Everyone wants to japa, but not everyone makes it. Almost Abroad shares the near-misses and big wins of Nigerians chasing greener pastures against all odds in 2025.
Tired of the stress of moving money across borders? With Juicyway, you can seamlessly send, receive, and convert fiat or stablecoins like USD, CAD, USDT, and USDC in Nigeria—at great rates. Free multi-currency accounts, instant transfers, and top-tier security? Say no more. Click here to get started!
When did you start considering the idea of leaving the country?
I’ve never been the type of person who just wants to japa and say goodbye to the country forever. Even when my brother offered to sponsor my masters in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022, I turned it down.
My decision might seem stupid, but I have no regrets. I made it for three reasons: My brother and I don’t have the best relationship, I don’t want to owe anybody that much, and I wanted to leave Nigeria on my own terms with my own money.
In 2024, I finally felt ready for my master’s and started working towards it. My original plan was to get my master’s degree in the UK and return to the country afterwards. But that plan is no longer valid.
What changed?
Nigeria changed. In 2023, I was earning ₦250,000 and could easily save ₦1 million from my annual income. I’m 23 now, and I earn ₦600,000, yet I can barely afford to buy clothes. The worst part is that I’m not a reckless spender, and no matter how much I stretch myself, it’s never enough; I no longer go out or work from cafes. I don’t even go to the cinemas anymore. My favourite type of therapy used to be retail therapy, but now, I can barely afford to buy clothes just for fun.
Every month, I ask myself where my money is going, and I can confidently tell you it’s going where it needs to go. I pay my tithe and try my best to give to people in need. I contribute to crowdfunding efforts I come across on X. Sometimes, I send some money to my parents and siblings, but most of my money is spent on food.
Can you break it down a little?
I live alone, and my grocery shopping for each month costs ₦50,000. That doesn’t include the cost of cooking. For almost three weeks now, I’ve been buying pepper for the most ridiculous price. And don’t even get me started on the price of plantain.
Once in a while, I fill my gas cylinder and pay my light bill. I also spend close to ₦30,000 on my monthly wifi plan and about ₦30,000 on beauty maintenance. As I mentioned earlier, I don’t go out anymore. The only place I go to is church, and I don’t spend more than ₦5,000 on Uber every Sunday.
That’s a lot
Yes. I’ve suddenly realised that the economy is working against me. I’m not doing anything unusual, yet my money can barely keep up with my expenses. I’m getting ready to pay ₦800,000 in rent, and I honestly don’t see how that’s sustainable anymore.
There has been a power outage here for one week now. Since then, I’ve been spending ₦5,000 once every two days to power my generator. I can’t afford to cook until the electricity is restored because there’s no way to store my food. As a result, I have been ordering food from Chowdeck. It’s time for me to leave the country because the country itself is working against my personal growth.
I feel that. How’s the relocation process going?
People have called me crazy because my entire relocation plan is based on faith and prayer. I have no money to spend, yet I have these big dreams.
One of the reasons I didn’t take my brother’s offer was because of the kind of school he wanted me to attend. Many immigrants go to schools that are not ranked high globally, and that’s not something I want to do. Considering my line of work, my best shot at creating an excellent life for myself as an immigrant is attending an Ivy League or any other highly respected school. That’s the plan I’m working towards. I’ve managed to get into one of those schools, but I’m still waiting to hear back from the scholarships I applied for.
What has trying to fund your UK plans from Nigeria felt like?
You’d think I could at least cover some part of my tuition with what I earn, but I can’t even cover rent. I’m supposed to book my accommodation at school with £300 this month; I considered it a fair amount until I converted it to naira and found that it’s way over ₦600,000.
Right now, all I have is my faith. Is it crazy? Yes. But with God, all things are possible. All I know is that there’s nothing for me in Nigeria anymore. I feel like I’m slaving away, and there’s no chance it will improve.
With my qualifications, I can get another job that’ll pay ₦1 million per month, because my former salary was close to that (I earn less now because I made some sacrifices to follow my passion), but that wouldn’t change anything. It won’t change the exchange rate or the price of pepper in the market.
Do you have a backup plan?
That’s not how faith works. I’ve done crazier things out of faith, and they’ve worked out. I’m not about to start doubting God now. God is my main plan and backup plan. My brother’s offer is still available, but like I mentioned earlier, I don’t want to owe anybody that much in life. He doesn’t want to pay for the school I got into because it costs more than the lower-ranked schools, and that’s completely understandable. But I won’t leave this country and move somewhere else without at least some sort of academic advantage. I’d hate myself if I did that.
The school I’m going to has big clout and an incredibly low acceptance rate. It’s faith in God that got me there. And I’ll keep that faith alive until everything else falls in place.
I’m also saving as much as possible, but saving in naira is a waste. I’ve also tried saving in dollars, but it’s still not a match for pounds. I plan to sell a couple of things in my apartment to raise some money. I don’t know how it will go, but I know I’m starting my master’s this fall.
I’m rooting for you. I wish you a safe flight in advance
Thank you!
Want to share your Almost Abroad story? Reach out to me here.
