Someone you know has left or is planning to leave. 1,000 Ways To Japa will speak to real people and explore the infinite number of reasons and paths they use to get to Japa
Mmesoma* (30) had everything she needed in Nigeria, but the tragic loss of her mother was the final push she needed to leave it all behind. In this story, she shares how she moved to Canada as a permanent resident after spending only three days in the pool.
Where do you live, and when did you move out of Nigeria?
I currently live in Edmonton, Alberta. I left Nigeria in March 2024.
Why did you choose Canada, and what inspired your move?
My brothers have been living in Canada for a while, and I’ve always known I’ll leave Nigeria at some point. Before I left the country, I lived with my mom because she was sick. She stayed with me for a few months, but unfortunately, she passed away. After that, I couldn’t stay in that apartment anymore; everything reminded me of her. I had already started my immigration process before she passed, but I paused it because she was with me. After mourning her, I picked it up again with encouragement from my brother, and that’s when I decided to finally move.
I’m so sorry about your mom.
Thank you.
What was your life in Nigeria like before the tragedy?
When I first moved to Lagos in 2018, I was a National Youth Corps member earning ₦40,000 and commuting daily from Berger to Lekki. At first, I didn’t know anyone in Lagos except my siblings, but over time, I made friends, built my own little community, and eventually moved to the island and got my car. I worked at a law firm and I earned fairly well. Between 2020 and 2023, most of the people I know left Nigeria, so it felt right to leave too.
How exactly did you move?
I moved through Permanent Residency. I entered the pool in 2024. Funny enough, I spent just one weekend in the pool. I entered on a Saturday, and by Tuesday, a draw was held, and I got my Invitation to Apply (ITA).
That part of the process was smooth, but the rest was not. I wrote my International English Language Testing System (IELTS) once, but the British Council refused to release my result. I had to drive around Lagos chasing it. The process was extremely stressful and chaotic, but I eventually got my result. The cutoff for the draw at the time was 486, and I scored 490. If I had delayed for even a week, I probably wouldn’t have made it because the scores after that kept rising.
What’s the process of securing Canadian Permanent Residency like?
Typically, you have to complete your World Education Evaluation process (WES), which I did in late 2022. Then, I sat for the IELTS in 2023. I practised with lots of past questions and even attended free IELTS prep classes in Ikeja. Some qualities which can help applicants secure extra points were also on my side— I was under 30 while applying, and I had a sibling in Canada.
Instead of showing my bank statements, I submitted investment certificates as proof of funds. At the time, I needed to show I had about ₦8 million. I moved the money into one of my bank accounts and asked my account officer to create a fixed deposit. Then, I got an investment certificate as proof and submitted it instead of regular account statements. I also had a little over $1,000 in other bank accounts, which I added. One thing to note– the amount required for proof of funds was about ₦8 million when I applied, but I’ve heard it has increased since then.
For lawyers going through the process, completing your evaluation with the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) is better. They treat a law degree as a professional degree, equivalent to a Master’s. Completing my evaluation with them bumped my score up by 40–50 points. I wouldn’t have hit the cutoff if I had evaluated it as a regular degree.
What other documents did you need during your application?
You need your IELTS result and degree evaluation for the initial entry into the pool.
Once you get your ITA, they’ll ask for more documents like your passport, proof of funds (that’s where the investment certificate came in), police clearance, medicals, and work reference letters. You upload everything directly to your Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) profile.
One of the first things you need after receiving your ITA is a full-body medical exam. You have to go to a hospital or a healthcare centre that IRCC approves. Then there’s the police character certificate. If you stay in Lagos, you can get that from Alagbon in Ikoyi.
Aside from the medicals and police report, you’ll also need reference letters from your previous employers. You have to prove that you’ve worked for more than two years to qualify for the pool. I got reference letters from the law firm I used to work with and my most recent employer.
You’ll also need a passport photograph, but it has to meet Canada’s specific size and background requirements. Studio24 in Lagos already knows how to take those pictures properly for Canadian applications, making things easier. Then there’s the proof of funds.
Thank you for not gatekeeping. How’s life in Canada going?
My life hasn’t changed drastically, but the safety stands out to me here. I never really felt that in Nigeria, no matter how financially well-off I was. Here, I can go out at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. for a walk and not feel like I have to look over my shoulder. Even though there are homeless people here and there’s a visible drug abuse issue, I’ve never felt unsafe. No one has ever harassed me on the road.
Work-wise, I feel respected here. That was not my experience in Nigeria, especially with my first job. The work environment there was toxic. I worked there for four years, and even when I moved to a different job, the trauma from that first one stayed with me.
I’m glad you’re settling in. Have you experienced any culture shock?
One of the first ones that got me was seeing people wear bum shorts to work during summer. Even older women like my bosses show up to the office in shorts. Also, the way people address each other is different. You can call someone in their sixties or seventies by their first name, and no one thinks it’s rude. There’s no “Sir” or “Ma’am” here.
Another small thing that initially threw me off was how they greet. In Nigeria, you say “Good afternoon, sir” and maybe even bow slightly. Here, you just say “Hi” and keep it moving. Another thing I’ve enjoyed is the ease of travel. Because I’m now a Canadian permanent resident, applying for visas to other countries is way easier. I didn’t have to over-explain when I applied for a UK visa recently. It’s such a flex, and I honestly can’t wait to get my Canadian passport. I know it’ll make things even easier.
Love that for you. How happy are you in Canada on a scale of one to ten?
I’d say I’m at an eight. I can pay my bills, and I have peace of mind. Before I moved, people warned me it’d be hard to find work in Canada because of how bad the economy is. But I’ve been lucky. I have what I need, and I can afford whatever I want. For that, I’m thankful.
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