When Nigerian lawyer and youth advocate Inikpi Amodu wrote that “patriotism without provision is noise,” she was not simply making a political statement. She was giving voice to the quiet frustration, difficult choices, and emotional conflicts many young Nigerians live with every day.
As Programs Lead at the UNESCO Youth Organisation Department (YOD), Amodu works closely with young people navigating questions about opportunity, identity, and belonging. Her remarks come at a time when more Nigerian youth are relocating abroad—a movement popularly referred to as “japa.” While critics often frame this migration as a lack of loyalty, Amodu suggests the reality is far more human.
Behind every departure is a personal story. A graduate who has spent years searching for stable employment. A young professional worried about safety. A student seeking quality education and research facilities. A family choosing reliable healthcare. For many, leaving is not fueled by disdain for their country but by hope for a future that feels possible.
Amodu argues that patriotism cannot be sustained through guilt or moral pressure. Love for one’s country, she suggests, deepens when citizens experience dignity, opportunity, and fairness in everyday life. When public systems function effectively—when roads are safe, jobs are accessible, institutions are transparent, and healthcare works—loyalty grows organically. It becomes pride, not obligation.
Her perspective reframes the debate. Rather than asking why young people are leaving, she invites leaders and policymakers to ask what conditions are pushing them to make that choice. Young people, she notes, respond to incentives and lived realities. If opportunities are scarce and pathways unclear, mobility becomes a rational response.
At the same time, Amodu’s stance does not dismiss patriotism. Instead, it calls for a more grounded understanding of it—one built on trust earned through delivery. In her view, patriotism thrives where systems create space for citizens to dream, build, and succeed without sacrificing safety or stability.
The discussion she has sparked reflects a generational shift. Today’s youth are globally connected, informed, and pragmatic. They want to contribute meaningfully to their country, but they also want security and growth. Their decision to stay or leave is rarely emotional rebellion; it is often careful calculation.
By humanizing the migration conversation, Amodu shifts attention from accusation to accountability. Her central message resonates with many: people do not abandon nations lightly. They move when the systems meant to support them no longer feel supportive.
The larger question she leaves open remains pressing—what must change to make staying not just patriotic, but practical?
