UPDATED: Don’t ‘Japa’, Tinubu urges young Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu urged young Nigerians not to abandon the country, popularly known as japa, during his Democracy Day broadcast on Friday. “To our young people: Nigeria is your home and your future. Build here, code here, work here, and vote here. Every great nation was built by those who stayed to solve problems, not by those who abandoned ship,” he said. Tinubu stressed that while past generations fought for political independence, today’s youth must secure economic freedom. He called on them to reject cynicism and division, and to ensure democracy is “felt in the pocket” of every citizen. The address comes as thousands of professionals leave yearly, with over 75,000 health workers exiting in recent years, severely impacting hospitals, universities, and critical sectors across the country.