By Elizabeth Osayande

Co-founder and CEO of Immigify, Emma Olorunsheyi, has called on Nigerians and other Africans to rethink the popular “japa” narrative, saying immigration should be seen as a pathway to global opportunities rather than an escape from the country.

Olorunsheyi made the call at the Immigify Global Leadership Roundtable, held recently in Ikeja, Lagos, where top professionals, business leaders, tech founders, and innovators gathered to discuss global mobility, leadership, and the future of African talent.

According to him, many Nigerians who apply to relocate often approach the process with fear, desperation or incomplete information, which reduces their chances of securing the right opportunities.

He explained that the global labour market is undergoing major shifts, with countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany opening more routes for highly skilled professionals.

“Around the world, the most advanced economies are looking for skilled professionals and problem-solvers,” he said.

“We all say the world is a global village. If that is true, then as a professional, business owner, or startup founder, you must position yourself or your business as a global player.

“Africans must realise that they are not running away from something. They are moving toward something bigger. Immigration is not an escape plan; it is a strategic pathway to global opportunities.”

Co-founder and CTO of Immigify, Ayodeji Niyi-Adesola, and COO and Director of Legal Programs & Communications, Diana Melendez, joined the event via Zoom, giving brief welcome remarks before the roundtable discussions began.

The event also featured thought leaders across technology, business, innovation and policy, who shared insights on how Africa’s talent can position itself for global relevance through education, digital skills and cross-border collaboration.

A major highlight of the gathering was the live final of the second edition of the Uplift Hackathon, which saw five startup finalists – RoamRogue, Nyla AI, VerionX (Ulo), Real Talk Beta, and Zendit – pitch their innovations before a panel of judges drawn from various industries.

Nyla AI, an AI-powered digital ecosystem that serves users, clinics and pharmacies, emerged winner and received the grand prize of N1 million. Zendit, a carbon-free logistics startup, came second and won N300,000, while VerionX (Ulo), a solution that makes learning a fun way to earn for students, finished third with a N200,000 prize.

The judging panel commended the creativity of the participants and the quality of the ideas presented. The panel comprised telecommunications professional Hassana Bulus; tech futurist and thought leader Victor Ogunbiyi; accomplished HR leader Ayobami Akanle; and information security professional Iheanacho Josiah.

Ogunbiyi noted that the future of Nigeria’s tech space looks bright, as young people continue to build solutions to real problems. His views were echoed by Akanle and Bulus, who both praised Uplift for helping young founders refine their ideas and gain visibility.

“Tech gives Africans the ability to create without borders. A strong idea from Lagos can impact the world, and that is what we are seeing today,” Josiah added.