The extent of Africa’s brain drain worrying

A country and continent’s true strength and potential is its young people. Currently at 1.2 billion, Africa’s population is projected to more than double by 2050. However, with the population increase comes new opportunities and challenges. Brain drain has increasingly become one of Africa’s biggest problems. The continent is suffering from brain drain as its young, skilled workers depart from the region, is search of greener pastures, leaving skilled and educated professionals in short supply. Last year the IMF in its World Economic Outlook report noted that the outflow of skilled labour and young people seeking better educational opportunities outside the continent’s borders will continue rising, and the trend is worrying.