During a recent livestream, Nigerian musician and activist Seun Kuti spoke candidly about the influence of childhood poverty on the mindset of many Nigerians, particularly regarding the urge to migrate abroad, often referred to as “Japa.” Kuti argued that growing up in financially constrained homes profoundly shapes ambitions and perceptions of opportunity....Click to Read Full Article Here>>

Kuti stated, “Most of these FC are poor. They are poor children that grew up in poor homes. I cannot blame you because if you grew up in a poor home in Nigeria, there is no how your brain is fully formed.”

He highlighted that those most influenced by this upbringing are often the individuals determined to leave the country in search of better prospects. “The biggest example of people who grew up in poor homes are the people who believe in Japa. If you believe in Japa, it’s because you grew up in a poor home. There’s nobody who grew up in a better house who will Japa. You can travel and come back.”

Kuti also discussed the impact of poor nutrition and harsh disciplinary practices, such as physical beatings, on brain development. He emphasised that these factors limit perspectives, reinforce cycles of poverty, and shape attitudes toward migration and opportunity.

The term “Japa” has gained traction among Nigerian youth, symbolising the desire to leave the country for better economic or educational opportunities abroad. Analysts note that economic hardship, unemployment, and limited social mobility contribute to this mindset.

Kuti’s commentary links these socio-economic realities to early childhood experiences, arguing that systemic poverty not only restricts material resources but also shapes cognitive development and long-term decision-making.

Seun Kuti’s statements have sparked conversations across social media platforms, with many agreeing that economic deprivation influences migration ambitions, while others argue that ambition and resilience also play roles regardless of upbringing.

Social commentators have emphasised the need for government intervention to address systemic poverty, improve child nutrition, and invest in education to reduce the “Japa” mentality.

The “Japa” phenomenon contributes to brain drain and limits domestic talent retention. Addressing childhood poverty could mitigate emigration pressures and strengthen Nigeria’s workforce potential.

Nigeria’s youth migration trends reflect broader continental challenges, where poverty and limited opportunities push young people to seek better prospects abroad. Kuti’s commentary underscores the need for holistic social and economic reforms.

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Social media reactions pour in, see below;

rhema74 commented, “Na the same japa countries you make more money than naija ….. thank God what japa has done for me oooo.”

melhor_omezi wrote, “Who get better money no suppose japa sha. Money to afford securities and house in secured areas.”

ibadanlawa uttered, “And what is wrong with growing in a poor home?”

mr.commonsense_ shared, “Coming from someone whose dad schooled and lived abroad for a while before returning home. Example of Nepo baby. Gaslighting a path your father used to raise you.”

a4.autos said, “Not in anyway supporting seun, but we have to start applying sixth sense when dealing with stuffs. I just went to his page now and the second post on his IG “6 days ago” is filled with over 1K comments of FC insulting and taunting him for an issue that has passed since, now una don make am set camera again. Can y’all FC kids just be done and gone with the comparison & insults? Enough is enough, most of y’all really need to grow up and get off these celebs that don’t recognize y’all D! Life is more serious outside sm and all these trolling & insulting of pple on sm do have consequences when you least expect! ...Click to Read Full Article Here>>