‘Japa’ drain: Ambassador Collins Idahosa seeks NYSC DiasporaCorps for Nigerians abroad

A New Vision for National Service

Ambassador Collins Idahosa, the Governor of the National Youth Council of Nigeria-Diaspora (NYCN-Diaspora), has proposed a significant reform to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through the creation of a sixth service stream. Known as DiasporaCorps, the scheme is designed to allow Nigerians studying or working abroad to perform a portion of their mandatory national service overseas before returning to Nigeria to complete the program.

The proposal, contained in a policy paper titled “Making National Youth Service International,” seeks to address the growing migration of skilled Nigerian professionals—often referred to as the 'Japa' trend. Under the framework, eligible graduates would undertake up to six months of professional service with vetted foreign organizations, followed by at least six months of service within Nigeria. The domestic component would retain the compulsory three-week orientation camp, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training, and Community Development Service (CDS).

DiasporaCorps would allow eligible Nigerians studying or working overseas to begin their national service abroad through a structured placement with a vetted host organisation, before returning to Nigeria to complete the remainder of their service year and receive full formal accreditation for the work already performed.

— Ambassador Collins Idahosa, Governor, NYCN-Diaspora

Strategic Safeguards and Non-Poaching Clauses

A central feature of the DiasporaCorps proposal is a set of rigorous safeguards intended to ensure that the program does not facilitate permanent migration. The policy introduces a three-year non-poaching clause, which prohibits foreign host organizations—including hospitals, universities, and multinational companies—from offering participants employment or visa sponsorship for three years following their placement.

To participate, foreign organizations must be vetted by the NYSC and Nigerian diplomatic missions, pay annual registration fees, and submit curricula for approval. The NYCN-Diaspora emphasized that this model is not an exemption from service. It specifically differentiates the proposal from previous attempts to allow foreign-trained graduates to pay fees in lieu of service, a concept rejected by the House of Representatives in 2023.

Every participant returns to Nigeria, attends orientation camp, and completes Community Development Service. The overseas segment simply converts brain drain into monitored, accredited brain circulation.

— Policy Paper, NYCN-Diaspora

Combatting the Human Capital Flight

The push for DiasporaCorps comes amid startling data regarding Nigerian migration. The policy paper notes that over 1.3 million Nigerian professionals emigrated between 2020 and 2024. The healthcare sector has been particularly affected, with an estimated 15,000 to 16,000 doctors lost to migration within five years. In the United Kingdom alone, 8,560 Nigerian doctors were registered between 2021 and 2024, accounting for 39 percent of all international registrations.

While remittances to Nigeria reached approximately $20.9 billion in 2023, the NYCN-Diaspora argues that financial transfers cannot compensate for the loss of productivity and skill. The organization highlights that 71 percent of young Nigerians surveyed expressed a desire to move abroad if given the opportunity. The proposed reform aims to modernize the NYSC, which was established at a time when international education and global employment were less prevalent.

Implementation Roadmap and Pilot Phase

The NYCN-Diaspora has outlined a phased implementation strategy, beginning with a pilot program in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. This initial phase, targeted for 6 to 18 months following legislative approval, would involve 50 to 100 vetted organizations and up to 1,000 Nigerian graduates. The program would then expand globally, with a goal of full access by the third year.

To support the transition of returning graduates, the proposal includes a Federal and State Apprenticeship Programme. This initiative would match returning participants with identified skills gaps in government ministries, departments, and agencies.

• Pilot Phase: Focus on UK, USA, and Canada with 500-1,000 participants.
• Expansion Phase: Global rollout between 18 and 36 months.
• Infrastructure: Creation of a DiasporaCorps Directorate within the NYSC and an enhanced Foreign Mobilisation portal.

The proposal has been submitted to the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for consideration as part of the ongoing NYSC Act amendments.