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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. 

    Bolu* (37) would do anything for his wife and kids, even if it means leaving his thriving career and moving to Canada to seek a better life for them. In this story, he shares how his life has become more financially intense than anticipated. 

    Where do you currently live, and when did you move from Nigeria?

    I currently live in Canada. I moved from Nigeria about two years ago

    What motivated your move to Canada?

    There were a couple of reasons. One of the major ones was the need for a more stable environment—something better for myself and my family. The economy back home just wasn’t encouraging, and I wanted a place with more possibilities, where we could thrive.

    How has life been since you moved to Canada?

    Honestly, it hasn’t been easy. It’s been a big adjustment. After my studies, it was tough finding a job right away, and it affected a lot of things financially. The cost of education here is also not cheap; you’re looking at about 20,000 Canadian dollars just for school fees. It’s another thing entirely when food, clothes, and other living expenses are factored in.

    I hoped things would fall into place quickly, but they didn’t. So, I won’t say it’s been rosy. It’s been a mix of highs and lows, but we’re surviving.

    What did your life in Nigeria look like before moving?

    Life in Nigeria wasn’t all bad. Just before I left, I was made Head of Sales, and that promotion came with a salary increase. I was earning about ₦800k monthly, and things were beginning to look up.

    I was shuffling between being a Product Manager and handling sales, recruitment, strategy, and all that stuff. I had major companies in my portfolio, so my career looked better than ever. 

    Despite all of those successes, I had to make the decision I made because being a man means you always have to think of how life can get better for the people in your life. I have a wife and two daughters who were schooling in Abuja, and being a family man comes with financial obligations that keep rising

    Did moving to Canada change anything?

    Oh yes, definitely. It has especially changed how people perceive me. A big one was with my landlord back home. Once he found out I had relocated, he decided to double my rent, even though I wasn’t earning in dollars yet.

    People assume that once you’re abroad, everything is automatically perfect. They don’t consider the debt you might be in, or the loans you had to take just to pay school fees and survive. I didn’t even get a job immediately after school, so it’s not like I was swimming in cash.

    Some people even keep their Nigerian phone numbers to avoid the assumption that they’ve japa’d and now have money. But I don’t know how to pretend. I let people see the reality.

    Has this perception affected your life?

    Yes, to a large extent. Family, both mine and my wife’s, expects more from me now. Sometimes when I say I don’t have it, they think I’m lying or unwilling to help. That pressure is real.

    Even in our local assembly (church community) back home, people ask for things, assuming I can afford them, but the truth is, most of my savings went into moving and settling down here. I didn’t get a job immediately, so I had to ensure my family at home was okay, from rent to school fees and food.

    It’s affected me a lot, financially and emotionally. The demands have increased, but my income has not increased since I moved, especially with all the loans I had to take out for school. But people don’t care about your loans or financial reality.

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    I’m sorry about that. Are there things you find surprising about Canada?

    The biggest one is that Canadians are very indirect. Nigerians are straightforward people; if something is wrong, we say it, but here? They’ll talk for 30 minutes and still not say what they mean. It’s frustrating.

    I once had a colleague who scheduled a meeting that went on for 30 minutes, but I still couldn’t understand the point of the conversation. In class, too, it’s the same. They smile and laugh with you, but when issues come up, you can get blindsided because they don’t confront things directly. I’ve seen people lose jobs over things they didn’t even know were problems.

    Another example is with lecturers. One lecturer lets us use our textbooks during class, but he acted differently and marked us strictly regarding grading. Meanwhile, another lecturer would be blunt and straightforward.

    So yes, that passive-aggressive communication style was a shock for me. Nigerians generally don’t do that.

    If you were to compare your life in Canada to your life in Nigeria, how different would you say it is?

    Making a direct comparison would be unfair because Nigeria doesn’t really have a structure. That’s the major difference. We have good weather back home, but that’s about it. In terms of systems and support, it’s like night and day.

    From the moment you land in Canada, you start seeing the structure.  You arrive and get a SIN number, which is like your identity for work and tax; getting it is clear and straightforward.

    The same applies to education and transportation. Getting into school is highly structured. Need a bus pass? You can easily get one. In need of a library? You can find them around almost every corner of my province. 

    If there’s a fire, the emergency response will arrive almost immediately. They don’t waste time. Things just work here, and I sincerely appreciate that.

    The lifestyle is also refreshing and structured. The parks open up during spring, and there’s one everywhere. There’s a park close to where I live, and most residential areas have playgrounds, swimming pools, and game centres nearby, especially for children. These things are not luxuries here; they’re just part of the system. All of these things make life enjoyable here despite the financial struggles, so I’ll say life here is much better than what I had in Nigeria.

    On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy would you say you are living in Canada?

    I’d say I’m at a nine, honestly. If my partner were here with me, I’d probably rate it a 9.5. Not everything is perfect, but there’s a sense of peace and access. You can live decently, work as much as you want, and afford things.

    For instance, if I want a new phone, I don’t need to pay for it all at once. I can get a brand-new iPhone today and pay monthly instalments, maybe a few dollars every two years. And that’s it. You’re sorted.

    So yeah, I’m pleased. The only thing missing is having my family here with me. That’s the only gap, and maybe why I’d rate it more like an 8.5 emotionally. But overall? Canada has been good to me.

    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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  • 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

    Toyo* (28) had been planning to leave Nigeria since 2018, but a serious illness put her plans on hold till 2023. In this story, she shares everything she knows about Canada’s Express Entry system and how other Nigerians can secure permanent residency.

    Where do you live now, and when did you relocate from Nigeria?

    I left Nigeria in 2023, and I live in Canada. 

    How did the big move happen?

    I moved here as a permanent resident through the Express Entry pool. Express entry is basically a route that allows you to come in as a skilled worker or tradesperson. I came in through the Federal Skilled Worker stream, allowing me to live and work anywhere in Canada except Quebec. 

    Can you walk me through the Express Entry process? 

    I started by doing my research on Nairaland. I also have a sibling who moved through the same route, so it was easy for me to pick her brain on certain things. In addition to these, I joined Telegram groups, where people talked extensively about the process.  When I finally decided on the route I wanted to relocate through, I  evaluated my degree through the World Education Services (WES) and wrote the IELTS exam. 

    At the time, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which earned applicants a spot in the express pool, was rapidly increasing. To meet the required CRS score, I was required to have three years of work experience, which I didn’t have. 

    I knew my chances were low, but luckily, my sister had been a permanent resident since 2018, so this automatically earned me an additional 15 points.

    Another requirement I struggled with was the IELTS score. I needed to score at least eight in the Listening section and seven in the remaining three IELTS sections. I didn’t hit the cutoff mark. I got 6.5 in Reading, 7 in Writing and Speaking, and 9 in Listening.

    I had to take the IELTS several times because I didn’t get the required band, which was important for my CRS. There’s something called maximising your chances. You can do that by taking French classes or getting another degree. You can also do that by getting a high IELTS score, and that’s what I was trying to do. Unfortunately, I fell seriously ill in 2018, and I had to take a step back from relocation plans.  

    ALSO READ: How to Pass the IELTS on Your First Try, According to Band 7.5 Students Who Did It

    Sorry about that…

    I recovered and resumed my relocation plan in 2019.  I tried IELTS again, and I got my desired band scores. By then, I had finally gained 3 years of working experience, so everything was already lining up for me. I had also started a postgraduate diploma because I wanted extra scores to boost my profile. Ass of March 2020, my score was 451, but then COVID happened, and everything shut down. 

    By the time COVID was over, I had finished my postgraduate course, and my score had gone up to 486. Canada did a surprise draw on one random Tuesday, and I was selected. They selected people who had scored 469 and above, and I was one of them. After getting selected, I had to do my medicals and get a bank statement showing that I had the required funds, which was around 13,000 Canadian dollars then. I also had to make sure I had my certificate from the two institutions where I did my degrees, and get a work reference from my place of work.

    After putting those requirements together, I gathered proof that showed that my sister was living in Canada (one PR card, two utility bills, my sister’s birth certificate and my birth certificate to showthat we were siblings). I added them to the other documents and submitted my application in December 2020.

    Due to how COVID slowed things down, it took 14 months before getting approval. I was finally asked to provide additional documents for my application by  February 2022,  but the process ended in April 2022, and I became a permanent resident.

    Mine took a while, but the timeline varies. People are now getting their permanent resident approval within four months of submission.

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    Do you have tips to help Nigerians get through the application process?

    The CRS score is now very high. Immigration rules are changing in Canada so it’s going to be more difficult getting a visa this year.

    My first tip is to maximise your chances and be strategic. The good thing is that Canada has introduced different streams, such as the health care stream. Find out which stream works for you and don’t focus exclusively on Express Entry. There’s also the Provincial Nomination, which works according to different provinces. For example, if you’re interested in living in Ontario, you’ll need to figure out the nomination process. Some provinces give you an extra point if you already have a friend there.

    All the necessary information is on the Canadian government’s website. You should also join social media groups where people share their application experiences.

    Another thing I’ll also recommend is that you remain extra careful of fake agents. I applied all by myself, and so did my sister. If you want to use an agent, request a registration code. If the person is a registered immigration consultant in Canada, they get a code from the Canadian government. Once you get that code from the agent, you can search Canada’s website again to see if they are legit or not.

    Can you give me an estimate of what you spent?

    As I mentioned earlier, my proof of funds was around 13,000 Canadian dollars, which was about ₦5 million in 2020

    My medical was around ₦100,000, and the WES evaluation was about 210 Canadian dollars. I can’t remember how much I paid for IELTS then, but I know it’s now about ₦280,000.

    How are you enjoying Canada so far? 

    It’s been amazing. There are many opportunities here. Being a permanent resident also helps because I can shuffle between Canada and Nigeria every now and then. 

    Love that for you. On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you in Canada?

    It’s a solid eight out of ten for me.

     Want to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here. 

  • 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. 

    Amina (26) had a soft landing in Canada, but nothing prepared her for the seasonal depression and loneliness in her new country. In this edition of Abroad Life, she shares how much she has grown since her move, but still feels like something important is missing. 

    Where do you live, and when did you relocate from Nigeria?

    I live in Canada and I moved in April 2022.

    What has the last three years in Canada looked like for you?

    I had a soft landing. I was fortunate to stay with my sister for over two years. I only recently moved into my apartment, so I haven’t bothered about paying bills since I moved to Canada, and I am forever grateful for that. My brother did not have the same experience because he moved to Canada before us ( my sister and I); he was on his own, and that was tough.

    But even though I’ve had it easy so far, there are things that I’m still trying to figure out. 

    Like what?

    Building a physical community has been hard, and I’m still struggling with it. But I have a great online community on Twitter that has  is now bigger than I and my friend imagined when we started it. 

    I’m grateful that we have that community, but I wish I had a stronger physical community. I know a lot of people in my province, but I am not friends with them. I had a solid group of friends back in Nigeria, and unfortunately, japa happened. Some of them are now in Canada, but we are not in the same province. We typically have to plan and travel for hours before seeing each other. 

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    Sounds tough. How hard is it to maintain those friendships?

    We are still strong as ever. I always find time for my friends, whether they are in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. Moving abroad actually made me feel closer to my friends, because I always need someone to talk to about what’s going on in my life. I don’t have physical friends, so I won’t abandon the people who have been there for me because I’ve moved to a new location.

    I always find a way to talk to my friends and not miss birthdays. We also bond through movies. If I’m watching something new, I’ll drop a message saying, “Oh, you should see this movie”. My friends are also amazing people who understand that I feel lonely here sometimes. Most of us have been friends for up to 10 years, and there’s no way we’re giving up on each other. 

    You’ve hacked long-distance friendship. How do you stay connected to your family members in Nigeria?

    My parents are late, and I’m here with all my siblings, so the only family I have left in Nigeria are aunts and uncles. 

    Sorry about your parents.

    Thank you. I’m still in contact with my extended family. Thankfully, the relationship thrives on mutual respect—typically when  you move here, some people start looking at you like a breadwinner but my family members still see me as a baby. They don’t ask me for anything, but I still try my best to send whatever I can home, especially because of how bad the economy is now. 

    Why do you think you’re still struggling to find physical friends?

    I have friends, but they are not in my province. Funny enough, I have friends in almost every province in Canada, but this country is lonely, whether you have friends or not. Everyone is working hard because time is money here. Your friends will likely run between shifts even if you have time to hang out. Plus, the country is so big that you can spend two hours driving between two provinces. Last summer, I was in Ontario to visit friends and family, and it was a long drive away from my province. I visited other family members and drove for two hours to another province. Sometimes, it is unlucky because the people I know are not in the same city as me, and seeing them means driving for hours. The only good thing is that road trips are safe in Canada, so you can always decide to hit the road, as long as you are prepared. 

    Nice! What’s the best part about living in Canada?

    My career growth has been insane. When I think of where I am right now, I doubt that it would have been possible if I were still living in Nigeria. It wasn’t easy to get here. I was jobless for six months when I first moved to Canada. My sister gave me the chance to settle in, so I didn’t rush into job hunting. It took three months of actively searching before I got a job here, and it was a customer service role. Two months into the role, I got accepted into a program requiring me to leave the customer service job. It was an eight-week program that came with a six-week internship. After the internship, I was offered full-time permanent employment and worked there for two years. Then I got a new job last month and I’m loving it!

    Did you experience any culture shock?

    I have lived in Nigeria all my life, and so many things have taken me by surprise. But the biggest surprise was the weather. I’ve experienced three winters now, and all three felt different. I didn’t know there was something called seasonal depression till I got here. It’s hard to do anything during the winter.

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

    Some days, it’s ten and on other days, it’s eight. In Nigeria, I could carry my bag and go to a friend’s house for a few days. But I can’t do that here. I also don’t have access to the food I love to eat, which is Amala. If I could, I’d take a trip back to Nigeria just to eat Amala. On the other hand,  I found security here— I’ve gone on amazing trips and seen Asa perform live, so I’m 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. 

    Tobi (24) was a girl’s girl until she moved to Canada and had five painful fallouts with the women she befriended. In this story, she shares how male-centred women have hurt her and made life in Canada lonelier than she thought it would be.

    Where do you live, and when did you move from Nigeria?

    I live in Canada. I left Nigeria in  January 2023 to start a university program.

    How has life been since you moved to Canada?

    I’m honestly not enjoying the experience. It’s so cold and lonely, and the weather particularly affects everybody’s emotions. I’m almost in my third year of university, and nothing has changed.

    Have you tried making friends?

    I’ve tried, but most of the friends I’ve made in Canada are male-centred. When they are single, we are okay and enjoying our friendship, but they become distant when they find a boyfriend. This isn’t something that has happened to me only once. I’ve experienced it with at least five friends, so it’s become a continuous pattern.

    The entire thing has drastically reduced my desire to make female friends because I’m always wondering what will happen once she gets into a relationship. What if she finds a boyfriend and suddenly starts ignoring me? Or what if she starts accusing me of being a jealous friend if I offer relationship advice she doesn’t like? I think I’m done making friends with women here. I never experienced this in Nigeria.

    Do you think this problem is just a Canadian thing?

    I’ve tried analysing it but haven’t figured it out yet. Maybe they’re this way here because Nigeria is conservative, and people are not usually allowed to fully and freely express love. So now that these girls finally have a chance to date without any constraints, they are allowing their whole lives to revolve around their men.

    The thing is at the end of the day, a man is just a man. It makes me sad to say this, but I finally understand why some women say they don’t want female friends. I’ve always been a girl’s girl, but female friendship in Canada has been too problematic in general.

    How have these experiences affected your stay in Canada?

    It has made me more paranoid. Somebody recently tried contacting me to ask if we could be friends, but my heart wasn’t in it. I don’t know how to love in bits and pieces. If you’re my friend, I’m giving you all my love. I can’t afford to do that with someone who will throw our friendship away for a man again.

    I  know I can’t always predict where new friendships can lead, but these days,  I don’t even try finding out anymore. I used to be such a high-effort person. Now, I’m a low-effort friend. It might sound like an exaggeration, but I’ve had painful experiences.

    One of my recent awful experiences has been with Maria, a friend I met in my school hostel. We bonded and formed a beautiful friendship and it remained so until she met a guy and decided to ghost me.

    Before the guy came into the picture,  we hung out all the time, spent time in each other’s rooms, and ate together, but she ghosted me for him, even though he wasn’t even her boyfriend. 

    Whenever she gets into a fight with the guy, she returns and acts like we are friends again, but once they resolve their issue, she starts ignoring me all over again. Even the times she comes back, we only talk about her and her boy problems. If I try to talk about my life, she somehow interrupts and makes it about herself.

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    All the time she has come back after ghosting me, she only did so to ask me for relationship advice, and whenever I gave my honest opinion, she got annoyed. When they reconcile, she’ll accuse me of trying to cause problems in her relationship. There’s no way I’ll see a guy treat my friend poorly and support that she remains in that relationship. If I tell her that the guy is manipulative, she’ll accuse me of being jealous.

    Now, I’ve stopped indulging her.  This trend of her ghosting me when she and her boyfriend are on good terms and returning when they are fighting has been going on for months. And it hurts me because Maria and I were inseparable. Now, we can’t even hang out anymore if the guy isn’t joining us. 

    She doesn’t like to hang out with you without her man?

    Yes. There was a thing we made plans to attend together, but then she changed plans and said she’d prefer the guy to accompany us. On the day of the event, the guy got upset with her for some reason and cancelled. You’d think that Maria would still come with me to the event, but she cancelled too, saying she wouldn’t feel comfortable going out without her man. It’s always high and low, and it’s not even just her. I’ve had too many experiences like this with the Nigerian girls in Canada. Maria, for example, has been on good terms with her man for a few months and has ghosted me again. The guy will do her dirty again, and she’s come running back to me, but I’ll no longer indulge her. I’ve mentally tapped out of the friendship. 

    Have you tried telling her how you feel?

    When I tell you there’s been zero communication on this girl’s part, I mean zero. This girl doesn’t even message me to find out if I’m alive. There’s no point trying to work on a friendship she doesn’t seem interested in, and it’s disappointing because she was a good friend before she became so male-centred. 

    I’m so sorry about that

    Thank you. I’ve cut off all my friends here. I don’t understand why everybody is so crazy about men. I held them in high regard, but them constantly making me look bad when I try to ensure the men in their lives do not exploit them is insane to me. I’ll no longer be interfering in anybody’s love life moving forward. Even if I make new friends and they ask me for advice on relationships, I’ll take them to a professional rather than give them my honest opinion.

    What did your friendship circle in Nigeria look like?

    I made the best friends of my life in Nigeria. There were never any dramatic fights. Even when we were dating other people, we made time for each other and prioritised our friendship.

    Would you recommend Canada to other Nigerians?

    Not at all. I wanted to stay in the UK because there’s a better community for Nigerians there, and my friends in the UK seem happy with their lives.  But moving to the UK was more expensive than Canada, so I ended up here.  To be fair, Canada isn’t a bad place to live; it’s much better than Nigeria. I haven’t struggled to get a job since I moved here, but in Nigeria, I could submit my resume to twenty different places and get twenty rejections. It’s a clean country, and electricity is constant. It’s just the loneliness and weather that make it hard to live in. 

    On a scale of one to 10. How happy are you in Canada?

    Seven. It would be higher if I weren’t lonely and had better friends.

    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. 

    Cynthia tried to be a brother’s keeper by offering to co-sign a car loan for a fellow Nigerian in Canada four years ago – that decision has caused her regrets, pain and financial loss since then. In this edition of Abroad Life, she shares how the debtor evaded arrest in Canada and travelled to Nigeria to get married while her credit continues to suffer.  

    Where do you currently live, and when did you relocate from Nigeria?

    I live in Alberta, Canada. I left Nigeria in 2015 but was in Australia before moving to Canada. 

    Why did you leave Australia for Canada?

    I was just curious about Canada. It was my first choice, and when I got the opportunity to apply for permanent residency, it was a better option than Australia, where I had a working visa. Canada was also way cheaper and had what I was looking for.

    How long did you live in Australia?

    About four and a half years. 

    Wow. So, how has life been since you moved to Canada?

    It’s been good. I came during COVID-19, so there was a lot of uncertainty when I started my journey here. I stayed in a friend’s basement for the first few months before getting my one-bed apartment. I felt very alone in the first few months.

    Has that changed?

    I’ve been trying to have more fun than I typically allow myself to. I’ve also taken it upon myself to go the extra mile to meet new people. Sometimes, I volunteer and do whatever I can to connect with the community. But I’ve had one experience that scarred me here in Canada.

    What happened?

    While trying to make new friends and connect with other Nigerians, I met a guy who happened to be Nigerian. We eventually became friendly, but things took a different turn when he needed to buy a car.  After he told me about his plans, I saw a Facebook ad for a company that sells cars to people with no credit history or poor credit, which was the category he fell into. I contacted them and told them my friend wanted to buy a car. After starting the conversation with them, I sent him their details. This was 2021, by the way. After he started the conversation with them, they contacted me again and asked if I could help him co-sign so he could take out a loan to buy the car. 

    Oh… That’s an ask

    They also added that I would be taken off the co-sign deal after 6 months. Knowing that I’d be held responsible if the person forfeited his loan, I made him assure me that he wouldn’t give me any reason to regret my decision, which he did. I also confirmed with the company again if they wouldn’t start telling stories when it’s time to drop off from the co-sign deal. They assured me and said they wanted to give me a $1,000 incentive for referring a customer to them.

    What happened next?

    I collected the referral bonus and gave the guy out of it so he could add it to whatever he had to repay. The car itself was about $20,000 by the way.

    I was too trusting and rolled with everything the guy and the car company said. I chose to help because he was Nigerian, and I would like to be helped if I ever found myself in that position. After some time, the agent I spoke to at that company stopped picking up my calls, so I decided to call the company’s direct line. Mind you, this was now almost a year later. The company connected me to someone else who told me that the guy I stood in for would have to reapply for the loan without me and get approved before they could remove me. He reapplied the first time but wasn’t approved.

    What went wrong?

    I can’t say for sure. For whatever reason, he chose not to reapply after the first one didn’t go through.  At this point, this guy and I were no longer in the same city. He was still repaying the loan I co-signed, but sometimes, he wouldn’t pay or be late. The company will always call me first. There was a time when he missed the 30-day payment mark, so my credit got hit, which affected me. I was in a new city at the time, trying to get insurance for my car. They didn’t allow me to pay monthly because that affected my credit. I had to pay a lump sum for one year of insurance, which is a lot of money.

    I can’t explain enough how stressed I was by everything happening in that period.  Anyway, I tried to call him after that, but he stopped responding. He would respond to some messages and ignore others. He blamed it on poor reception and made other excuses. I kept getting several calls from the car company. My credit kept getting worse. I spoke to some lawyers to see if there was a way I could get myself out of that situation, but there was nothing they could do. I was so frustrated. You know how I mentioned that he was still occasionally responding to messages? 

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    Yes. Did that change?

    He stopped. I started wondering if he was dead. The loan was still about $18,000 at this point, but I was no longer hearing from him.  He also blocked me on social media. I found his family members on social media and started sending them messages.  They didn’t respond, so I dropped the messages in their comments section. That forced him to reach out to me. His sister also sent a message, telling me to stop what I was doing. The guy and I later had a long conversation, and he said he would sell the car and ultimately pay off the loan. Guess what?

    What?

    He didn’t sell the car; he ghosted again.  The lawyer I contacted before suggested arresting him, but we were friends, and I didn’t want to go down that road, so I tried reaching him again. He reached out, too and told me that he lost his brother. I was sad for him at this point, but it felt like another excuse to evade his responsibility. Later, I learned that the guy went to Nigeria to get married. I found his wife on LinkedIn, where she was teaching people how to make money. I reached out to her, and she kept saying he would pay. They all ghosted again after that. I had to start the legal process. I’ve tried to serve him twice, but no luck. I know the guy is no longer at the address he gave me.

    That’s insane!

    It is. Later, he contacted me again and said he had sold the car. But that didn’t do much because the interest had accumulated, and I was still repaying it out of my pocket. I’ve been on this shit for almost four years, and the loan still isn’t fully paid. That single decision has affected my life badly. 

    I’m sorry. Is there hope of getting out of this situation soon?

    There’s less money to pay now. But the emotional effect is still as daunting as ever; I have grown not to trust people. For example, instead of partnering up with someone else to buy a property for investment, I’d rather do it alone or not. I’m still repaying out of my pocket.  But I got a new job, and it pays more.

    I’m happy for you. On a scale of one to 10, how happy would you say your life is in Canada?

    Funny enough, it’s still a solid seven. My family and friends are supporting me through this, and I love the life I’m building here. My business is also thriving, so that’s a win for me.

    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. 

    Tolu (33) took a big leap of faith when she moved to Canada as a permanent resident in 2019. But it paid off—in less than five years, she became a Canadian citizen, homeowner, wife, mother, and soon-to-be U.S. green card holder. 

    Where do you live, and when did you move from Nigeria?

    I live in Houston now. I left Nigeria in 2019 but first lived in Canada before moving to Houston in 2023.

    Let’s start from the beginning: how did the move to Canada happen?

    I moved to Canada as a permanent resident in 2019. It was a major decision because my parents didn’t want me to move without a spouse. We didn’t have any family abroad, so they were uncomfortable with me moving to a new country by myself. To assure them  I could handle it, I made sure I found a job in Canada before I left. It was a Big Four company (and I also worked at a Big Four company in Nigeria). I sent out at least 500 applications before I finally got that job, but getting it made it easier to convince my parents to give their blessings.

    Accommodation was an issue initially, but my dad reached out to some members of his old student association, and one of the women in the association offered to house me for one month. After that first month, I moved into my place and started my life in Canada. 

    500 applications is crazy. How did it feel to start over in Canada?

    It was easier for me because I got a job before I left Nigeria, and they also paid my relocation fee of about $2,000. But getting my own place was a struggle because house hunting is a bit hectic in Canada.

    The months that followed after I moved into my house were also rough– I spent my first Christmas away from my family, and while I was still grappling with it, COVID started, and the organization I worked for started layoffs. Thankfully, I survived it. At some point, I started a food business for fun. I didn’t have friends, so cooking for other people gave me a sense of community. The more people referred me, the more I met new people. 

    I’m glad. Did you experience any culture shock in Canada?

    Back in Nigeria, I was a team lead. I moved to Canada and had to take a few steps back, even though I was functioning in the same role I had in Nigeria. In addition, the people I had as team leads were less experienced. The organization said they needed to lead because they wanted me to first understand how things worked in the country. But I knew it was bullshit. Racism is very subtle in Canada, but it’s there.

    It was mentally draining for me to be on that team and disappear into the background while my juniors, who I was more qualified than, played the team lead. I also had a tough time getting used to how much they fake smiled in Canada, but I had to get used to it. 

    Sorry about that. At what point did you know you wanted to leave Canada?

    I never knew I was going to leave Canada. During COVID, I met my husband online.  He was living in the US, so I wasn’t serious about it at first. But the other people I was talking to were dead ends. Around August 2021, he flew into Canada to ask me out officially.  I knew then he wanted to be serious, so even though I was sceptical at first, I ended up giving in.  He ended up spending about ten days with me and it was on his second day with me that  I told my friend I would marry him.

    We had our introduction in February 2022 via Zoom. After that, we got married legally in April 2022  in Canada. We finalized things by getting married traditionally in Nigeria sometime in July.   I knew I’d have to move to the US eventually, but before we became serious, I bought my first home in Canada. That was sometime in 2021,  less than two years after I moved to Canada. 

    That’s huge. How were you able to achieve that?

    Interest rates were really good at the time. When I got married, moving to the US was a natural decision. We applied for a Green card immediately, and I had our baby nine months into the marriage.  At this point, I was already a Canadian citizen, and that came with many benefits that made living in the US easier even before the green card was approved. An agreement between Canada, the US and Mexico made it easy for me to get a work permit to move to the US. It’s called a TN Visa. So that was how I moved to the US. Our green card is still in the works, but I joined my husband in 2023.

    What’s happening with your property in Canada now that you’re in the US?

    When I wanted to buy a property, I set out to buy one that I could rent out. So, before I bought the property, I made sure the bylaws included that I could rent it out. That’s why it wasn’t hard to make that move. But now that I’m no longer a resident of Canada, the taxes I have to pay are slightly different. 

    Interesting. How did your parents react to your marriage?

    Oh, they were so happy. You don’t understand how much Nigerian parents want you to marry as soon as possible, plus the fact that I was almost 30 at the time. Being a Nigerian girl, you know your parents start stressing when you reach that age. His family was happy as well. Our parents met before we got married, and my parents immediately liked them. 

    I love that for you.  What’s the biggest difference between living in the US and Canada?

    People are nicer in Canada than in the US. At least, when you’re having a bad day in Canada, people will smile at you, but in the US, everybody just wants to make their money. Both countries have many similarities, but I’d prefer raising my children in the US. 

    ALSO READ: “I’m Carrying My Green Card Everywhere Now That Trump is President”

    How is motherhood and married life going?

    It’s been beautiful. My toddler hasn’t started daycare yet, but I have a live-in nanny because the money is better here. I had a one-year maternity leave in Canada, so I had time to bond with my baby, although I only used eight out of the 12 months because I got a job in the US. The downside is that maternity leave is just three months in the US. But having a nanny makes life easier. 

    On a scale of one to 10, how happy are you with your life right now?

    I have a good job. I have a good family, and I love my partner. I’ll say 10 over 10. 

    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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  • 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.

    In this edition of 1K Ways to Japa, Daniel shares how he secured Canadian Permanent Residency after a four-year journey filled with delays, marriage, ordination and fatherhood. He also breaks down his unexpected move to Nunavut—one of Canada’s coldest regions—where he’s adjusting to extreme weather, pricey flights, and surprising interactions with Nigerians in the Arctic.

    Where do you currently live, and when did you move?

    I currently live in Canada. I moved here  with my family in December 2022

    How did you move?

    We moved through the permanent residency route. We started the application in 2018.

    The process took 4 years?

    It’s a long story. I started the process in 2018 and met my wife in 2019. I also submitted my application in 2019, but COVID happened, which slowed down the application. While the process was pending, we had our first child in 2021. Later, in 2021, I got ordained as a pastor, which made me acknowledge that even delays can be blessings in disguise. We ended up getting the Permanent Residency (PR) sometime in 2022, and we moved in December. 

    Congratulations! What was it like moving with your family?

    Everything worked out so well. We moved to Vancouver because that was where the church I was pastoring had a branch. When we moved there, we didn’t even struggle with accommodation because the senior pastor at the church had a property that he was initially going to rent out as an Air BNB. He asked if we were interested in renting it, and we accepted the offer. The space he rented out to us was also fully furnished, so we moved there when we got to Canada. But we ended up moving to Montreal shortly after. 

    What happened?

    The church where I serve started another branch in Montreal. One day, the senior pastor there called me and asked if God was speaking to me about moving. At that point, I hadn’t gotten any leading and didn’t fully believe I knew enough to pastor a new branch. I didn’t tell my wife about it, but a few days after I had that conversation with the senior pastor, she told me that she felt that we were supposed to help out with the new branch. I took that as the confirmation I needed, and we moved. 

    Two big moves in less than a year. What was that like?

    It wasn’t that much of a big move because the two towns are not that far part. It was also divinely orchestrated because we experienced so much ease during the move. A friend reached out to us and told us that he knew a realtor who had a great space. The realtor turned out to be my younger sibling’s old classmate, and the landlord of the property was a Nigerian.

    One thing we were initially worried about was the logistics of the move itself, and that worked out, too. A church member offered to drive us for free. We just saw God come through for us in many ways. 

    What does life look like for you and your family now?

    I’m currently in Nunavut, the northern part of Canada, which is literally in the Arctic region. 

    Another move? When did that happen?

    I had to move for work, but I’m a family-oriented man, so I go home biweekly.

    That’s impressive. What’s life in Nunavut like?

    Life is different here, and contrary to popular opinion, there are many Nigerians here. However, the indigenous people, called Inuits, have a unique way of life. For context, Nunavet is a 3-hour flight from Montreal, where my family stays. This territory is also mostly surrounded by water so you can either come via flight or sea. Sea transportation can be tricky at times because the water around it is frozen. That’s one of the reasons why most people don’t want to come here. Flight tickets and everything else are expensive because of the logistics of moving the most basic items.

    Housing is also a slight problem here because the population has been booming lately, and the government probably didn’t anticipate it. But they’ve begun working on it. Generally, there are lots of opportunities here because the job market is less saturated. 

    What do you find most interesting about Nunavet?

    The temperature here can hit as low as minus 50 degrees. I haven’t experienced that, but I’ve been told it happens. Some territories also have seasonal periods when the sun doesn’t shine. Sunrise here can also start around 9 a.m., and sunset can start around 3 p.m. But if you have the right gear and types of equipment to cope with the weather, it’s actually not that bad.

    Things have been changing around here because of the increased population.  For example, there’s a cinema here, and there’s also a recreation centre with a pool. There was an African store here where you could buy everything from beans to garri, but it got burned recently in a fire. Despite the weather extremes here, the government still makes life easy.  There is an increase in job demands here, so it’s not a bad place for anyone who wants to do multiple jobs. The only thing I’d advise people to do is to pray about it before they decide to move; don’t just follow the crowd. 

    You mentioned that there’s a good number of Nigerians there. Have you made friends since you moved?

    It’s not just Nigerians; we have lots of Africans and Filipinos here. There’s even a Redeem church here, but it doesn’t have enough members because some people choose the chance to do a weekend shift over Sunday service, which is something I don’t advise. There’s something about being with a company of believers wherever you are, and I highly recommend it. As for finding Nigerian friends, the Nigerians who have been here for about 15 years have a WhatsApp group where they keep in touch and support each other. 

    Let’s discuss your PR application process in more detail. What advice do you have for Nigerians who intend to apply this year?

    The first thing I’ll say is pray. Ask God if you’re supposed to move. This applies more to people who go through life with a Christian worldview. Even if God says it doesn’t necessarily mean things will be easy, all things will align at the end of the day. There’s a big difference between moving to Canada as a permanent resident and exploring other visa options. For example, if you’re coming as a student, there’s a limit to the number of hours you can work, automatically limiting how much you can earn.

    I recommend the permanent residence route if you intend to come to Canada with your family. There are so many benefits the visa offers.  First, a PR will not be required to pay the same school fees as international students.  You can also work in any province as a permanent resident. The benefits are endless, but it’s essential to be sure that relocation is God’s will for you. And don’t be desperate to move because desperation drives the worst out of people. 

    For example, we’ve heard of Nigerians who come here as a married couple and get divorced on paper because they want to enjoy the benefits the Canadian government offers single mothers. Crazy things like that are not necessary if you follow the actual process. 

    What’s the best way to follow the process?

    I started my application in 2018, so I can imagine that things might have changed a little. But there was an app that I used, and it guided me through the entire process.  The app is called CanPR. It has details on the step-by-step process for applying for the visa as well as the updated cost. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in applying for a visa in 2025 because they constantly update it. But one important thing to note is that Canada wants skilled people. They have different preferences regarding the industries and the professionals they are looking for. They also consider your age, income and marital status to give you a score.

    If you have all your documents ready, you can complete the application on the  IRCC page. You’ll likely get higher points if you’re young. Speaking good French and being married also increases your score points.

    When you create your application,  you’re thrown into something that is known as a pool. That’s where all the potential candidates for the visa are reviewed. It’s from that pool that the government draws people they want to offer something called an Invitation To Apply (ITA).

    After you get an ITA, you’ll be given a deadline to provide all the documents you claim to have. This is the part where you’ll have to provide proof of funds.  Once they approve your documents, you’ll be asked to go for medicals. When that’s done, you should get a certificate of permanent residence. And with that document, you can travel and move with your family. The certificate has a deadline, and you’ll be required to relocate before it expires. That’s the summary of the process, but everything I just said can be a long process.

    On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you right now with your life in Canada?

    Very happy. I’m where God wants me to be. I’m at the right place at the right time. I’d say a solid 9.

     Want to to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here. 

  • 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. 

    This 29-year-old engineer and the subject of this week’s Abroad Life didn’t fully appreciate what he had with his situationship-turned-girlfriend in Nigeria until he moved to Canada and realised how expensive it is to plan a Nigerian wedding abroad. He talks about why dating Nigerian girls in Canada isn’t for him and explains why he’s not a fan of interracial marriages.

    When did you leave Nigeria, and where do you live now?

    I left Nigeria in April 2023. I now live in Toronto, Canada, where I am pursuing a master’s degree.

    Oh nice, what are you studying?

    Masters in Engineering and innovation,

    So, did you leave Nigeria because you wanted a Masters degree? 

    Not exactly. At that point in my life, there was a lot of pressure to seek a better life. I was working with a Canadian company back in Nigeria, and the company was open to helping me move to Canada. It also felt like the right time to explore the world.

    Oh, so are you studying and working at the same time?

    I didn’t take the company’s offer because the process would have taken a long time for me. I already had plans to study abroad anyway, so I moved to Canada through that route. Originally, my plan was to move to the UK, but Canada just came through way faster than I expected. 

    Has Canada met your expectations?

    I had huge expectations of the country, but the reality was different. Everybody in Nigeria thinks Canada is a nice country, but when you’re here, you realise that it’s just bills, taxes, and a high cost of living. At the same time, you’re struggling to pay your tuition and trying to deal with the thousands of immigration policies that affect you as a student– Policies that define how you work, what you are allowed to do and how you literally live your life. The reality is tougher than the expectation.

    Another thing that I didn’t expect is how people don’t keep friendships here, once you’re out of sight, you are out of mind. You’ll form surface-level relationships, but you most likely won’t find a community. I’m grateful I have a girlfriend and great friends outside Canada.

    Where is your girlfriend?

    She’s in Nigeria. When I moved to Canada, I realised it would be difficult to change my entire lifestyle when I got married. I want someone who likes the food and music I’m used to; I just don’t feel like starting all over again with someone else. I don’t want to play Wizkid in the morning, and my partner will start asking who I’m listening to. I love the idea of interracial marriages, but it’s not for me.

    That’s valid. How did you meet your girlfriend? 

    I’ve known the girl for a long time. We met in Nigeria when we were both 300-level university students, but we weren’t dating then; we just hung out and talked a lot. It was more of a situationship at first. Things didn’t really work out between us, so we went our separate ways. We reconnected three months before I left Nigeria, and we’ve been together since then. 

    So how long have you guys been together now?

    If I count the years we spent in the situationship, I’d say close to two years now. That’s enough time for me to know I’ll marry her.

    Aww. How did you know she was the one?

    When I date someone, I’m planning to marry them. I don’t think it’s about her. I think it’s about me. 

    Oh.  Are you thinking of proposing anytime soon?

    Honestly, I feel like I’ve been feeling pressured lately because most of my friends are getting married. My friends even exclude me from some conversations because there are things they think unmarried men like me cannot relate to. But I’ve been thinking of proposing to her for a while. 

    So I have a little thing I’m planning to surprise her with, but I just need to get my money up for now. My financial status will determine how soon I can get married,

    Money is always such a killjoy

    Right? But the plan is set. I am going to the UK next year to visit my best friend. His wife is having a baby. My girlfriend will also leave Nigeria for a while to join me on that trip. The plan is to take her to a football game,  talk to a couple of engineers at the stadium, and convince them to play a little video that says, “Will you marry me?” when the game is over.

    I’m curious. How exactly is money slowing down the marriage plan?

    Marriage is no joke. If I’m going to get married, I must be prepared to live like a married man. I also have some personal goals I’d like to achieve first. For example, I want to buy my dream car before I get married. I’ve also fallen in love with travelling since I moved to Canada, and there are destinations I want to visit first as a bachelor before I get married. So personal needs or wants aside, if I’m getting married, I must be ready to take care of a family. There’s also the cost of bringing my girlfriend over to Canada too.

    Valid. If you guys get married, where would the ceremony be held?

    We’ll get married in Ogun state, Nigeria. The thought of going back to Nigeria to get married almost makes me regret not marrying her before I moved to Canada. 

    Why?

    When you go back home to marry, everybody assumes you have money. This means our families would have expectations. My girlfriend is understanding, but she can’t exactly control what would be demanded of me to cover wedding expenses.

    Growing up, we just assumed everybody who lived abroad had money so I already know I’ll pay for almost everything we need for the wedding. Nigeria’s economy isn’t helping either. She’s trying her best, but she barely makes enough from her job–she’s not getting paid enough, or it’s the cost of living that’s making it look like she’s not paid enough.

    What does she do?

    She’s an accountant who earns around ₦150,000 to ₦200,000. She’s also a salesperson. She usually gets a 10% cut of the total amount of whatever she sells. She makes between ₦1,000,000 and ₦1,500,000 million from that per annum.

    Has it ever crossed your mind to get married in Canada? Is that a cheaper option for both of you?

    It’s actually an impossible option for us. For her to come here as a dependant, the wedding has to be held in Nigeria. Also, for the kind of visa we need, getting married in Canada will make it impossible for her to move here permanently. I also won’t be considering dating a Nigerian living in Canada. No shade to them, but they are not the kind of girls I’d like to marry. I’ve met lots of girls from different nationalities here -Indians, Chinese, Colombia – but they are all built differently compared to the Nigerian girls in Canada. Most of the girls here don’t understand the  “build together” mindset. They think you must pay their bills, take them out and all. The demands are crazier than what I’m used to; I like being in beneficial relationships– I give you stuff, you give me stuff. But here, it’s different, and I don’t think I’m ever willing to commit to that. 

    So it’s your girlfriend or nobody?

    Yes, she’s perfect for me.

    Would these financial concerns have been a thing if you had married her before moving to Canada?

    Probably, but it won’t be as bad. Living in Canada has automatically made people think I have a lot of money to spend on a wedding. The expectations wouldn’t be that high if I were still in Nigeria. Plus, I’m also adding the cost of helping my girlfriend move to Canada to the expenses. I’ll also need to do a lot of back-and-forth between Nigeria and Canada for the wedding, so there’s that too 

    That’s tough. On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you in Canada?

    I feel like the quality of my life has gotten way worse than it was in Nigeria. At least in Nigeria, I wasn’t rich, but I was way above middle class. I could get a car if I wanted to, I could wake up and decide to go on a spontaneous trip. I wasn’t struggling at all, but here, I don’t even have enough money to feed myself plus, I’m paying my tuition out of pocket, which takes a lot from me financially. The quality of my life has dropped generally. I can’t even randomly decide to buy takeout, eat out at restaurants or go to different places. The only thing you can do here is save money and keep surviving. So maybe four.

    Do you ever consider moving back to Nigeria?

    Oh no. Even though I’m sad and depressed here, I know it’s a personal problem that could change in the future because the country is working. The problems I had in Nigeria, on the other hand, were institutional, and that wasn’t something I could fix. I was in Nigeria last month, and things were worse than I remember them to be. Even the fact that I can walk past a police officer in the middle of the night here in Canada is enough reason to want to stay.

    When I went to Nigeria last month, policemen were still stopping people to collect money. It’s a sad problem to deal with. There’s also an infrastructural problem—I saw how the national grid kept falling, and I wondered how people who have non-Nigerian employers are going to explain something that ridiculous. Light is constant here, and there’s Wi-Fi, too. So whenever I compare these problems, I realise I’m better off 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).

  • On Monday, January 23, 2024, the IRCC — Canada’s department responsible for immigration matters — announced that the Canadian Government is setting a cap on the intake of international students, among other immigration law changes.

    According to a statement from the department, the decision became necessary as “the integrity of the international student system has been threatened”. The influx of international students has put pressure on housing, healthcare and other services in the country. 

    Canada remains one of the top destinations for Nigerians looking to relocate in search of greener pastures. So if you’re a Nigerian considering Canada for your studies or relocation plan, here’s what you should know about the latest development.

    No more spousal work permits for undergraduates

    How Canada New Immigration Restrictions Concerns Nigerians

    The IRCC will stop granting work permits to spouses of international undergraduate students. Spouses of international graduate school students or students taking a professional programme (medicine or law) remain eligible for open work permits.

    A cap on study permits

    How Canada New Immigration Restrictions Concerns Nigerians

    The IRCC plans to approve approximately 360,000 study permits in 2024, a 35% decrease from 2023. This intake cap will last for a period of two years. 2025’s limit will be announced later this year. 

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    Provincial study permits based on population

    How Canada New Immigration Restrictions Concerns Nigerians

    The IRCC will apportion study permits to Canadian provinces based on their population. The provinces will be free to distribute the study permits across the available learning institutions authorised to admit international students. Henceforth, study permits submitted to the IRCC will require an attestation letter from the province or territory. A process for applying for an attestation letter will be announced before March 2024.

    No postgraduate study permit for graduates of private career colleges

    According to the IRCC, starting on September 1, 2024, international students who physically attend private career colleges that have been licensed to deliver the curriculum of a public college will no longer be eligible for a postgraduate work permit after graduation.

    Want to know why many Nigerians are migrating? Read this: What Incidents Triggered Nigeria’s Japa Wave Since 2018?

  • 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.

    For this week’s Abroad Life, we’ve decided to give potential Canadian residents the do’s and don’ts on navigating their financial life in Canada, so you don’t have to. 

    Nigeria is not the easiest country to live in. Traffic jams, irregular power supply, unemployment, poverty etc are some of the many stumbling blocks in the average Nigerian’s way — which is why they are desperate to leave. 

    Canada, amongst other countries,  is one of the promised lands for a japa aspirant. But it’s not enough to travel there. How do you navigate important aspects like finances? 

    We decided to explain a tweet that broke it down for you, so you don’t have to:

    Setting up the BEST bank account 

    To set up a regular bank account, you’d need a visa or passport, immigration papers, Social Insurance Number (SIN) (if you have one) and address verification.

    This consists of a temporary residency permit, your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), or your work or study permit.

    However, you must know the rates involved to set up the best bank account. 

    Using newcomer rates from any bank is risky because there is a tendency to pay higher interest rates once the deal expires.

    To avoid this, use the website ratehub.ca to find banks that can give the best rates after your first-timer deal expires.

    Build up good credits 

    Unlike Nigeria, Western countries are very particular about credits and how one manages them. 

    Credit is a flexible form of finance that allows you to access a certain amount of money loaned (known as your credit limit) according to your needs, at any given time. 

    Credits are maintained when the user makes timely payments and doesn’t exceed the credit limit. Credits are necessary to buy a home, rent an apartment, or get a car loan.

    Get a secured credit card from your bank, and understand credit before using it.

    Always file your taxes 

    Unlike Nigeria, Canadians take accounts of government taxes very seriously. But as a newcomer, it could be difficult wrapping your head around the math. 

    Take advantage of free tax clinics and accountants and make them your best plugs. You can also contact the Canada Revenue Agency when in doubt. 

    Look out for the good paying jobs 

    Most new immigrants to Canada tend to take the first available job without research — which is not entirely the best. 

    Understand the Canadian job market, network with people, and get recognised certifications. Take a job that pays what you deserve. You can visit the website here for more steps to get a good-paying job in Canada.