Africa: the lost generation; In January 2002, the British government introduced its flagship Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP), a scheme to allow 'high fliers with exceptional skills', including Africans, the opportunity to live and work in the UK. Nandi Herbert reports on how such aggressive schemes are draining Africa of its best brains.

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Africa: the lost generation; In January 2002, the British government introduced its flagship Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP), a scheme to allow 'high fliers with exceptional skills', including Africans, the opportunity to live and work in the UK. Nandi Herbert reports on how such aggressive schemes are draining Africa of its best brains.

One of the greatest obstacles to Africa's development is the massive brain drain which has seen millions of Africans leave the continent to seek employment in the West. There is now increasing concern that this haemorrhaging of skills (which has had devastating effects on the skills base) threatens to hamper much needed economic growth.

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While development experts and politicians scram...

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