By Ike Mgbatogu
Staff Writer

To jakpa or not to jakpa:  That is the question.

Onumba.com,USA ——— Some might find it paradoxical and hypocritical that someone abroad would be adamantly against the Jakpa syndrome.

But actually that’s a very reasonable stance to take.

Please put me on that roster while we are at it.

Unlike today’s jakpa trend, the exodus of a significant number of Nigerians in the 70s, 80s and early part of the 90s was purely an educational pursuit.

Yes ——- I am not at all a fan of emptying up Nigeria, especially when looking at the 40 — 60 age cohort often driven to sell everything they own simply to move overseas.

Please understand me. My beef is not necessarily with young cats and jobless folks looking to go and better themselves elsewhere. No. Rather, it is largely with this older demographics who are often willing to drop everything, sell everything they own, shut down every business they operate often thriving enterprises and even sell off the only plots of land they might own ——– all of that just to travel abroad ——- not a ticket to heavenly paradise.

For starters, that is a blind leap into the dark.

If that’s kind of plunge we are talking about, and I believe it is  ——– then yes ——- it’s completely foolish, plain and simple.

Unapologetically, unwaveringly and straight up —— it represents the absolute epitome of folly —— the ultimate act of recklessness.

But recently, I stumbled upon a beautiful Jakpa story that really warmed my heart.

Because, at the end of the day, Jakpa comes down to one question: are you able to better yourself financially, whether you stay or return home?

So, meet Agnes ——– a 28-year old single mother from Kenya. When she was 22 years old, she Japkered to Saudi Arabia with assistance from an agency that helps people obtain immigrant VISA.

She went there to work as a housemaid.

It was a tough, back breaking job, she said.

Her lack of legal status left her perpetually vulnerable to the threat of deportation. But she managed to navigate life without a single bump on the road.

For six long years, Agnes labored tirelessly, sending every spare penny home to build her dream bungalow.

There’s nothing earth-shattering about building a house. After all, a significant share of immigrants do that.

But for Agnes, there was something that sets her apart from just the usual immigrant struggle.  Something far more grand was baking in the oven and she kept it under wraps.

Here’s the soul of the story. The very moment she completed her house in Kenya, she sold everything she owned, got ready, and turned herself in for deportation quicker than you can say “Free plane ticket back to Kenya.”

That’s right. Saudi Arabia footed the bill for her airfare back to her country where she had a dope looking pad waiting for her.

What a Jim Dandy plot!

What I love the most is how she achieved her dreams and decided to return back to the motherland.

Share and let us know what you think in the comment section below.