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  • 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. 

    Nneoma* (29) had a job, a car, and her own two-bedroom apartment in Enugu. She was saving up to open a school, but instead chose to use the money to pursue a Master’s degree abroad. In this story, she shares her experience of betrayal, heartbreak, and homelessness in the UK.

    This model is not affiliated with the story in any way

    Where do you currently live, and when did you leave Nigeria?

    I live in the UK, and I left Nigeria in 2023.

    What inspired you to leave?

    I had completed two degrees in Nigeria and was looking to open a preschool or crèche. I had always wanted to work in the educational sector. I had saved up a little money for it, but my market survey showed it wasn’t enough capital for what I wanted to do.

    So, I decided to go abroad for a Master’s degree. I planned to work there for a few years, and then save enough to return to Nigeria and open the school.

    Did you get a scholarship?

    No. I paid my tuition and all other expenses.

    I initially wanted to travel to Denmark, but a friend who lived in the UK told me it was cheaper there than in Denmark, so I chose the UK. But I ended up in a really dark place.

    What happened?

    I was paying for all my travel expenses and tuition myself so I didn’t have enough money for rent and I didn’t know anyone in the UK. I shared these concerns with  my friend, Betty*, who encouraged me to choose the UK, and she offered to house me.

    She said I could stay for three months so I would have time to find a job and then rent my own place. That was what really spurred me to leave Nigeria.

    When I got there, she welcomed me really well. But I only stayed with her for about a week before her attitude towards me changed. It was really bad.

    She told me she was married, which I hadn’t known before. She also said her husband would be coming to join her in the UK in two weeks’ time, so I needed to leave her house.

    I was shocked. She hadn’t told me any of this when I was in Nigeria. I wouldn’t have even made the mistake of leaving Nigeria for the UK, where I didn’t know anybody except her.

    She didn’t kick me out or tell me directly to leave, but the attitude she gave me made it clear.

    What did you do?

    I reached out to friends and family. My dad hadn’t supported my decision to leave Nigeria, so he wasn’t helping me financially. But my mum and a friend in Nigeria sent me ₦300,000 each, which I used to rent an apartment. But I still had an accommodation problem.

    What was the problem?

    My school and Betty’s apartment were in two different cities. While I was staying with Betty, I applied for jobs in her city and got a job as a carer. But I rented an apartment near my school with the money my mum and friend sent me.

    The apartment was an eight-bedroom shared flat. We were all Nigerians and Ghanaians living there. But the town was actually more like a village, so there weren’t really any jobs there.

    I had already used Betty’s postcode on my job application. I really needed the job because I needed money, so I didn’t tell them I no longer had accommodation in their city.

    The job I got is what they call “domiciliary care.” That means instead of working in a care home, you go to the patients’ own houses to care for them.

    It was really difficult jumping buses all day, and when the buses came late or I missed them, I had to walk or run. I also got a second job as a mail sorter. I worked the night shift there, sorting mail.

    How did you manage going back and forth between the cities?

    It was very difficult. The transportation costs were too expensive for my financial situation at the time. So I didn’t return to my apartment on the days I worked.

    While I attended lectures, I stayed at my apartment from Monday to Thursday. On Thursday morning, after lectures, I made the journey to the city where I worked to start my caring shift at 2:00 p.m. I finished at 9:00 p.m., then headed to my second job as a mail sorter to start my shift there at 10:00 p.m.

    My shift ended at 6:00 a.m., so I would run to the bus station to use the restroom there. I wash my armpits and my face, then rush to resume my caring shift at 7:00 a.m.

    On the nights I didn’t have a night shift at my sorting job, I slept outside.

    I’m so sorry to hear that! How did that happen?

    There were many of us who did this. After work, we would go to the bus station and sleep on the long benches there. The sleep was barely enough, though, because the bus station closes at 12:00 a.m. and we were expected to leave by 11:50.

    So we would all leave the bus station and head to this open space where people could set up tents and sleep. That was how we did it.

    That must have been really difficult. You had no one to assist you?

    Through some other Nigerians I met, I was introduced to Kola*. He lived in a different town, but it was only about a 25-minute drive from my work and he agreed to let me stay with him on the days I was working. 

    I only stayed with him for two days. The second day was a very horrible experience.

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    What happened?

    He started pressuring me to have sex with him, saying he was giving me free shelter and I needed to pay him back. He said it was the least I could do to repay his kindness.

    I refused, and he left the apartment that night to go to work. He had a night shift.

    Around 2:00 a.m., he called my phone. By the time I got up to answer, it had stopped ringing. But then he sent me a text message. It read:

    “I know you’re looking forward to something like this. Please take all your belongings and leave my apartment. You have been ungrateful to me. You can leave before I come back, or you can wait for me to drop you off at either bus or train station. I will not slave myself for someone who doesn’t have sympathy. Actually, just pack your stuff and leave right now. I do not want to see you in my house again.”

    So I left his house to go sleep outside while it was snowing.

    I’m sorry you had to go through that.

    I was in a really dark place mentally. I felt alone and my ex-boyfriend only made things worse.

    Oh! You were in a relationship?

    Yes. I had a boyfriend, Peter*.

    When we were living in Nigeria, he travelled often on business to places like Turkey, Indonesia, and other Asian countries. But he had never been to the UK. When I told him about my plan to travel, he said he would like to come with me.

    Our relationship was pretty serious. My parents knew about us, and we had the whole thing planned out—how our lives would be in the UK. But his attitude changed almost instantly.

    My visa came out first, so I went ahead. On the day I arrived in the UK, when I got to Betty’s place, I immediately went to have a shower. I missed his call while I was in the shower, but when I came out, I called him back straight away.

    When he answered, he said, “Oh, you neva even reach UK, you don dey buga. How many times should I call you before you pick up my call?”

    I was shocked, but I tried not to think too much of it. That was how the whole issue started, and I think it just escalated into hatred. I tried to understand that he was frustrated because his visa was denied and he had to reapply.

    He started misbehaving—talking to me rudely, transferring his aggression—and I wasn’t really having it. I was already getting attitude from Betty, and now I was getting it from him too. It really affected our communication.

    It was a hard time for me. I felt alone, still trying to adjust to this new environment in the UK. I didn’t have any emotional support. It was mentally draining. And I was asthmatic, so I kept having episodes. I had to go to the hospital.

    I told my mum to let him know I was in the hospital. She did. He promised her he would call me back, but he didn’t. I told my mum to tell him that if he didn’t call me back, I would kill myself. It was that bad.

    And even after hearing that, he didn’t call me.

    Wow.

    He knew I was sleeping outdoors. I told him about my situation and how the guys who offered help were asking for sexual favours. I didn’t directly ask him for money, but I dropped hints.

    There was a time he said he would send me money for an Airbnb, but he never did. I’m a very shy person when it comes to things like that, so I couldn’t bring myself to remind him about the money he’d promised.

    For about three months, we had no contact. Then, out of the blue, he called to say he’d finally gotten his visa and was coming to the UK.

    When he arrived, we met. He apologised and offered to get an apartment for us. I told him I had already moved past waiting for his help. I said I would rather sleep outdoors in my tent. I told him I didn’t hold any ill will towards him, that I wished him well, but I didn’t want to be in a relationship with him anymore.

    He went back to Nigeria about three months later. He said the UK didn’t suit him.

    Could you compare your life in the UK with your life in Nigeria? 

    In Nigeria, I had a two-bedroom apartment, a car, and a job as a marketing manager for a real estate company in Enugu. My life wasn’t perfect, but it was okay. I had my friends around me, and I had a really stable, happy life.

    And then when I got here, I started chasing after buses and sleeping outside. It really made me sad.

    But at the moment, I feel my life here in the UK is better.

    In next week’s episode of Abroad Life, we’ll find out how things turned around for the better for Nneoma.
    Read the rest of Nneoma’s story here.

    Do you want to share your Abroad Life story? Please reach out to me here. For new episodes of Abroad Life, check in every Friday at 12 PM (WAT).

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  • 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. 

    Saratu* (25) spent most of her life in Kaduna, trying to survive as a queer woman in a country that criminalises her identity. After years of hiding and dodging persecution, she knew she had to leave. In this story, she shares how she fled Nigeria, sought asylum in the UK, and is finally learning what it means to live freely.

    This model is not affiliated with the story in any way.

    Where do you currently live, and when did you leave Nigeria?

    I live in the United Kingdom. I left Nigeria in 2024.

    What inspired you to leave? 

    Nigeria didn’t really feel like home. At some point, as a young adult, you have to seriously think about your future, and mine wasn’t in Nigeria. I was studying English at Kaduna State University, but the environment wasn’t mentally conducive for me. It felt like I was on autopilot. I was putting in so much energy, and I wasn’t seeing any results.

    How did you travel out? 

    I’ve always been into art, so I got admitted to study Art and Design in the UK. I went there on a student visa. Unfortunately, I didn’t finish the program. I dropped out to begin the asylum process.

    What is the asylum process? 

    It’s a process where you ask the UK government for refuge because you can’t return to your country for safety reasons. You have to prove why going back would put you in danger, which I successfully did.

    What was the process like? 

    While I was going through it, a friend introduced me to a legal representative who gave me free advice. They warned me that the asylum process usually takes a long time, and even after all that, your application might still be rejected. So it didn’t make sense to just sit around and gain nothing during that time.

    While seeking asylum, you’re not allowed to work. So I decided to apply to another school to study Construction.

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    Why Construction? 

    It was free. Some high-level courses require tuition, but as long as you have the right to study, either as an asylum seeker or through your student visa, you’re eligible to enrol in any university offering free courses.

    Certain fields automatically guarantee you a job once you study them. That’s usually in labour-intensive industries like care work or construction. It’s not like Nigeria, where you could go to a polytechnic and still struggle to find a job after graduating. Here, if you study courses that are always in demand, you’ll have jobs waiting for you once you finish. That’s what I wanted to do while waiting for my asylum decision.

    So how did that go?

    Thankfully, my asylum process was very quick. I applied in June 2024, had my interview in November, and was granted asylum in  January 2025. That’s a very short time compared to others. I know some people who have been going through the process since 2019.

    After I was granted asylum status, I dropped out of the construction course to find a job. There’s something called Universal Credit, where the government assists refugees, but it’s not enough. I had to find my own place to stay and earn money, so I left the course to work.

    I’m working as a carer now. Hopefully, I’ll save enough to further my education in the future. Who knows?

    You said your process was thankfully quick. Is it usually difficult?

    Yes, the UK Home Office can be quite unpredictable. I know a lot of people who applied for asylum and didn’t get it. It feels random sometimes, so I can’t really say why I was granted refugee status and others weren’t. 

    Some people get denied, go to court, and still get rejected. Maybe it’s because they didn’t seek proper legal advice or didn’t know what to do. I’d say I had some grace, or maybe I was just lucky. Honestly, I can’t even advise anyone on how I did it, because I don’t fully understand it myself.

    Do you know why other people got rejected or why it’s so difficult? 

    I think it’s because the UK government doesn’t want the world to think it’s easy to get asylum here. But I’ve noticed that they won’t refuse you if you know how to present your case properly.

    I didn’t give them any reason to deny me. I think some people are careless with their cases. They don’t seek legal advice and treat it like a lottery. You have to be very intentional.

    Could you give an example of something that would disqualify someone seeking asylum?

    Some people aren’t honest or consistent. For example, lying about your age, when you arrived in the country, or claiming the UK is the only country you’ve been to. They’ll find out. It’s all about being truthful.

    If you’ve been consistent in your case, you can be confident going into your main interview. That’s when you explain why you need refuge. You also have to write a personal statement, which is basically your life story.

    They ask you questions based on that statement. They’re very intentional with how they ask and know how to catch you if you lie. It’s  really all about being consistent.

    Why were you eligible for asylum? 

    Well, Nigeria doesn’t accept gay people, and I’m queer. My activism and involvement in the queer community were actually the evidence that helped with my asylum application. Even before applying, I was already attending Pride events and queer social gatherings here in the UK.

    Did you ever do things like that in Nigeria? 

    Yes, but in Nigeria, we had to hide. I used to attend social gatherings with my queer friends and a gay activism club. Even though it’s not allowed and extremely risky, we still found ways to connect. When we couldn’t meet in person, we’d do it online. Anything to feel connected to ourselves.

    I hope this won’t be dragging up any trauma for you, but what was it like being queer in Nigeria? 

    It wasn’t easy. The constant need to hide. The sadness of not being able to express myself really got me down. I lived in fear — fear for my life, fear of my family finding out.

    Being queer in Nigeria is not easy at all. It’s like you’re shouting and screaming, but nobody wants to hear you. The religious beliefs, the people who think being queer is a choice, and if you try to stand up to them and say they’re wrong, you’re putting your life in danger. They can report you, beat you, or worse. So you have to hide.

    I knew I was in danger in Nigeria as a queer woman. I’ve been in situations so dangerous I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t run for my life.  Sometimes, I have survivor’s guilt. I have friends who have died or gone missing.

    So what’s it like living in the UK now that you’re settled? 

    “Settled” is a very big word. I wouldn’t say I’m settled yet but my day-to-day life now feels more relaxed. I don’t feel pressured. I feel freer. I feel lighter. I can dress how I want.

    I’m very masculine-presenting, and growing up in Nigeria, walking down the street meant being stared at constantly. People here don’t stare. Everyone’s busy, chasing their own goals, trying to make money. Nobody has time to judge you. In Nigeria, I think a lot of people aren’t doing much, so they have time to be judgmental.

    Here, there’s always support. If you really look, you’ll find someone to help you. It’s about finding people who understand your situation. And the support here doesn’t come with strings attached. In Nigeria, nobody helps you for free. But here, there’s opportunity for everyone, if you’re willing to search for it.

    What was the biggest culture shock when you moved? 

    For me, the biggest culture shock was the smoking. It’s like everyone smokes here, whether it’s cigarettes or vapes. People even take smoking breaks at work.

    Everyone’s just free to do what they want, without criticism or judgment. You can marry who you want. Nobody has time to judge you. Mental health is taken seriously here. They want people to be in a good mental state so they can do their work well.

    Of course, some are still judgmental, but it’s frowned upon. Racism is frowned upon. Some people still do it, but it’s not culturally accepted. You can actually get sued for being racist.

    Another shock was how there are no guns here. Even police officers don’t carry guns. They use tasers and batons.

    What’s been your biggest highlight and lowlight since moving?

    My biggest highlight was getting my papers. That has to be it. Like I said, some people have been here for years and still haven’t gotten theirs. It took me less than a year.

    Another highlight was moving into my current place. I’ve stayed in so many uncomfortable places, but this one is nice. I also have a job I don’t hate.  I actually like taking care of people.

    As for lowlights, I’d say working as a warehouse operative. I almost died. It was a warehouse that stored chocolate and confectionery, and every shift I had to pick and move 4,000 boxes in 12 hours individually. Some of the boxes were huge and very heavy. You had to complete your 4,000 boxes or face penalties. And we were only allowed 70 minutes of break time.

    I’m so sorry about that experience. Do you have any long-term plans now? 

    I’d like to get married. Although my job doesn’t give me much time to go out, move around, or maybe even find love, I’m still thinking about it.

    I’d also like to get a better job, maybe after doing a short course or even getting a degree. At this point, I’m just open to anything. I don’t want to put pressure on myself or say, “By this particular time, I must have achieved this particular thing.” I’ve done that before, and it didn’t work out. I failed.

    Any chances of coming back to Nigeria? 

    Now that I’ve gotten refugee status, I’m not allowed to go back to Nigeria for the next five years. After that, I’ll be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which means I’ll be allowed to stay in the UK as long as I want. Once I have an ILR, I can apply for citizenship.

    When I get citizenship, maybe I’ll visit Nigeria  just to see family and friends. But I wouldn’t say I want to live there again.

    How happy would you say you are on a scale of one to ten, and why?

    I’d say eight. No — I’ll say nine, because I’ve tried. For my age and what I’ve achieved, I’ve really tried. So I’ll give myself a nine.

    It’s not ten because there’s still more I want to do. Maybe it’s productivity guilt. But I’d say I’m very, very happy.

    Do you want to share your Abroad Life story? Please reach out to me here. For new episodes of Abroad Life, check in every Friday at 12 PM (WAT).

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  • 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. 

    Ben (33) decided to leave Nigeria permanently after experiencing the #EndSARS protests, but the country and its problems haven’t left him alone. In this week’s Abroad Life, he shares how he’s starting life over as a newly married man in the UK.

    When did you move out of Nigeria, and where do you currently live?

    We moved from Nigeria in November 2023 and currently live in the UK.

     What motivated your decision to move?

    Honestly, everything about Nigeria made us consider leaving. I had spent my entire life there, and after some experiences, I realized I didn’t see a future that aligned with the life I wanted. It wasn’t a career move because I was doing well in Nigeria. I was a finance manager in a multinational company, and my wife was also thriving in her field.

    I was deeply involved in the EndSARS protests and the elections, which made me lose hope in the country’s direction. I couldn’t envision a future in Nigeria where I could live and raise a family the way I wanted.

    You mentioned having a good job and a comfortable life in Nigeria. What did that life look like?

    Life in Nigeria was comfortable to an extent. We lived in a rented apartment, had two cars, and had enough savings. I could afford my basic needs and some luxuries, but we still had limits.

    For example, international vacations weren’t easy to afford consistently, and despite earning well, my lifestyle wasn’t on the same level as that of my counterparts in other countries. The cost of living was high, and keeping up with inflation was always a struggle. Even though I wasn’t suffering, I wasn’t enjoying life the way I wanted. So when my wife got recruited by one of the Big Four firms in the UK, we knew we had to move.

    [newsletter]

    How different is your life in the UK compared to Nigeria?

    The quality of life has improved significantly. One major difference is the convenience of basic things. In Nigeria, I spent hours in traffic, queued for fuel, and dealt with power outages, but now, I don’t worry about those things. My commute to work is a two-minute walk instead of the usual five hours in Lagos traffic.

    The extra time has allowed me to focus on myself. I go to the gym, cook more, learn new skills, and even learn new languages. In Nigeria, I was constantly in survival mode, always chasing money because of how fast expenses were growing. Here, financial stability is more predictable. For example, my budget from 2024 to 2025 increased by less than 5%, something that’s now impossible in Nigeria.

    Travelling is also easier. I visited a friend abroad, and the cost of my trip was cheaper than what my sister spent flying from Lagos to Abuja at the same time. That accessibility is life-changing.

    Overall, life is less stressful, and my mental well-being has improved. Ironically, the only time I feel real stress now is when I read Nigerian news and get frustrated about how things are still going wrong.

    Lmao, sorry. How’s married life going?

    We moved about one or two months after getting married. The months leading up to our relocation were spent focused on visa applications and settling logistics, so we didn’t have much time to fully experience married life before leaving Nigeria.

    Since moving, we’ve had more time together, which has been great for our marriage. In Nigeria, my job had long hours, so I didn’t get to spend as much time with my wife except on weekends, but here, we get to do things like walk to work together, have lunch together, and just generally spend more time with each other. 

    Thankfully, we have similar views on money, which has also made handling our finances much easier here. It’s not that we have a lot of money, but we plan and manage it well as a couple. That financial understanding has been a big advantage.

    Did having a partner make the japa move easier for you?

    Everyone’s journey is different. Some people migrate alone and have their partners join later, while others find partners after relocating.

    Moving with my wife made the transition much easier. Coming from Nigeria, where we had lived all our lives, adjusting to a new country was a huge learning curve. If I had moved alone, I think I would have struggled more. Having someone to share both the good and tough moments with made a big difference.

    Also, we moved right before winter, and adjusting to five or six months of cold was hard. I can’t imagine going through that alone. So, if someone is already in a committed relationship, I’d strongly recommend moving together, not just for the sake of migration, but if the relationship is already serious, just do it. 

    Is there anything you miss about Nigeria?

    Definitely the food.  There is no African restaurant where we live. At one point, my wife and I had to travel to London just to eat Nigerian food. It’s an adjustment not having access to familiar meals. Entertainment is also another thing I miss. In Nigeria, Friday nights meant stopping at a lounge, eating grilled fish, and enjoying music. Here, we struggle to find places that match that vibe. It took time to find new ways to have fun. I also miss having family around.

    On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you in the UK?

    Ten. Life is beautiful here.

    Do you want to share your Abroad Life story? Please reach out to me here. For new episodes of Abroad Life, check in every Friday at 12 PM (WAT). 

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  • 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. 

    The only thing Daniel (27) loves more than Ibadan is his South Sudanese girlfriend. But this love comes with a $10,000 bride price which is making him contemplate elopement. In this Abroad Life episode, Daniel talks about moving out of Nigeria and restarting his life in Australia to beat Nepo Baby allegations.

    When did you first decide to move abroad?

    I first considered it sometime in 2019, and I left Nigeria in October 2019. I currently live in Queensland, Australia.

    Why Australia?

    I chose Australia because there weren’t so many Nigerians there. When I checked the population of Nigerians in Australia at the time, they were around 15,000 or 20,000. I saw the figures, and I was like, “Yeah, this is my country.”  

    There was no real reason for me to leave Nigeria because I was living a pretty comfortable life; I was the last child of the family, so money came from everywhere. But something just changed in me after a while, and I  told my dad that I  wanted to move to Australia to get a master’s degree. He was so surprised because it wasn’t something I often talked about.

    You said you chose Australia because there weren’t many Nigerians there; why was that important to you?

    I was just tired of Nigerians. I was craving something new and unfamiliar. I lived in Ibadan before I left Nigeria, and I loved how chill the city was, but I couldn’t shake the urge to chase a new life. I was tired of seeing Nigerian faces everywhere.

    LMAO. What faces did you want to see?

    It wasn’t really about the faces. The funniest thing is that the friends I’ve made since I moved are still Nigerians. It’s only my girlfriend, who is South Sudanese. 

    So what was it about Nigerians living in Nigeria that made you move? 

    It was the hustle mentality and the fact that people were so quick to discredit people who have it easier in life. I mentioned that I was very comfortable in Nigeria; People quickly dismissed my hard work because they thought my father’s money was responsible for all my achievements.

    It just got tiring to hear people always talk about my father’s money with the intention of discrediting me. It was almost as if people wanted me to struggle for everything in life and got pissed at the fact that I didn’t necessarily have to. Here in Australia, people see my hard work, not my father’s money.

    So you left Nigeria to find your own identity?

    You can put it that way. I was trying to prove a point to myself and everyone.  The funniest thing is that we didn’t even have the money people thought we had. I went to a private university, and we lived in a nice house, but my monthly allowance in 2019 was ₦5000.

    I also got an allowance from my siblings, but it wasn’t like I had a bag of money in my house. I just wanted to prove to people that I could make my own money and do my thing. To be fair, my dad is actually rich, but people are always too quick to assume that a rich father immediately translates to a rich son. My dad is very money-conscious and financially smart, so if it is not a need, he won’t pour his money into it.

    You said you wanted to get a master’s degree in Australia. How did that go?

    It went well. I finished in 2020. But during my first three months as a student, I wanted to return to Nigeria. I had no job then, so I still had to rely on my dad. He was paying my rent, but to get money for other things, I used to hike the rent fee and keep the extra change. Thankfully, I later got a job at a warehouse but balancing the new job and school was even harder, though things got better the next semester.

    What changed?

    I got used to how things work in Australia, and I made new friends. It was easier to make Nigerian friends in Australia because people see you as an individual, not your family’s money.

    Another thing that made that semester easier was getting a new job. Then COVID-19 happened, and I ended up spending most of my university days indoors. We switched to online learning, and that felt like the best thing after sliced bread.

    LOL. How?

    I didn’t have to worry about waking up early to catch the bus. I could wake up at 8:50 am. to attend a 9 am class. I also got to save money, so I don’t hate the lockdown at all. The online classes lasted until I finished university.

    So what has life looked like since you completed your master’s? 

    Life has been great. I’m working in tech now, and that’s one of the things that I’ve always wanted to do. I have a girlfriend now, and she’s the love of my life. I also have great friends around me, but I’m not going to lie; sometimes I miss Nigeria. I don’t miss the people, but I miss Ibadan. One of my favourite things is watching YouTube videos of okada men riding their motorcycles around Ibadan. I miss my city so much; It’s obvious that they call me Mr Ibadan in my church here. 

    Have you visited Ibadan since you left?

    Nope. But I talk to my family on WhatsApp. If I miss my family, I can always pick up the phone and talk to them. For now, I have no real reason to visit Nigeria–My whole life is here but when I get married,  I want to go to Obudu cattle ranch for my honeymoon. I might even end up going to Ibadan.

    Honeymoon in Ibadan? Please don’t kill me.

    I’m being so serious. Ibadan is the best place in Nigeria.

    What makes Ibadan so special to you?

    The rustic view of the city and the sound of Okada—you can’t find that anywhere else. The serenity and peace you’ll find in the city is also unmatched. I’m a proud ambassador of Ibadan.

    I’m screaming. Let’s talk about the South Sudanese woman who’s dating an Ibadan ambassador. How did that happen?

    We met on Instagram. Around December 2021, I posted something about how I would be one of the people wearing matching PJs the following year, and she commented, “lol,” but we didn’t start exchanging DMs until February 2022, when she posted something about men mistreating good women and me as the defender of my gender, I  decided to do an explainer in her DM. That’s how we started talking, and we’ve been dating for over two years now.

    Have you managed to change her mind about men?

    Yes o. I’ve been representing Nigerian men well. If you ask her, she’d say the same thing. 

    Is this your first non-Nigerian relationship?

    I would say this is my first serious relationship in Australia. The other ones were just vibes.

    What does “vibes” mean?

    We were just lying to each other and passing time with mutual consent.  But this is serious; we know where it’s ending. 

    Love that. What’s the most interesting thing about being in a non-Nigerian relationship?

    I moved to Australia as an adult, but she’s been here since she was eight. The difference in how we were raised is quite obvious, so we’ve had to compromise on some things. For example, if I say something in pidgin or Yoruba, I have to explain what I’m saying to her. I’ve also had to adjust to her culture–One of the most interesting parts about her culture is the bride price. 

    How so?

    If she were getting married in South Sudan, I’d have had to buy about 80 cows. But since we’re in Australia, I would have to pay between $10,000 and $30,000. It depends on how much the bride has achieved in life. If she has a master’s degree, you’ll be asked to pay more.

    Are you allowed to bargain?

    Oh, you can bargain but they say if you value their daughter, you won’t try to lower the price. 

    You seem to have accepted your fate.

    Let’s just thank God for life. When that day comes, whatever I have, I’ll pay. As long as my girlfriend is happy, everybody else will be okay. The funniest part is that she won’t even get one dime from this bride price.

    Have you started saving, or are you waiting till you propose?

    I’m not saving. I will pay whatever I have. If they don’t give me my bride, we will elope together.

    Ah!

    Yes, please. When my sister got married, her bride price was ₦1,500.

    It is well. Has she met your parents?

    She has spoken to my mom, but I don’t want my dad to know now. I’m currently 27, but my dad still believes that I’m not old enough to have a girlfriend. Everybody else in my family knows her. I know he’s going to be shocked that I’m not marrying a Nigerian, but my mom has accepted her. 

    How do you think your dad will react when he finds out that she’s South Sudanese?

    He’ll probably want to know what happened to all the Nigerians in Australia. Whenever my friends are getting married, my dad always asks if their partners are Nigerians. He already knows that I’m a bit of a rebel, so he has no choice but to accept her.

    I’m rooting for you guys

    Thank you. I’ll send the GoFundMe link when it’s time.

    For what?

    To contribute towards the brideprice.

    I’ll be praying for you. What’s your favourite thing about living in Australia?

    If you’re not lazy, you’ll live a decent life. But my girlfriend is Australia’s best gift to me. 

    Are you aware that this isn’t Love Life?

    You should probably feature us on Love Life. But since this is Abroad Life, I’ll say my favourite things about Australia are the friends and community I have here.

    So how did you find your community?

    My best friend is a Nigerian, whom I met in university. The other friends I’ve made are from church—you’ll find lots of Nigerians in my church. My three closest friends are from university, and others are from church.

    You can’t run away from Nigerians, I guess.

    You really can’t.

    Is there any plan to move back to Nigeria in the future?

    Oh, 100%. I’m going to move back to Ibadan and become the chairman of one LGA. The long-term plan is to shuffle between Ibadan and Australia.

    But is your girlfriend aware that you have plans to go back to Ibadan?

    She’ll be shocked when I tell her, but I don’t want to tell her yet. She knows how much I love Ibadan. She even made me a hoodie with an Ibadan-inspired design.

    Jesus, this is serious!

    It is o. She’s actually open to relocating to Nigeria. From the conversations we’ve had, I’m pretty sure she’s open to it.  She has told me that she’s getting tired of living in Australia because she’s been here her whole life.

    Love that for you. On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you with your abroad life?

    7.5. I have a good life, an amazing girlfriend, good friends and YouTube videos of Ibadan. It’s only going to get better from here.

    Do you want to share your Abroad Life story? Please reach out to me here. For new episodes of Abroad Life, check in every Friday at 12 PM (WAT). 

  • 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.

    The Nigerian urge to look for greener pastures abroad has forced many people in the country with no desire to japa soon to lose beautiful friendships and relationships. Emmanuel Faith, an HR professional and the subject of this week’s #AbroadLife has said 14 goodbyes in just one month. Now, he knows different timezones across continents like the back of his hand

    How many of your friends have left Nigeria in the last month?

    The list is now 14. Imagine losing about 60% of your friends to japa. It’s heart-wrenching for real. 

    Sounds tough. How are you feeling?

    Well, in 2021 and 2022, my friends were leaving in bits so I didn’t feel it that much. A larger percentage of my friends were still in the country, so it was just a few I had to catch up with and maintain a communication rhythm with virtually.

    So 2021 and 2022 were better?

    Yes. I was buried in capitalism. I was working with a company I was wholeheartedly in love with and unhealthily obsessed about so I didn’t exactly see the need to travel. Petrol wasn’t ₦950 per litre and life was averagely okay because I worked in tech, and earned slightly above the industry standard.

    Why is 2024 different?

    This year is very tough because the last one year has been very difficult for me emotionally and psychologically and I have had to depend on my friends a lot, especially for emotional support, so seeing all of them leave me (geographically at least) was very hurtful. 

    While I am super-delighted that they are all making great progress, I am also hurt that I can’t easily stop by their apartments, whisk them to lunch or call them out of the blue because now they might be in class, interviews or anywhere else.  It’s heartrending.

    Sorry to hear that. Can you share how the migration of your friends has affected your life? 

    It’s a lot o. I miss seeing them physically, I miss the comfort of knowing they are just one Uber, Bolt or Indrive away from me. 


    I miss the spontaneous lunch and the assurance that we would run into each other at one or two events every month. It has also affected my social life, for instance, my friend OJ, used to organize house parties (not the razz ones please), where I have met a lot of great amazing people who have become acquaintances and work colleagues. I have even gotten work gigs, consulting gigs, training gigs,  paid speaking engagements etc from those gatherings, but since he travelled, that has stopped, and the person who attempted to pick up the baton- IB,  also travelled; half of those that used to attend those gatherings have now travelled. 

    Nawa o…

    Can you see my life like this?

    Sorry. What do you miss most about having your friends around?

    I miss the physical presence, the physical gatherings, and the assurance that my friends are not so far away.

    It has also affected my sleeping pattern as I now look forward to staying up because it helps me catch up with my friends in different time zones like the USA, Canada, Australia and Korea. Yes, I have friends in Korea and Hong Kong. That’s what Nigeria can do ehn…People just dey hustle for greener pastures everywhere, God abeg. 

    Not you being a timezone expert now LMAO

    (Laughs) I have definitely learnt a lot more about time zones and scheduling with my Google calendar better. For instance, there is 16 hours between Seoul and San Francisco because I have friends in both places and Toronto is 3 hours ahead of Vancouver even though both cities are in Canada. Intriguing right?

    I’m sure my Geography teacher will be proud of me. May his blessed soul rest in peace. 

    Amen. Does the idea of maybe filling up your social circle with new friends in Nigeria make sense to you?

     This question is tricky. It isn’t about it making sense or not, it is that I love my friends, and while I am always opening up to new people, interactions, friendships and relationships, I do not intend to let go of my old friendships because of the bond we’ve built.  


    We have been through different cycles and seasons of life together, and relocation isn’t going to be a boundary or deterrent to our friendship blossoming. Fortunately for me, building and sustaining friendships is one of my forte. In fact, I have a very helpful video on my YouTube channel that people in my shoes can watch. It contains very practical tips on how to build and sustain friendships in this exhaustingly daunting world of adulting.

    From setting up Google Meet every two weeks to sharing the evenings via Facetime, while I miss my friends’ physical presence, technology has been a great aid in keeping up. My friends are also cute, thoughtful and lovely people, and if you read my 2023 review, you’d probably discover that half of the friends I referenced were out of the country as of when the review was written. Shout-out to all my friends abroad, ensuring our friendship keeps blooming. Y’all are the real deal
    I am always open to making new friends though, so if you are reading this and you wanna be my friend? Shoot me a friendship shot on Twitter or Instagram and let’s roll from there. 

    Don’t be annoyed o but any chance you might be thinking of joining the japa wave?

    Another tricky question, you are not taking it easy on me. The thing is- I am not one of those people that sees japa as an escape route- the bye-bye kind of process. I definitely plan to travel as I am at the point where I need a major propeller career-wise to attain the next level on the career ladder, so I am passively seeking fully-funded opportunities for further education, fellowships and capacity-building.

    Please connect me to sponsors if you have. But I am not looking to do that right now, as I am still looking to stabilize my career and continue to get things done at my current place of work while impacting the immediate HR Community, Tech community and the Nigerian tech ecosystem at large.

    So a brief answer is, I want to travel for personal and professional development, and not because I am running away or japaing from Nigeria. I want Nigeria to work, and I hope it works in our generation. 


    Want more Abroad Life? Check in every Tuesday at 12 PM (WAT) for a new episode. Until then, read every story of the series here.

  • Sola* walks us through his three-day visit to Algeria, sharing the culture shocks he experienced along the way.

    As told to Boluwatife

    Image designed by Freepik

    I’ve never been much of an adventurous foodie or traveller. I’d only been outside of Nigeria once when I visited Cotonou in 2018, and I had access to the Nigerian food I was familiar with. I think that’s why I still haven’t recovered from the culture shock I experienced during my December 2023 trip to Algeria.

    I didn’t just decide to visit Algeria on a whim. I’m a journalist, and the opportunity to visit the country came when the Algerian government invited my team to cover a conference. 

    My first shock was the visa and travel processes. I knew it was a police state and expected restrictions, especially for journalists, but I assumed it’d be straightforward since we were invited. It wasn’t.

    For one week, we navigated a long back-and-forth process with the Algerian embassy in Abuja, filling out forms in English and Arabic. The embassy in Nigeria initially couldn’t get visa clearance for us from Algeria, and we had to fill out another form specifically for journalists. My team and I finally got our visas two days into the conference and had to rush to catch a flight and meet up.

    After a 14-hour fight, including a stop in Doha, Qatar, we eventually got to Algiers, the capital city. We thought it’d be smooth sailing from this point on, but then we were delayed at the airport for an additional two hours. During this time, we were searched and questioned because of the media equipment we travelled with. We were the only black people in the airport, and I noticed we were gradually getting surrounded by security personnel as we were being questioned. 

    The increased security presence was strategic in a we-take-our-security-serious way, but it reminded me of Nigeria. We wouldn’t have had that ordeal if they had a proper line of communication. It was like one arm of the government invited us, and the other arm had no idea.

    With the visa and travel wahala finally behind us, we were free to do our work and explore Algiers. But the next culture shock was waiting: The food. I mentioned earlier that I’m not an adventurous foodie. I don’t do pass myself. My stomach is somewhat sensitive, so even when I briefly consider switching up my diet, it typically ends at just that — a consideration.

    Algerians eat olive oil with everything. Maybe it’s the hotel we stayed in, but people could be drinking tea and have olive oil by their side. I was so confused. And the bread? It was hard as rocks. Coming from Nigeria, where soft bread is the standard, I was definitely unprepared. 

    A plate of plain bread, crepe and chocolate bread.

    The official languages of Algeria are Arabic and Berber, but they also speak French because France colonised them. The food in the hotel was labelled in French, and I had to use an online translator before ordering. That wasn’t necessarily an issue, but the food itself was mostly always cold and quite bland. No salt or pepper, and there was olive oil and onions in everything. There was also a heavy water shortage. There were different types of drinks, but when it came to water, we’d only get one bottle of water for five people. It was strange.

    A side of purple cabbage and cream to accompany a rice and pasta dish.

    But it wasn’t all bad. On one of the nights, we went to a lounge where a colleague ordered a medium-rare steak. It was the largest steak portion I’ve ever seen in my life. It took my colleague a whole hour to finish it. So, I guess portion-wise, they held nothing back. I had chicken myself, and it wasn’t bad.

    The roads are also amazing. I didn’t see one pot-hole. One night, when we returned to the hotel, we noticed something was wrong with one side of the road. By the next morning, we saw machines fixing it. 

    Did I mention Algeria is a rich country? Almost everyone wore designer outfits – even the security officers wore Rolex watches. Almost everyone smokes too, which I chalked down due to the cold weather. They have a four-day week system, so their weekends start on Thursday. I definitely wasn’t mad at that.

    The Martyrs’ Memorial monument serves as a reminder of the lives lost during Algeria’s fight for Independence.

    I spent three days in Algeria, it’s a really beautiful, well-put-together country. It would have been a 10/10 experience if there wasn’t the food debacle and other culture shocks. Now that I know what to expect regarding the cuisine, I won’t mind visiting again. Maybe by then, I’d have properly researched where to get food I can tolerate.

    *Name was changed for the sake of anonymity.

    NEXT READ: Now They Just Come: A Story of Nigerians Living in Cotonou

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  • 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.

    In 2022, David Owumi decided to make his first trip to Istanbul, Turkey from Nigeria. He had no form of cash on him except his ATM card. When he landed at the airport, he needed cash in order to pay for taxi to his hotel. But unfortunately, none of the ATMs seemed to work for him.

    “I tried and tried, but all the ATMs were rejecting my card! I was stuck at the airport for quite a while because I also didn’t have any friends in Istanbul to pick me up. Eventually, an ATM did work for me, but that was after I was stuck for God knows how long. I ended up leaving the airport tired around midnight.” he reminisced.

    For every 9-5 employee, a vacation sounds like the next best thing after sliced bread. However, it is easy to forget to make proper financial plans in the midst of all the excitement, and probably go broke or get stranded in the process.

    In today’s episode of Abroad Life, David and Damiliel, seasoned travelers, have tips to save you from premium embarrassment to help navigate finances while vacationing in a foreign country.

    “Before you depart, make sure to CHANGE CURRENCIES”

    This is David’s first tip, due to his experience shared earlier. As a traveller, it is important to always try to hold in cash, the currency of the country you are going to before you leave. 

    “Try to make this include the expenses in your entire vacation budget if you can,” he advise.

    “Make sure all your daily bills are sorted for the next month”

    Damaliel advises that we should not only plan a budget for the trip but also try “to plan for the month ahead when you are back in Nigeria.”

    According to him, “Saving in the current economy is quite hard, but it won’t be wise to blow your hard earned money on just the trip alone and come back home hungry. Make sure your daily bills at home are sorted out for at least the next month too.” 

    “Get your basic amenities sorted out before you leave”

    “This includes hotel accommodation, commuting bills within the city, and feeding,” David suggests. He recommends that you try to book a hotel ahead of time that can serve both breakfast and dinner.

    “It’s slightly more expensive, but it’s great to get a hotel like this in case you run out of cash, so at least you’ll not be hungry. Most hotels don’t offer lunch, but some do. If you see any like these, you should book those as well,” he says.

    In terms of commuting bills, he also suggests that you search online for dedicated taxi companies that can take you around. “At least, even if you run out of money, you can still take yourself to landmarks in the city.”

    “In your budget, always make sure to add money for miscellaneous expenses”

    Damaliel advises that one should always budget enough money for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. And this was out of personal experience.

    He says, “Sometime around 2020 or 2021, I travelled to Dubai and contacted COVID. I needed an extra $700 for a new hotel. If not, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government would have isolated everyone for safety purposes.”

    “Always do the math of prices in your head”

    David believes that if you are going on vacation, you should try to gather prior knowledge of the conversion rate of the country and how much things cost in general. Especially if you don’t speak their official language or lingua franca.

    “If you are travelling to France, for example, and you don’t know how to speak French, it is very easy for you to get swindled of your vacation money. There are conmen everywhere, as well as ‘brick and mortar’ businesses,’  he explains, emphasising that you shouldn’t find it easy to let go of money. “Always do the math of prices in your head.”

    “Get travel insurance”

    Travel insurance is an important money tip for David, especially if you are travelling to a “visa-free country.”

    “For countries that do not require visas, it is highly important to sort out your travel insurance. This is like an official extra budget for you aside from the one you’re carrying in case you fall sick or run into any trouble,” he advises.

  • 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.

    Today, we are doing things a little bit differently. Instead of discussing the Japa experience for Nigerians in other countries, we will touch more deeply on why some Nigerians moved back home from abroad and why anyone in the diaspora might consider returning to Nigeria. 

    Just think of it like the usual “Japa” move,

    The inspiration for this article came from a viral tweet that one of my editors spotted and tagged me on. 

    A marriage therapist, Shamseddin Giwa, shared the story of his previous life abroad and how he and his wife could barely make a sustainable income. This forced the couple to return to Nigeria.

    Many Nigerians received the story with lots of scepticism and speculation that they left due to “illegal migration.” It was unbelievable for many people. How could anyone make such a decision with Nigeria’s economy crumbling day and night?

    On this table, amidst the ongoing debates on social media, illegal migration isn’t always the sole reason for anyone to return to their homeland, Nigeria. There are myriad reasons behind such decisions. To gain a better sense of this decision, six Nigerians who previously lived abroad but have now chosen to reside in Nigeria share their motivations for relocating.

    “I had issues with European culture and racism”

    Bayo*, an entrepreneur, didn’t experience the stress of European culture and racism while seeking a Master’s degree as a student in Italy. His once cordial relationship with white people changed after graduation due to his lifestyle upgrade through internships. 

    “After I started to make money from my internships and look nice, I started experiencing racism. My neighbours harassed me and, at one point, even involved the police in minor incidents. For the average Nigerian, every day as an immigrant is stressful,” he shares.

    Bayo moved back to Nigeria in 2020, and he has never regretted his choice. He has made “five times the income” he made in Italy, has gained more job opportunities, and describes his lifestyle as “feeling like a king in my own country.”

    “My mother’s ill health drove me back to Nigeria”

    Even though Dele and Dante relocated to Nigeria from the UK in 2011 and 2018, respectively, they have one thing in common about their relocation stories—their mothers. Dante’s mom fell ill, and Dele’s mom passed on.

    But the one difference they have, however, is their feelings about relocation. Dante, a software engineer, hates that he moved, while Dele, a business development expert, has never regretted it because he is doing “way better financially” than the friends he left behind.

    “I would still have been in the UK if not for my mother’s health. Life there was cool, and there were no worries. I miss the job opportunities and friends I’ve left behind,” Dante shares. 

    Dele is also of the opinion that Japa is only for “economic survival” and that most Nigerians only travel to “gain exposure and enhance their skillset”, not to reside there permanently.

    “I came back to Nigeria because of the conflict in Sudan”

    In April 2023, John* was among the many Nigerian students in Sudan who had to be immediately evacuated due to the conflict in the nation’s capital, Khartoum, and the Darfur region. 

    But even though he is grateful for life, John hates that his education has come to an unprecedented halt since he arrived. “I’m doing nothing at home and haven’t finished my studies yet. And I’m currently finding it difficult to get admission as a transfer student,” he complains.

    “My dreams of becoming a diplomat can be fulfilled here in Nigeria”

    For many Nigerians, they see the Abroad Life as a means of fulfilling their dreams. But not for a recent graduate, Osione. Moving to Nigeria after living in the UK, Switzerland, and Australia is one step towards her long-term goal of becoming a UN Ambassador or diplomat.

    She sees this move as important because of “the connection one needs to have with his or her home country” before becoming a diplomat.

    Does she regret relocating? Not in any way. She is determined to stay.

    According to Osione, “Nigeria can be a hard country to live in and find job opportunities in, but nothing will deter me from my long-term goal of an international diplomacy career. If I want to achieve this, I have to stay.”

    “I left Ireland because of COVID”

    Peter* was halfway through the final year of his undergraduate degree in Ireland when the pandemic struck. As a result, he had to leave Ireland in March 2020 and only go back to school a few months later to finish his degree.

    After graduating in 2021, he never returned to Ireland, and he doesn’t see the need to.

    “I didn’t plan to work or live there,” Peter shares. “I have more family in Nigeria, and I am more comfortable here with my enterprises and accounting career. In Nigeria, if you find the opportunity to be who you want, it’s not as difficult to live here, unlike living an immigrant life abroad.”

  • How do you navigate life after graduate studies? How do you get jobs? These are questions that today’s feature on #AbroadLife answers with Grad School Buddy, a  podcast and carefully curated digital companion that helps simplify the grad school application journey. She shared her migration journey into Washington, D.C., and her inspiration for the podcast with us.

    How did you migrate to the United States?

    While studying for my undergraduate degree in Economics back in Nigeria, I became very certain that I would study Development Economics. I believe that if the world is going to become a better place in the long run, we’ll definitely need to go through some policy changes. During my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I was posted to a primary school. I did a project to help sponsor kids who were out of school in Nigeria. These experiences then motivated me to look for the best places in the world where I could learn more about policy change.

    Initially, I wanted to go to school in the United Kingdom. However, my friend then suggested Washington, D.C. This was because D.C. is a policy-centric location where I could meet with other policymakers and interact with organisations to get these policies done. So it was a step-by-step process. I first understood the course I wanted to study, and second was the location—where would I be most suited to study the course? I chose D.C. because of the people [policymakers], the jobs, and the exposure.

    What was the process like?

    So I applied on my own for my visa, admission, and all that because I had others who had gone through the same process, and they didn’t use agents. I had to do a lot of research. I had to check out which school in DC I wanted to apply to and why. How were the professors? What kind of funding does the school have, and what sort of funding do they have too?

    Once I figured these out, I had to look at their requirements. I had to take the TOEFL to fulfil the language requirement and the GRE exam for proficiency. There was an analytical piece of writing where I was asked a policy-related question, and then there was also a Statement of Purpose (SOP) where I had to write about my own motivations for applying to the school. I also had to get my undergraduate transcript from my university, and I got a half-merit scholarship. I applied in 2018 and started in the fall of 2019.

    Sweet! How was grad school for you?

    So the first semester of my first year in grad school was all about focus. I really wanted to know more about the educational system and how to navigate life in America in general before water go carry me go. But by my second semester, I noticed that many students around me were “badass” and could do the things I was doing better, with brilliant projects. I also saw that some students had started having jobs since my first semester. I asked them more about their jobs and the professors they were working with, especially on impact evaluation across the world.  

    With this, I was able to start working in my second year as a research assistant, and I continued working with them until I finished. I had surveys, large data sets, survey designs, etc., which helped me get great internship or job opportunities outside school. Working gave me both the skills and the money.

    How did you then get a job after grad school?

    A lot of students abroad have probably heard of the use of networking to find jobs. It could be annoying and may be a bit out of my comfort zone, but I realised that this was something that had to be done if I eventually wanted an international career for myself. I had to meet people that I never knew to have coffee with me or meet somewhere just to get myself acquainted with them and keep me top of mind.

    My first job was with a professor who I had worked with on a short-term project. After school, she introduced me to the very first job I got, which was a six month project. While working there, I was already looking out for the next job. I knew that I didn’t want to ask her for another job yet again.

    So I started networking like crazy before I ended the project. I had to check organisations I wanted to work with and people in the sector I wanted to work in, as well as look at their previous projects to see if I had any affinity with them. I then asked my friends if they had emails on some of the people I had researched and started cold mailing them and setting up meetings with them. After these meetings, I only followed up with people that I felt I could work with.

    Through these people, I was able to get recommended jobs from them. There were periods of rejection and tears. However, I had friends in my corner who served as a great support system for encouragement. I eventually reached a point where I could turn down jobs because there were so many.

    What was your inspiration for the Grad School Buddy podcast?

    So firstly, the Grad School Buddy is a podcast and carefully curated digital companion that helps simplify the grad school journey in an unconventional way. It started as a podcast, but now we have a newsletter and social media pages where we share information. What led me to start was that when I was going to grad school, I had people around me that had been through this process, including my siblings and friends. There was specifically one of my male friends who knew that I was very big on development economics in terms of education and financial inclusion policies. He was the one who made me start thinking of grad school beyond just the degree. But also about the importance of life after grad school. I had never really thought about what life after grad school entailed until he spoke about it.

    Basically, I had knowledge of these things, but it wasn’t until I moved abroad to Washington, DC, and started school that people started to ask me questions about life after grad school. Then I realised that this information wasn’t accessible to everyone else out there. That’s how I got started. I wanted the podcast to encompass graduates from every walk of life, both the ones that paid tuition through scholarships, family income, or what have you. I also wanted to highlight alternatives to going abroad for a Masters. These included an online Masters or even having their Masters’ degree in Nigeria, how to get great internship opportunities, and so much more. If someone is trying to navigate problems surrounding their Masters’ degree and stumbles upon the podcast or newsletter, I’d love for them to get their answers via the Grad School Buddy Platform.

    Why did you record your very first episode?

    I recorded my first episode from a sad place. I was broke, and I needed an outlet to let out my feelings and thoughts. Then, I was starting to understand the process behind the “rejection before acceptance” process of getting job opportunities. I wanted other people who were like me also to experience what it felt like. There were friends who had different circumstances with grad school, and I felt like my friends and everyone else needed to share our grad school limitations and also share their solutions as well.

    What’s the structure of Grad School Buddy like?

    So, I initially started by myself, but now I have 5 people on the team. We plan the whole season to decide on a theme, then break down the topics and decide on profiles that could fit into these topics. For guests, it’s either have people call us requesting a feature or we contact them. We then interview them, and it gets to post-production where we edit the audio, send it to the guests for feedback, and once it’s approved, we start adopting and publishing it for different media.

    Aside from this, Grad School Buddy also aims to get people of different nationalities, sexualities, and experiences to come together and share their thoughts. I would always like people to listen to the podcast or read the newsletter and find an episode or two that is for them.

    What are your challenges with the podcast?

    So I won’t necessarily call it a challenge, but I have noticed that some admission officers or counsellors request a fee when I reach out to them, and I feel that kind of demand doesn’t always serve the greater good. That’s the “challenge” in quote. Besides, Grad School Buddy is privately funded, and it’s not like we have the cash to blow. There are also the usual production glitches that I believe everyone else experiences, but there are always alternative episodes that we can always post in place to stay afloat.

    What is next with the Grad School Buddy?

    We are looking to launch Season 3 in October or November. I also hope to allow the team to handle more processes of the podcast in the long term as well as bring in more diverse voices.

  • 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.

    Today’s #AbroadLife feature is an assistant audit manager who works for one of the world’s top accounting firms in New Zealand. He tells us how he got an amazing job opportunity and had to leave Nigeria. He is experiencing cultural shock that has shaken his views and stance on what morality truly is. 

    What inspired you to move to New Zealand?

    So I didn’t have to leave; it was more of a work opportunity I could harness. Despite the economic difficulties, life was already good in Nigeria, and I consider myself lucky. In Nigeria, I worked for one of the biggest accounting firms in the country as an auditor. In September 2022, I saw an offer for auditors being able to work for the same firm in another country’s branch. I had already worked for this firm in Nigeria for three and a half years, so I said, Why not?  

    Nice! What was the process like for you?

    So my migration path is different from others. My company had already worked everything out for me concerning my visa and other documents. I gained a work visa that allowed me to work for at most three years, and then I could apply for permanent residency. I came to New Zealand in February 2023. 

    However, there are different pathways. There are master’s scholarships and auditors that have now been included in the express pathway to permanent residency. If you know anyone in the audit line that can prove that they’ve been working in the field for at least three years, then they can apply. 

    Awesome! What would you say were your first experiences in New Zealand?

    Because of the job pathway I came in with, settling in wasn’t stressful. My company already had mobile relocation experts that helped me settle regarding accommodation and immigration documents. I’d say the people there are extremely friendly, and the population there is only 5.1 million people, which makes it very small. The food here isn’t really great. I ate something during my first week (I don’t know the name of the meal), and since then, I’ve decided to stick with African dishes.

    I can also say that you tend to see some crazy people on the street…

    Crazy, how?

    Well, I’d say the rate of gays, lesbians, and other people in the queer community is very rampant, like they are so open with their sexuality out there. I guess it shocks me more because I am a Christian. Anything goes here. The amount of people that take drugs here is crazy too. You can’t walk 100 metres without seeing a smoker of weed or other substances here in New Zealand. It’s impossible. Maybe it’s a normal thing out there.

    Wow, are there any advantages so far in staying in New Zealand?

    They have a structured economy in that even though you have a blue or white-collar job; you can rest assured that you’ll have a good quality of living. You don’t have to do too much to get food to eat, provided you work hard. With my NZ$10, I can feed for two days, more than you can get here in Nigeria. Over here, they pay workers’ wages by the hour, so you can make so much depending on how many hours you work. The value of the New Zealand Dollar is much better than Nigeria. Commodities seem readily available. The people I interact with, too, are amazing, as they have so much exposure.

    What are the disadvantages?

    In terms of raising kids, you don’t have so much control. You could be jailed in minutes if you spank your kids or chastise them in the smallest way. The kids here also seem to talk to their parents and act wayward. There seems to be a lack of a moral compass in that sense.

    I would say my bills, too, are kind of high, but only because of the location I’m in. You pay rent weekly in New Zealand and can get a place for as low as NZ$300, like N120-150k in Nigeria. That isn’t bad at all. To live in nicer apartments, you must start paying NZ$700, equivalent to N400k in Nigeria. 

    With these disadvantages, do you see yourself settling permanently in New Zealand?

    Well, New Zealand is not a bad place. It’s a very good place to start, but I’m not sure I want to settle down permanently in the long term. Maybe Australia or Canada perhaps. New Zealand can be very boring at times, and they also love travelling. Whenever public holidays come, the city is deserted because everyone has travelled to their villages for the holidays. It’s a great place to be, but one needs to manage the environment.