Focus on Africa - JAPA: Does migrating pay off?
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For millions of young Africans, leaving home in search of better opportunities has become an increasingly attractive option. A recent Afrobarometer survey across 38 African countries found that 55% of young people aged 18–35 have considered emigrating. Roughly 22% would prefer to remain somewhere in Africa, while 60% favour Europe or North America. Among those considering leaving, better work opportunities are the leading motivation, but is this merely about better work opportunities and what would make young Africans stay?
Host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to Oluwaseyi Makinde, who moved from Nigeria to Canada as a teenager, only to return to Nigeria as an adult, and Omotoke Motunrayo Fatoki who made the move from Nigeria to Rwanda.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Ayuba Iliya, Carolyne Jotham and Keikantse Shumba
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producers: Priyanka Sippy, Blessing Aderogba and Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie, Maryam Abdalla
Published on Friday, 25th September 2026.
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