Benin City in southern Nigeria is regarded as a centre for illegal Migration in West Africa. Reason enough for Deutsche Welle and “The 77 Percent”project, for young people there to check it out: “Where is your future?”
Aigbe Omoregie has done it. With 13 years he started in his home town of Benin City in Nigeria, to sell eggs. Today the business man is a millionaire and makes his money with wall-colors – also internationally. With his 38 years, he is only a little older than the target audience, which sits at the Townhall debate, the German wave in the audience. “What differentiates me from you and those who want to go to Europe?”, Omoregie asks his young compatriots. For a Moment it is very quiet in the room. “Nothing. I stay only decided to build something.”
About 300 students and other young people the invitation of Deutsche Welle, of the University of Benin were followed-City. In the framework of the DW project, “The 77 Percent” the participants discussed the question: “Where is your future: Here or abroad?” Was able to follow the debate in the Nigerian TV, because the private partner is the sender of the DW in Nigeria, Channels TV, broadcast the two-hour debate live, in its news program. Facebook users could also view on the side of the DW, the discussion via live stream.
In the middle of the migration dilemma
Benin City has over Nigeria’s borders, the reputation of a tractor to the city. Who wants to get away from here, find quickly someone who can help. In Benin City, each someone seems to know, the young people will help to come at least to Libya. But everyone also knows someone who came back from Libyan migrants do not store or Italian brothels.
Also, at the Townhall debate, people from their migration to tell experiences – both on the Podium and in the audience. Here, as there, they have the same strong message: It is a bad experience, not worth it. Still, The biggest applause of the former student representatives of Divine Oguchi Omale gets Clear, he says, if one was there, desires nothing more than to be home. “But we were barely three weeks in Nigeria, want you gone, because you realize that everything else was better than here!”
Divine Omole (middle), former student representative, mixed with the Panel (on the right: Aigbe Omoregie, on the left: Elizabeth Ativie)
The reason is that There are simply no Jobs. Even Nigerians with good education it is hard. “Even if I got my degree, the government only those invites yet, apply with a certificate from Cambridge or Havard” Divine Omale.
Solution approaches from above and below
The representatives of the municipal government to counter the Anger of the audience. The city has launched several programs to improve the quality of University education. Also an Online job Board there are now, the graduates in the private sector.
Returnees get here is a multi-month training and start-up funding. But also there is a barrage of criticism. “Does this mean we are to take the dangerous journey to us so that we can get support from the state, if we are back here?” a young student complains and reap thunderous applause.
Benin City is considered to be the tractor high castle – also because there are hardly any Jobs for the many young people
So what to do? Some have very specific proposals: preferential tax rates for young entrepreneurs. Or targeted young employees in the public service, because “it is not because the government and institutions want, but the fact that the employees can do it, because you are much too old,” a contribution to the discussion.
Stay or go?
A young Student no longer wants to rely on the government. “Imagine the government is your father. Do you want to even be a loser, just because your father fails?” In this score, many suggest, also, the entrepreneur Omoregie. “It is you, your life must be,” he says. Opportunities there are many, because the problems are also possibilities. “If you find a Problem with you in the area, looking for a solution and you can make millions!”
All of the participants, he can’t convince, however. As a DW-TV presenter Edith Kimani at the end of the Central question of the debate – “Where is your future: Here or abroad?” – follow on a first loud “Here!” many small “or is it abroad?” Prefer, many say after the debate, you want to do both – but legally.