Japa : Stakeholders Raises alarm on mental health of Left Behind Youths

……45000 Nigerians planning to leave the country

Photo Caption:Dr Ikpi Ntongha Eni of the Department of Sociology,University of Calabar,Mr Agbojule Imole, Rep of Mrs Aregbesola Janet,Mrs Adenike Okunrinmeta, Project Director of Youth Care Project,Mrs Mojisola Omoregie,Director Health Education,Ondo state and others at the Workshop

1. Stakeholders from the academic,general public, religious organisations and non -government organisations have raises alarm and  spoke of need to take proactive actions and measures to identify and address  mental health issues  of Left Behind Youths .

These are Youths whose parents left the country for greener pastures in the wake of recent wave of Migration in the country.
They made this submissions at a one- day Workshop on Influence of Religion and Migration on Mental Health of Left Behind Youths in Nigeria organised by Youths Care Project,a non government organisation.
The leader of the Research team which seek to Identify the problems of children and Youths Left Behind by parents who sought greener pastures abroad,Dr Dominic Pasura of Glasgow University observed that evidences has shown that disadvantages Faced by such Youths cause Emotional stress for them.
He said that while emigrants to foreign countries often carry With them experiences at home,it is better for migrants to obtain skills in order to fair better in Europe and other countries.

Other Faces of Youths and other participants at the Workshop:

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In her own contributions,Mrs Mojisola Omoregie, Director , Health Education in Ondo state said that emigration occasioned by Japa syndrome has led to Emotional stress among  Youths Left Behind Who often suffer lack of parental care with subsequent disorder and frustrations occasioned by loneliness and lack of parental care.

In her own paper delivered by a lecturer at the University of Lagos,Agbojule Imole,Mrs Aregbesola Janet Oluwatoyin,Principal Assistant Registrar and Head of Department Counseling Unit of Unilag disclosed that 45% of Nigerians plan to live the country.
According to her, those living constitute the strenght of the country as they are experts and professionals from all sectors of the national life.
She added that the amazing thing is that those left Behind by parents often fall into loneliness, depression delayed destiny and dryg abuse with its effects on the Emotional stability of youths
Project Director of Youths Care Project,Mrs Adenike Okunrinmeta also spoke of multivarious negative effects encountered by Left Behind Youths like loneliness, Emotional stress,lack of parental guidance and other vices.
She however added that in spite of latent difficulties occasioned by lack of parenting,many Youths still find a way to engaged themselves positively through acquiring relevant skills and vocation

The speakers all agreed that religious organisations have a role to play in advising the Youths on positive sides of their country.
They contended that messages and counseling from the religious bodies should not focus on prosperity obtainable only outside the country but also preach about  about possibilities and belief in self and hope to meet destiny.

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