I need advice.
I am fed up with this nation.
I wish to check out to seek greener pastures abroad.
Where can i go at age 47 or does age not really matter?

the important questions ARE:
- how do you intend to survive "out there"?!
- what are your expectations?
- as a 47yr old person, dont you have family to bring along (or do you simply discard them)?
- do you intend to stay "out there" forever or will you go back to 9ja later?

awww very easy
go 2 Cotonou
its jst dere

Dyt:

awww very easy
go 2 Cotonou
its jst dere

   The poster is 47 years old, so please, treat him as so. Now, consider actual people who are about that age and observe how you respect them in real live

^ i bet u dont know anyth abt Cotonou
if he goes dere wit millions of naira, u know ow large he ll live in dat city?

Dyt:

^ i bet u dont know anyth abt Cotonou
if he goes dere wit millions of naira, u know ow large he ll live in dat city?

   Now, i see you meant it the positive way, i thought you were only being sarcastic and making mockery of the Poster. I appreciate your clarification, and thanks for not taking offence at me.

i shldnt sir, if i v enuf 2, i wanna live dere, mayb d parts v bn
cool economy, nice marble houses, lots of food, better elecricity dan naija, constsnt water n lots of biz 2 go in2

@dyf
Please shed more light
What opportunities are there in Cotonou that a tired Nigerian can exploit?

@mrbrownjay
Thanks for your concern. i really appreciate it.
I have a family:a wife and a daughter.My wife is a civil servant and daughter in senior secondary school.They wont go with me. i have to leave them behind.
I am a retiree of the banking industry and such credentials wont get me a job abroad.It is an illusion.So, I have to get something else to do to make a living over there. I dont mind doing anything as long as it is legitimate and lawful to do.
If i go, i intend to stay some years and come back to Nigeria later.
Am now thinking of relocation on the following basis:
A relation who was a lecturer left Nigeria for the USA at age 56. Few years later, his wife and younger children joined him and have been there for about 14 years now.
Another relation was aged 47 when he won the US Visa lottery around 1995 and moved over with his whole family and are there till now.
I have tried all sorts of things to make a living but they are not working.
The era that these utilized to relocate is quite different from the present era i am in now.To get to those countries now is much tougher.
Where can i really go and which countries have some job prospects for a 47 year old?
I count on your counsel.

knowledge4:

@dyf
Please shed more light
What opportunities are there in Cotonou that a tired Nigerian can exploit?

dunno wat he ll wanna go in2, best he goes dere n sees wats lyk dere

@Ayodele123
before embarking on such suicide mission, you have to ALSO listen carefully to the horror stories of people who DIDNT make it abroad.
i know of a few PERSONALLY, like the guy in Argentina who ended up doing g[b]a[/b]y porn to feed himself and survive, or the guy in Japan who was so desperate to make it that he went into the drug courier biz and died when he couldnt excrete the packages, or the dozens who got to Europe/US and couldnt find a job so they ended up working 2/3 jobs to survive, working almost 18hrs per day, everyday of the week.

what you have to understand is that you are taking a gamble, and it could go wrong, just as it could go perfect.

A) how do you intend to get the proper visa to work?
B) how will your family survive while you are away?
C) are you saying that you are only going abroad to make a fortune and then come back to 9ja?
D) do you speak any other languages?
E) have you ever done HARD LABOR before? (most jobs that you may find wont be a walk in the park)
F) with determination everything is possible but i am still trying to understand the WHY of such mission? what will be your driving force?

@Ayodele, adding to what mrbrownjay just said, you need to weigh your options before taking any step. I understand that at the moment Nigeria is not an option for you due to hardship but at the same time I always tell people especially families and friends that going abroad is not for anyone above 30yrs old as far as am concern except you're going on an immigrant or work visa which gives you all the right and benefit you need to live in that country. Also am not in support of any married woman or man going overseas on a non-immigrant visa. It's ok to visit with or without family and go back but once you plan on staying behind that's exactly what you've done to your family "put them behind"
There is nothing wrong with people your age going overseas it just depend on the status or type of visa they're going with. Like you said yourself some of your friends left on visa lottery with their families! So far that's one of the best if not the best immigrant visa available. Some professionals in certain jobs/field get a work visa (H-visa) which in most cases allow your family to accompany you and also allow you to visit home. Countries like Canada, Australia also have skill workers visa which are also as good as US greencard. Having said that, I will totally not advise you to travel to any country you plan to stay back to work with just a business/visit visa. It's OK for a younger and single person but not for someone in your position. A younger and single person can change their non-immigrant visiting (B1/B2) visa to F-1 student status (Note: you can never get a US visa inside the US, u get a status). A single person can also get married or even spend another 12yrs in school extending their status which is usually (D/S) duration of studies till they figure out what they want to do but that is not easy or cheap too. While in school you must be a full time student with not less than 12 credit every semester except summer and your tuition is also 3-4times the regular amount cause you're paying as an international student. Paying as an international student is also not the painful part but you are not authorized to work except on campus for only 20 hours a week if any job is available. Finally, the idea or mentality of let me go and make money and come back begins in Nigeria and expires as soon as your foot touches US soil cause there's no such thing as that. Except you're blessed with a very good job, where will you make and stack such money enough to go back in few months or even years. Some people work two jobs to catch up with bills and food here and maybe send little money to family back home. Some also came with that intension and 20yrs later they're still here without even setting eyes on their families. Other raised or spring off another family here in the process of looking for greencard or permanent visa to stay, work, and be able to visit Nigeria. Am not trying to scare you with only the negative but this are the things you will face right from the airport while checking in and they get worst when your 3months visa expires. It was easier for me when I came here cause I was only 23 and I jumped right into college. My youngest brother also left at 23yrs with only 9days visa! Yes 9 DAYS! If you were younger and single, I wont have any doubt or think twice in asking you to make the move if Nigeria is too tough for you! But at 47 and married, Europe and it huzzling won't do you anygood at all cux if yawa gazz, you'll be coming out of jail with walking stick. America on the other hand will/is a way better option but also depend on the type of visa you travel with. My only sincere advise now is Canada or Australia. You can go online and take their skill workers placement test with your family and pray and hope for the best! Good luck!

Don't forget the US visa lottery too! You can apply every year and add your family. Your wife can also do the same!
wow! Haven't written anything that long in a while.

@price onxy & Mrbrownjay
Thanks very much for this wonderful enlightenment
Actually, i have been advised the way you did before now but did not believe them
My sisters in the UK and the US did but i thought they wanted to scare me away
At 47, i cannot go through all that stress you mentioned o. Na untimely death be that.
I will going with the struggle here hopefully till God makes a way for me
Thanks very,very much. Am deeply grateful

^^
Am not sure if you are the same person with Ayodele123 but all the same it's my pleasure. Am glad I was able to advise and most of all very glad that you're able to make an informed decision. I know a lot of people who jumped into the decision of moving abroad in so called search for better life leaving their families behind and 2 decades later, their life became worse than it was in Nigeria. Nothing to show for it both here and home and worst of all the effect on the family. I have an older cousin (51yrs) who kind of can't stand the shame of going back home with nothing. He left in his mid twenties to England, came back few years later, got married with four kids! two are in college now. When things became a little tough he traveled out again. First back to England, then Italy, and finally Greece of all places. He's been there for about 15yrs now, Greece economy is bad!, he's berely making anything, he's been home I think twice in all those years, he really have nothing to show for living abroad but yet refused to move back home. Every year he'll tell me that "nothing will stop him from going back this year" His wife is there struggling with little or no assistance from him! He want to go home but want to raise some money first and that's not happening easily or anytime soon. I always tell him that he's loosing both his family and money staying in Greece. How can you be married for about 22yrs now and shared only 5-7yrs of that with your wife and maybe 3months more in between his stay/visit abroad/Nigeria? Women are really trying oh and for us men our thinking and mind set sometimes is so unbelievable!

47 is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too late/tooooo old of an age to leave Nigeria.
You cannot adjust to life in the outside world.
One reason:You will be easily frustrated with the lifestyle you are not accustomed to outside Nigeria.
You should have left in your 20s like I did. AFTER NYSC.
It takes 10 to settle down AFTER getting your legal residence permit.
Even if you were born in any civilized part of the world.

Most importantly, I don't think you will have what it takes to live successfullly in the NEW WORLD.

Humilty. The downfall of Nigerians in any foreign country is ARROGANCE.

Just remain there. . . not a 'doable' venture at this age.
Most people are thinking of retirement at amost 50.
Do you want to start off driving cabs or flipping burgers at almost 50?

Please, remain in Nigeria before you allow small children to insult you.
NL is bad enough.

The days of sucking old smelling white or dirty black young poohsies for 'kpali' are so ova! They have learned to kill Nigerian men for 'insurance' money. You are digging your grave. It takes 20 years to fully settle down in any foreign country.
You should be enjoying your grand-children at this stage in life. . . not breeding new children for 'paper marriages'.

Don't be deceived. . . your fellow Nigerians will not tell you how many poohsies they had too eat to become legal in foreign countries. Are you ready to leave a life of frustration in your late forties?

I would not wish that on my WORST enemies.

Be warned.

I would advise to go for holiday and u have famliy there so even better

mimi234:

I would advise to go for holiday and u have famliy there so even better

Life in Nigeria is not rewarding for him. He's also not looking for where to go for holidays! He want somewhere where he can make money or better his life and possible move his family later.

ayodele123:

I need advice.
I am fed up with this nation.
I wish to check out to seek greener pastures abroad.
Where can i go at age 47 or does age not really matter?

The complication is that you have a family already. It's doable with careful planning.

I live in the US so I can only speak of here.

It has been made significantly difficult to find work as an "Undocumented Alien". The best advice I have it is to not leave Nigeria without some documentation but the choice is yours.

You also need to define green pastures. Is green pastures making a successful residence here in the US or is ti just a a place of employment?

You can drive a cab, live prudently (rent a room) and send $3,000 home a month. That's almost N500,000 a month.

I am in the same age bracket like you and all of my friends in the same age bracket are all looking to return to Nigeria.

Good luck Sir.

@princeonyx & Lasinoh,
  Thanks for your advice. I am now better informed about my intended relocation project.
  I see its better at this age to remain here and continue struggling here than getting stranded abroad.
  Going out at this age appears to be a desperate suicidal gamble and a huge risk.
  Actually, i have been advised against it by some but i did not understand them.
  One of them, a married sister of mine who has been in the UK for over a decade tells me that life is hard in the UK, that i would not be able to cope but she visits Nigeria frequently at will as if one is traveling from Lagos to Ibadan.  Last year, she brought in a mind blowing Jeep and tells me that life is hard in the UK and i wonder how i can believe her. Sincerely, none of them gave the kind of details that i have received from you. I only hear that life is hard over there.
I can now understand why a cousin who crossed over to the UK in 2000 is yet to visit home even once. He went on a visit visa and stayed back there. I learned that he has no papers and i wonder how come he has no papers in 12 years! Another, an in law has been in the US since 1999 and is yet to visit home even for once since then and has a family here but his wife visits him there every 2 years through the assistance of another Nigerian over there who invites her.
Here, i have my own house and a farm and can still raise money legitimately to meet my obligations as a father and husband without that kind of stress and horror some stranded Nigerians are going through. Do fraudulent things abroad to make money? God forbid! I forbid! Anything that has to do with police and prison, i avoid with all my strength.
I will focus on the US Diversity Visa as advised,if it works by God's grace at least for my daughter's future benefit.
God bless you sirs, for your kindness to give sincere details.

ayodele123:

i have my own house and a farm

So the project should be refocused on how to perhaps modernize and commercialize the farm. You can then export your produce/products to USA/UK and you win at the end of the day.

@somorin
  Thanks sir. You are a blessing.
  It will be better to remain here where the grass is still green and try to make it greener here than to lose the green grass at home to pursue an imaginary greener grass abroad which may be a mirage at the end of the day.
If at the age of 47, some Nigerians abroad are preparing to return home, obviously it will be a wrong move for one to commence a relocation abroad at 47 without the right and proper papers or visa that can guarantee an easier or faster resettlement.

Somorin#1:

The complication is that you have a family already. It's doable with careful planning.

I live in the US so I can only speak of here.

It has been made significantly difficult to find work as an "Undocumented Alien". The best advice I have it is to not leave Nigeria without some documentation but the choice is yours.

You also need to define green pastures. Is green pastures making a successful residence here in the US or is ti just a a place of employment?

You can drive a cab, live prudently (rent a room) and send $3,000 home a month. That's almost N500,000 a month.

I am in the same age bracket like you and all of my friends in the same age bracket are all looking to return to Nigeria.

Good luck Sir.

Very good response sir

Somorin#1:

The complication is that you have a family already. It's doable with careful planning.

I live in the US so I can only speak of here.

It has been made significantly difficult to find work as an "Undocumented Alien". The best advice I have it is to not leave Nigeria without some documentation but the choice is yours.

You also need to define green pastures. Is green pastures making a successful residence here in the US or is ti just a a place of employment?

You can drive a cab, live prudently (rent a room) and send $3,000 home a month. That's almost N500,000 a month.

I am in the same age bracket like you and all of my friends in the same age bracket are all looking to return to Nigeria.

Good luck Sir.

I am in the same age bracket like you and all of my friends in the same age bracket(after their sojourn abroad you mean) are all looking to return to Nigeria.
Very good response sir

.

What advice will u be giving to a 36 years old wanting to relocate

My guy don't be discouraged. You can survive even at 60. All you need is to be active. But you must not travel with your wife or child immediately. I know of a guy that survived even at 52 in UK. But I don't know how he did it. The man was even a secondary school holder although he worked with textile company before he traveled. Today, he lives with his family in UK. So you can equally achieve it but only if you plan very well.

akin707:

What advice will u be giving to a 36 years old wanting to relocate

If to the US, secure paperwork, the lottery visa is an excellent opportunity

mbm:

My guy don't be discouraged. You can survive even at 60. All you need is to be active. But you must not travel with your wife or child immediately. I know of a guy that survived even at 52 in UK. But I don't know how he did it. The man was even a secondary school holder although he worked with textile company before he traveled. Today, he lives with his family in UK. So you can equally achieve it but only if you plan very well.

Good advice.