Abia State Governor, Mr. Alex Otti, has expressed displeasure at the rate Nigeria is losing its best brains to developed economies, saying political leaders have a duty to reverse the trend.

He stated this at the weekend at Isiugwu Ohafia at the funeral service of one of Nigeria’s foremost chartered accountants, Kalu Uke Kalu, who was a founding partner and executive director of SKOUP and Company Limited.

The brain-drain syndrome, which has now been christened ‘japa’ syndrome, has assumed an alarming dimension following the harsh economic realities and the attendant high rate of unemployment in the country.

However, Otti in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kazie Uko, said with appropriate policies, Nigeria could not only halt the japa phenomenon but also lure back those that had already emigrated.

He said those at the helm of affairs should make deliberate efforts to ensure that the best brains are retained in service of the country, and not allowed to migrate to other countries in search of greener pastures.

The governor said on his own part, his administration’s policies were geared towards making Abia State conducive for people and businesses to thrive.

According to him, “When we do all the things we do in Abia State, we want to attract our people that are outside, most importantly the people that are outside the shores of the state.

“We need to get them back, otherwise, we would get to a level where what will be left here will be the trace of the society. May it not happen to us in Jesus’ name!”

Otti noted that Elder Kalu, who died at 88, was a great Nigerian, who contributed immensely to the development of society, “unlike what is happening today where highly skilled professionals are moving out of the country in droves.

“Today, we are here celebrating him(Kalu); but as we celebrate him, we need to talk to ourselves. A lot of good men are going. We are now wondering, the best of the young people, are they here?

“Most of them have ‘japad’ (left the country). So, for those who are opportune to lead, we need to deliberately make efforts to attract our best people back.”

Governor Otti stressed the need to encourage the younger generation to stay back in the country as well as make deliberate efforts to bring back those that had left.

He described the late chartered accountant as a friend and mentor, who excelled in life and left behind numerous legacies, adding that he was a man of utmost humility, integrity in his service to society, to the Church, and to the community.

He stated that the life lived by the deceased corporate chieftain, “left challenges for us to copy as he was “humility and integrity personified.”

In his sermon, entitled: ‘Preciousness of Death’, Most Rev Benebo Fubara-Manuel challenged the living to do what is right and live a life of integrity, as well make positive impact on people and society at large.

Also, the first son of the deceased, Mr. David Kalu, in his funeral oration, highlighted the contributions of his late father in the accounting profession, finance, academia, service to his community and the church.