The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
Raphael (29) liquidated a successful pharmacy practice in Nigeria to pursue a master’s degree in England. In this story, he talks about life in England being faster, harder and more racially hostile than he expected. He also shares how he’s now found the perfect place for a Nigerian immigrant in Scotland.
Where do you currently live, and when did you leave Nigeria?
I currently live in Glasgow, Scotland. I left Nigeria in January 2023.
What inspired you to leave?
Honestly, I felt I knew who was going to win the 2023 election. Before I left, I managed a pharmacy practice, but the cost of living and the cost of drugs were going up. I knew that if the ruling party won the election, things were just going to get worse, and I was right.
What was life like before you left?
Life was good, and income was steady because people will always fall sick and need medication. But for me, pharmacy is about patient care, not just business. As time went by, patients who urgently needed medication would come in and wouldn’t be able to afford the drugs I had on the shelves. It was difficult having to turn people away.
Even for me, sourcing drugs became difficult. I would pay a certain amount for a medication, and when I came back to restock a couple of months later, the supplier would say the price had doubled. It just wasn’t making financial sense anymore, so I decided to liquidate.
How did you end up going abroad?
I moved to England first on a study visa for a master’s degree. After my studies, I relocated to Scotland because I got a job there that gave me a work visa.
How did friends and family react to your decision to leave Nigeria?
My friends were happy for me because I had told most of them, even before I started applying to schools in the United Kingdom (UK), that I wanted to leave. So they were really happy for me when I got the opportunity to go. It was different from my parents. They were not really on board at first. But they eventually became supportive. I think now they’re very glad I left because of how much worse things have gotten in Nigeria. If I were still there, I don’t think I could even afford to leave now.
How did you handle the tuition and living costs?
I had paid about 70% of my fees before moving, and when I moved, it was still relatively easy to get a job. I arrived in January and got a job by mid-February. The cost of living in the UK was also lower then. I worked as a pharmacy assistant for a while and then started working in physiotherapy before joining the National Health Service (NHS).
How many years did you spend in England, and what was it like?
I spent about two and a half years in England. It wasn’t too bad, but I am quite introverted, so I don’t think I experienced everything it had to offer. Between the academic pressure and trying to stay afloat financially, I didn’t have the time to do as much as others might.
What was your social life like in England?
Social life was good. I made friends in and out of school. I was also fortunate because many of my friends from pharmacy school had already left Nigeria. Barely two weeks after I arrived, I walked into a store to do some shopping and ran into a friend from school. I knew he’d left Nigeria earlier, but I didn’t know he was in the same city. So having people like that around me really helped me adjust faster.
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Was there any hesitation when you decided to move from England to Scotland?
None at all. I was working in the National Health Service (NHS), but immigration rules in England were starting to change. I started applying for jobs in Scotland because I found from my research that the cost of living is cheaper and the pay is marginally better. When I got a job offer with a work visa, it was a no-brainer. I packed my bags and ran. That was in July 2025.
How does life in England differ from life in Scotland?
Life in England is fast, and life in Scotland is very, very slow in comparison. Moving here was a breath of fresh air because I take things easier now. You don’t have to run around as you do in London.
Also, the immigration sentiment is different. You experience more anti-immigration sentiment and racist issues in England. Scotland, in contrast, is very welcoming. I was on a train wearing my Nigerian jersey once, and two Scottish men walked up to me to talk about Victor Osimhen. In England, you’ll be in the same situation, and there’ll be someone just staring at you like they’d stab you if they had a knife.
I’ve seen people on social media say people shouldn’t come to the UK on a study visa. But they need to realise the UK isn’t only England. In Scotland, things are different. If you study the right thing, you’ll settle easily in Scotland even if you come on a study visa. Scotland is not as competitive as England. There isn’t as much pressure, and the cost of living is cheap. If you’re looking for a UK destination, choose Scotland.
Without a strong support system, England might break you. But Scotland is slower, easier, and cheaper. I love it here.
Interesting. What is your current job?
I work as a physiotherapy assistant practitioner in critical care and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It’s mostly rehab work. Some days are tense, but I enjoy them. It’s given me a new perspective on patient care.
How did you switch from pharmacy to physiotherapy?
To practice as a pharmacist in the UK, you have to run a specific program. Only a few schools offer it, and there was a massive backlog. I was so intent on leaving Nigeria that I wasn’t patient enough to wait for an offer. I took an offer for a master’s programme that wasn’t in pharmacy, and that meant I couldn’t practice pharmacy immediately. I started in the NHS as a physiotherapy support worker, got some certifications, and eventually applied for my current role in Scotland.
Do you plan to return to pharmacy eventually?
Definitely. I renew my Nigerian pharmacy license every year, even though I don’t use it. I even plan to write the Canadian pharmacy exams this year. I intend to return to pharmacy practice eventually.
Have you been back to Nigeria since you left?
I haven’t. I might visit for a quick trip in the future, but I don’t see myself relocating permanently back to Nigeria for now. Maybe after Tinubu, if Nigeria’s fortunes begin to turn around.
What is your support system like in Scotland?
I have family and friends, and even my manager at work is very supportive. I work Monday to Friday, so weekends are mostly for resting and recovering before going back on Monday.
What do you do for fun in Glasgow?
As an introvert, my work colleagues usually drag me out for drinks or dinner. Sometimes I go to the movies or just stay home and play FIFA on my TV.
What were your biggest culture shocks?
Just how orderly everything is here compared to Nigeria. The cost of living was also a shock. I realised there are things here that we pay about five times the price for in Nigeria. And the minimum wage is actually enough for a person to comfortably survive on.
What has been your worst experience since moving?
Back in England, I once went out wearing just a hoodie and didn’t check the weather. It snowed all day, and I waited for my bus for four hours. By the time I got home, I almost had frostbite. It was only a few days after I arrived in the UK, and I didn’t know that a hoodie wasn’t enough protection from the snow, especially for someone coming from a hot country like Nigeria. You need to have a winter jacket.
What about your best experience?
Moving to Scotland has been a great experience for me. My time in England was crazy with constant planning and strategising. Since moving here, I can wake up and take life at my own pace. The past ten months have been really good for me.
What is your favourite thing about Scotland?
Most people are welcoming, and life feels slow-paced and relaxed. It’s perfect for someone like me.
And your least favourite?
The weather. It’s very cold.
Do you see Scotland as home for the long-term?
I’ll say, for the short to medium term, Scotland is home. Whether I’m here long-term depends on how the immigration rules change.
On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you in Scotland?
I’d say a nine out of ten. When the summer comes, and the weather gets better, it will be a ten.
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