Keji Giwa Sparks Outrage After Praying for UK Deportations to Curb “Brain Drain”

​The “Japa” phenomenon has long been a point of national debate, but Nigerian tech mogul Keji Giwa has taken the conversation to a controversial new high. In a recent appearance on the TalkwithRuth podcast, the billionaire businessman admitted to praying for the deportation of Nigerians currently working in the UK, arguing that the mass exodus of talent is Crippling local industries.

​Giwa’s comments have sent shockwaves across social media, highlighting the growing desperation of Nigerian employers struggling to fill the “talent gap” left by skilled professionals seeking greener pastures.

​A “Brain Drain” Crisis

​Giwa, who oversees a diverse portfolio of ventures, was candid about the toll that migration has taken on his operations. He lamented that his most competent staff—individuals he invested heavily in training—have almost all relocated abroad.

​”Those people that you employed that have now left, they were some of the best workers that you’ve had,” Giwa admitted during the interview. “We have now trained all of them to the point that most of them have left the country. What do we have left now?”

​The billionaire noted that the only thing currently keeping his remaining workforce intact is the tightening of visa regulations in countries like Canada and the UK. He suggested that without these “stringent rules,” his offices would likely be empty.

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​The Prayer for Deportation

​The most polarizing moment of the interview came when Giwa revealed his spiritual approach to human resource management. He confessed to praying for visa denials and the implementation of stricter immigration enforcement—similar to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—in the United Kingdom.

​”I’m praying to God that they deport them. I’m praying to God that their visas are not extended… I need these brains back in Nigeria,” he declared.

​Giwa even shared a specific anecdote about a former employee, admitting he “secretly prayed” her UK visa would be rejected so she would have no choice but to return to his firm. He emphasized that his business empire cannot be sustained by his efforts alone, stating, “My brain alone cannot sustain them.”

​The Wage Controversy

​While Giwa’s desire to see Nigerian talent return home could be framed as a plea for national development, his comments regarding compensation have fueled further backlash.

​When asked if he would be able to afford the salaries these professionals currently earn abroad if they were forced to return, Giwa’s response was blunt. He pointed to the current economic climate as a leverage point for employers.

​”The poor distribution of income puts me in a position where I can pay lower wages,” he stated, effectively suggesting that a lack of options for workers allows him to maintain a lower overhead.

​As the “Japa” wave continues to reshape Nigeria’s labor market, Giwa’s remarks serve as a stark reminder of the friction between the aspirations of the Nigerian youth and the survival instincts of the country’s business elite.