The Mediterranean has become a burial place for the young people of Africa. According to International Organisation for Migration, about 3,072 people perished trying to migrate to Europe through the Mediterranean in 2014 alone.

As the number of migrants increases, so does the number of deaths. Sadly, to many African leaders and governments it is just one of those numbers international organisations release to tarnish the image of the continent. To African leaders and governments it is just more data.

What we refuse to realise or intentionally ignore is the fact that among the dead could be that future president, that future entrepreneur, that future scientist, that future educationist who probably might have saved Africa from its leadership challenges in the future.

Bad leadership creates economic hardship, which in turn increases poverty. Poverty forces people to seek alternative means of survival; the search triggers the survival instinct and the survival instinct encourages migration.

Good governance, on the other hand, would create jobs and reduce irregular migration, which would prevent the deaths of so many of our youths.