Nigeria's high level manpower: a study of the role of the Nigerian students in the United States in economic development of Nigeria

Includes bibliographical references.Although no comprehensive manpower planning program is complete without consideration for those who would return from institutions abroad upon graduation, lack of availability of information about these people might inflate unduly the need for expatriate personnel to serve in Nigeria. This study was undertaken to bridge this gap. It was designed to provide information for Nigerian policymakers, and also to familiarize employers with the new labor market available to them. It was hoped that this study would bring the three parties—Government policy-makers, employers, and the Nigerian students in the,United States—together in order to foster economic growth and to prevent brain drain of high-level manpower to developed nations. The purpose of this study was to explore and identify needed skills for economic development (Chapters 2 and 3); to examine the factors that influence occupational decisions of the Nigerian students in the United States (Chapter 4); and to suggest techniques whereby the trained students could be recruited and placed in employment where they could be of maximum utility (Chapter 5). In determining the needed skills, several studies by the National Manpower Board were analyzed and reviewed. A framework for analyzing manpower planning was devised. In that schematic framework, it was noted that effective manpower planning is a function of good planning objectives-strategies; development planning—social and economic; and machinery for execution: E[sub MPp] = f(g[MP[sub o+s'] + DP[sub s+e] + Me]) To determine the occupational participation of the Nigerian students in the United States, a questionnaire was constructed and sent to a selected sample of 110 Nigerian students in the continental United States. Eighty-five completed questionnaires were returned. Analysis of these questionnaires revealed that occupational decisions are affected by several factors: interest, capacities, values, cost of acquiring training, availability of employment, among others. Three significant findings were outstanding in this study. —The study sustained the conceptual framework of the theory of occupational choice as found by Eli Ginzberg, Leonard Small and Donald Super in their respective studies. In this study, 74 per cent of the respondents indicated that they were satisfied with their career/ occupation; —A large number of the students (65 out of 85) were private, self-supporting scholars; and —seventy-three of the 85 respondents preferred to be free in determining their own place of work—freedom of labor mobility. In order to enhance "Nigerianization" of key jobs and occupations the study concluded that Governmental recruitment agencies might be consolidated under one banner: National Development Board of Nigeria. Also, based on the findings of the questionnaire instrument, it was suggested that state Governments rescind their regionalist employment policy. This is necessary in order to insure free labor mobility and to facilitate maximum utilization of available manpower. Finally, it was suggested that, to encourage those who graduate from American institutions to return to Nigeria, a type of unemployment compensation program might be instituted. The returnees should be paid a certain sum of money until they are able to locate employment, after which the compensation ceases. This is necessary to prevent brain drain of potential high-level manpower.M.S. (Master of Science