In our next write-up, Volume 1 Issue 4 in A Series of Articles: Home sweet home., The countries people most wanting to go
Current Articles, in the series: “Home sweet home”
Volume 1 Issue 2 in a Series of Articles: A comparative analysis of Nigeria with other nations across Africa, Europe, and beyond: https://wordpress.com/post/nactpvs.wordpress.com/1119
Volume 1 Issue 1 in a Series of Articles: There is nothing like home: https://wordpress.com/post/nactpvs.wordpress.com/1087
“Home sweet home” In A Series of Articles: An Introduction: https://wordpress.com/post/nactpvs.wordpress.com/1048
Emigration News from around the world
International students entering the UK labour market: https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/commentaries/international-students-entering-the-uk-labour-market/
‘Japa’ ambitions face hurdle of higher costs: https://businessday.ng/news/article/japa-ambitions-face-hurdle-of-higher-costs/
Home Office set to evict hundreds of asylum seekers from Walthamstow hotel: https://walthamforestecho.co.uk/2024/01/23/home-office-set-to-evict-hundreds-of-asylum-seekers-from-walthamstow-hotel/
Migrant deaths, Sunday 14 January 2024, Do you think something must have gone wrong almost immediately? Click here to read more- https://wordpress.com/post/nactpvs.wordpress.com/1074
Other News: Criminality
10 African cities with the highest crime index at the start of 2024: https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/10-african-cities-with-the-highest-crime-index-at-the-start-of-2024/ywhq0yx
“KNOWLEDGE BREAKS BARRIERS…AFRICA CREATES BRIDGES”
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A critical assessment of anti‐corruption strategies for economic development in sub‐Saharan Africa: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/dpr.12442 First published: 18 May 2019
African school of thought: The missing ideology in finding a solution to sub‐Saharan African insecurity: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/dpr.12397 First published: 05 July 2018
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