Migration and Economic Challenges in West Africa

Abstract

This paper burdened itself with the examination of the economic  challenges of migration in West Africa. The movement of people from one place to another is what is basically known as migration. It is that aspect of life which human beings share with other animals. Migration is a common  phenomenon in human history. Every country has been affected in one way or the other by migration. West Africa is said to have a long history of  movement of people within and outside the sub-region. Therefore,  employing the philosophical method of hermeneutics, the paper observed that the movement of the skilled and unskilled West African nationals outside the shores of Africa limits their contributions to their country of origin and thereby poses some challenges to the economic development of the sub-region. The paper therefore submits that the return of the skilled workers of West African origin will go a long way in stabilizing the economy of the sub-region. It is also the submission of this paper that migration has to be properly channelled for the economic development of West Africa.

Key Words: Economic Challenges, Emigration, Immigration, Migration, West Africa.