Migration From Nigeria: Exaggerated Ideas Versus Harsh Realities

Abstract

The commercialisation of social media views and clicks has generated a new breed of armchair journalists, content creators and internet advisers on any topic of interest. These people target issues of interest and claim expertise in them. While many of their claims are unverified and unverifiable, some are commonsensical and verifiable. But time and experience play special roles in the value of the information or disinformation. The recent wave of youth unemployment and the drive to ‘survive at all costs’ occasioned by the economic difficulty in Nigeria, has blindfolded some youths into believing that anywhere outside Nigeria is a greener pasture. This desperation therefore makes them pay attention to positive information about travelling without balancing the discernment by listening to the woes that could befall a traveller. On the other hand, the desire to generate internet traffic and clicks has deterred some bloggers and content creators from publishing the truth because they would suffer lack of views or positive ratings. They therefore prepare what the audience warms to. As a result, too, lots of people get involved in migrating with lofty expectations which are soon dashed on the ground, only but too late. This presentation explores some of the roles migration internet advisers, registered agents and foreign enterprises play in misleading young Nigerians. Correspondence and Coherence theories of Truth were adopted as framework, while focus group discussion design was used. The scope of the study lies within the migration experiences that result to ‘woes and wonders’ to the Nigerian populace as well as the roles and responsibilities of the concerned order in the industry. It also recommends a positive way forward, which includes balanced provision of information from both sides, appeal to family and significant others to investigate and commit to the outcome, and preparation for fallback by the traveller in case of disappointment.