Nairaland Forum

aydj: From experience, in abt 90 percent of cases, pple only leave abroad to come settle down in Nigeria because they do not have stay or d necessary permanent permit to work and save like they would do here in nigeria. To buttress what PortHarcourtBoy has said, its difficult and not encouraging, most especially to Nigerians wt student visas abroad to work, save and plan one's life wt dish washing or security jobs. They are all waste of time and opportunity. I have a similar experience, waited a year after my Masters Petroleum Engineering program in d U.S, hoping to get a job bt none came. I just arrived back to naija abt three months ago and am hopeful that I shld get something soon. Afterall, ds na my papa land!

Thank you Bro, you 've said it all...

After all the time and resources invested in formal education...the best they can offer are suffer-head roles like kitchen porter, care support worker or security personnel...yet when they come here they get the best of everything including army and police escort...

Welcome home Bro, I bet you'll land a juicy job pretty soon 'cos the demand for US trained Petroleum Engineers here in Naija is even higher than the demand for UK trained.

home is home....i neva leave naija o, bt i still miss my family big tym and wunt waste any opportunity to be wit them

PortHarcourtBoy: Me I can never step out of this our country again oh... lai lai! whether for school or holiday... Oyibo yeye!

Oyibo go carry one 17 year old wey no even pass GCSE, make ur boss for their eateries and restaurants... dem no wan even know whether you get or dey study for some degree...

Na so dat wan go dey sharp mouth on you (with impunity)... "Hello mate, Can you PlEaSe go and wipe the tables...ThAnK yOu"

Kai, I go siddon look myself, ask myself whether na me be this? Some times to slap their mandibles and maxillae go hungry me...but I know sey if I try am, na Scotland yard

People travel for different purpose: some travel to stay while some travel to raise capital
and to earn a good living, these are the set of people that normally come back to start a new
life. Some have no purpose at all they travel because they see people travel and their belief
is that when they get there they will start picking money from the floor.
And why complaining about dish wash, do you ever think they don`t have enough citizen to do
their office jobs. When you are in abroad do any thing legal to make money and when you have
saved some reasonable amount come back home and invest into business and start living
the kind of life style you wish for yourself. After all washing of dishes and other mere job in
uk pay more than some white coral jobs like bank and many others ... in nigeria

~Bluetooth:


If they have the capital to do such businesses from Nigeria,I doubt if most of them will travel out to do menial and denigrating jobs.

That's my thought too. This is where our banks should come in but they wouldn't. Another thing with Nigeria is that any body can wake and start swindling his fellow citizen and he vanish into space without trace. Many have lost fortunes including my humble self but when you talk to people about it, they say you are greedy and gullible. Example here that happens to my friend in Benin City: www.nairaland.com/964222/new-waves-nigeria-419-scam

The need to be real and authentic makes one genuinely wants to establish in his or her father,s land. The need to be a contributor,instead of a boy forever.

African children born and bred in the west are lost to the west,which invariably means the end of an african line for the one that decide to lick oyinbo yansh forever for the simple fact that they have a society where the basic amenities functions.

This in turn leads to the gradual dwindling of a culture and subsequent demise of a people that cannot function rationally on their own.

The reasonable one will come back home, b/c they have houses and properties at home, at the senior age live in naija, collect the white-pension and enjoy good life rather than senior home in Yankee. but idiots that wasted their life buying property in Yankee will find it difficult to come back since they have nothing at home, they always say naija no good. you know what, most of them will still lost the property they own to foreclosure or property tax at old age.

In London, one can always find them at pool house.

Interesting thread

Personally I think almost everyone that has commented on this thread so far has some good points and are relatively correct (different strokes for different folks). In my own opinion, if you are a Nigerian (raised in Nigeria), it is better to settle in Nigeria in the long run but foreign exposure is absolutely necessary. it is a big mistake to assume that relocating from Nigeria to a more developed country equates to a happier life and access to greener pastures. If that is where an individual lays their hope on then they are almost hopeless. if you choose to go abroad (a better developed country) for the purpose of exposure, furthering your education, getting abreast with modern trends e.t.c in whatever career or occupation you choose to be involved in with the aim of adding value to and developing yourself then your on track. But if you relocate as a result of frustration with the happenings in the country (which i cant blame anyone for doing @ this point in time) then you are simply gambling and may most likely return in the same frustration that made you run away in the first place. Bottomline diaspora no be heaven o and Nigeria no be hell to. if you know what your doing, you will know what to do

nakedall: The reasonable one will come back home, b/c they have houses and properties at home, at the senior age live in naija, collect the white-pension and enjoy good life rather than senior home in Yankee. but idiots that wasted their life buying property in Yankee will find it difficult to come back since they have nothing at home, they always say naija no good. you know what, most of them will still lost the property they own to foreclosure or property tax at old age.

In London, one can always find them at pool house.

There is no need for insult here. Is not your business if somebody chooses to live and die abroad.

redsun: The need to be real and authentic makes one genuinely wants to establish in his or her father,s land. The need to be a contributor,instead of a boy forever.

African children born and bred in the west are lost to the west,which invariably means the end of an african line for the one that decide to lick oyinbo yansh forever for the simple fact that they have a society where the basic amenities functions.

This in turn leads to the gradual dwindling of a culture and subsequent demise of a people that cannot function rationally on their own.

You are obviously got no clue what you are talking about.

How does coming back to Nigeria makes one genuine and authentic? Your views are still some 70yrs behind.

3sky:

People travel for different purpose: some travel to stay while some travel to raise capital
and to earn a good living, these are the set of people that normally come back to start a new
life. Some have no purpose at all they travel because they see people travel and their belief
is that when they get there they will start picking money from the floor.
And why complaining about dish wash, do you ever think they don`t have enough citizen to do
their office jobs. When you are in abroad do any thing legal to make money and when you have
saved some reasonable amount come back home and invest into business and start living
the kind of life style you wish for yourself. After all washing of dishes and other mere job in
uk pay more than some white coral jobs like bank and many others ... in nigeria

Bros no doubt, I was grabbing like £1,600 after tax and NI at the end of every month which for some, that may be good enough...afterall some of our househelps in Naija work for as low as 10k a month which is even less than £50...Imagine if such a person lands in the UK and gets an equivalent of 350k monthly for offering same services...Omo, such a person would rule out returning home.

The fact was, I never felt happy and fulfilled within myself while in the UK owing to the fact that I'd invested so much in education, so why the heck should I be doing dishes when I should be in an office or field role that matches my course of study...I knew I was only wasting my time staying further...I woke up one morning and booked a ticket back home, today I thank God for that singular move because I landed my dream job 4 months after my return...

Also, contrary to what you stated in ur post, Britain doesn't have enough manpower to take on their white collar jobs, but the British would rather hire an Indian than hiring a Black African, at most they'd go for a Caribbean.

please can someone give their opinion relating to my last post on this thread i would like to develop my hypothesis. thanks

In my opinion, many of the responses here are missing the point.

Many of us in Nigeria grew up and live in cities today because our parents (father/mother) took the bold step to seek greener pastures away from the villages and towns where they were born in the 30s 40s and 50s. Why didnt they stay in the village and 'make it' there? And why would'nt YOU return to your village today? Its all about opportunities. The same reason why people leave Nigeria and relocate abroad: OPPORTUNITIES.

Now, a lot of our parents tend to relocate back to the villages and towns in their older years, not because they were pursued from the city but because it was 'time' to go back home . Some simply retired due to old age. Others went into some farming or related businesses suited to the quiet life of villages.

As for those of us still young, if our villages of today were to suddenly provide better infrastructure (power, water, communications) as well as improved security and business climate, many of us city dwellers would not mind going back. Not because we were pursued from P/Harcourt, Lagos or Abuja.

So, it is not always a matter of being tired of dish washing or taking cr-ap from oyibo people. Most Nigerians I know abroad are well-educated and holding decent jobs. A survey some months ago showed that Nigerians are the most educated ethnic immigrant group in the whole of the US, with the highest ratio of Masters/PhD degrees. Although we are only a distinct sub-group of Africans, we are actually more educated on the average than the white people in America. Fact. Read more: http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/03/20/survey-nigerians-most-educated-in-the-u-s.html. Majority of these Nigerians are certainly NOT washing dishes or driving taxis. They are in highly skilled jobs, with above average salaries. Some own businesses and employ OTHER nationalities, not only in America, but also in Europe.

Regardless of where it is, people will move to find opportunities. That is why inspite of our insecurity, lack of power and corruption, a lot of expatriates STILL come to Nigeria. When they decide to leave (as some will inevitably do), it will NOT be because we deported them - or because they were tired of 'washing our toilets'. It will be because they have decided to move.

It is all about opportunities. If you can find such 'opporchos' in your fatherland, all the better.

drzed: In my opinion, many of the responses here are missing the point.

Many of us in Nigeria grew up and live in cities today because our parents (father/mother) took the bold step to seek greener pastures away from the villages and towns where they were born in the 30s 40s and 50s. Why didnt they stay in the village and 'make it' there? And why would'nt YOU return to your village today? Its all about opportunities. The same reason why people leave Nigeria and relocate abroad: OPPORTUNITIES.

Now, a lot of our parents tend to relocate back to the villages and towns in their older years, not because they were pursued from the city but because it was 'time' to go back home . Some simply retired due to old age. Others went into some farming or related businesses suited to the quiet life of villages.

As for those of us still young, if our villages of today were to suddenly provide better infrastructure (power, water, communications) as well as improved security and business climate, many of us city dwellers would not mind going back. Not because we were pursued from P/Harcourt, Lagos or Abuja.

So, it is not always a matter of being tired of dish washing or taking cr-ap from oyibo people. Most Nigerians I know abroad are well-educated and holding decent jobs. A survey some months ago showed that Nigerians are the most educated ethnic immigrant group in the whole of the US, with the highest ratio of Masters/PhD degrees. Read more: http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/03/20/survey-nigerians-most-educated-in-the-u-s.html. Majority of these Nigerians are certainly NOT washing dishes or driving taxis. They are in highly skilled jobs, with above average salaries.

Regardless of where it is, people will move to find opportunities. That is why inspite of our insecurity, lack of power and corruption, a lot of expatriates STILL come to Nigeria. When they decide to leave, as some will inevitably do, it will NOT be because we deported them or because they were tired of 'washing our toilets'. It will because they have decided to move.

It is all about opportunities. If you can find such 'opporchos' in your fatherland, all the better.

A+++++++

chreld_b: Personally I think almost everyone that has commented on this thread so far has some good points and are relatively correct (different strokes for different folks). In my own opinion, if you are a Nigerian (raised in Nigeria), it is better to settle in Nigeria in the long run but foreign exposure is absolutely necessary. it is a big mistake to assume that relocating from Nigeria to a more developed country equates to a happier life and access to greener pastures. If that is where an individual lays their hope on then they are almost hopeless. if you choose to go abroad (a better developed country) for the purpose of exposure, furthering your education, getting abreast with modern trends e.t.c in whatever career or occupation you choose to be involved in with the aim of adding value to and developing yourself then your on track. But if you relocate as a result of frustration with the happenings in the country (which i cant blame anyone for doing @ this point in time) then you are simply gambling and may most likely return in the same frustration that made you run away in the first place. Bottomline diaspora no be heaven o and Nigeria no be hell to. if you know what your doing, you will know what to do

This comment makes alot of sense.the only Achievement majority of Nigerians in diaspora can boast of is EXPOSURE...in my opinion,only the wise ones makes that bold step to relocate back home.

justwise:

You are obviously got no clue what you are talking about.

How does coming back to Nigeria makes one genuine and authentic? Your views are still some 70yrs behind.

Awareness is a divine call. Obviously u are too ignorant to understand the significance of functional fatherland.

chreld_b: Personally I think almost everyone that has commented on this thread so far has some good points and are relatively correct (different strokes for different folks). In my own opinion, if you are a Nigerian (raised in Nigeria), it is better to settle in Nigeria in the long run but foreign exposure is absolutely necessary. it is a big mistake to assume that relocating from Nigeria to a more developed country equates to a happier life and access to greener pastures. If that is where an individual lays their hope on then they are almost hopeless. if you choose to go abroad (a better developed country) for the purpose of exposure, furthering your education, getting abreast with modern trends e.t.c in whatever career or occupation you choose to be involved in with the aim of adding value to and developing yourself then your on track. But if you relocate as a result of frustration with the happenings in the country (which i cant blame anyone for doing @ this point in time) then you are simply gambling and may most likely return in the same frustration that made you run away in the first place. Bottomline diaspora no be heaven o and Nigeria no be hell [/b]to. if you know what your doing, you will know what to do

chreld_b: please can someone give their opinion relating to my last post on this thread i would like to develop my hypothesis. thanks

My answer to your post (which you call a hypothesis) is simple and is based on YOUR own analogy: [b]Nigerian cities no be heaven, just as Nigerian villages no be hell.

Where you elect to pursue your ambitions is a matter of personal choice and circumstances. Refer to my own post above.

Unfortunately, some of the people responding on this thread are too lost in their pre-conceived and ill-conceived prejudices to view the subject impassionately or objectively. Very soon, tribe, religion, Otedola and PDP will enter the equation. Trust Nairalanders.

redsun:

Awareness is a divine call. Obviously u are too ignorant to understand the significance of functional fatherland.

Dust

bobbyjabo:

This comment makes alot of sense.the only Achievement majority of Nigerians in diaspora can boast of is EXPOSURE...in my opinion,only the wise ones makes that bold step to relocate back home.

This is a narrow minded view, not everybody that relocated were happy with the move, some went back to the west after some times.

Many Nigerians have made other countries their 'home' and still visit Nigeria to invest and for other reasons, refusing to move permanently does not make them unwise, rather does it mean that they are unpatriotic.

Nigeria is my home by default, that does not mean that i will live and die there, wherever i found myself and happy is where i call 'home'.

Nnaa mhen igbo guys kee ide? We dey for mozambique dey hammer oo, nor be small thing,
100 metcaise here na 500# 4 9ja......their 1000 na 5k 4 9ja, business dey move, light dey 24/7
Water nko? E dey, fine girls wey go love yu truely plenti, nice weather chai!
Omo mhen I go stil come back τ̲̅ȍ 9ja but ♍Ɣ only fear be say, juju people wey nor wan make you blow go jazz you lol

drzed: In my opinion, many of the responses here are missing the point.

Many of us in Nigeria grew up and live in cities today because our parents (father/mother) took the bold step to seek greener pastures away from the villages and towns where they were born in the 30s 40s and 50s. Why didnt they stay in the village and 'make it' there? And why would'nt YOU return to your village today? Its all about opportunities. The same reason why people leave Nigeria and relocate abroad: OPPORTUNITIES.

Now, a lot of our parents tend to relocate back to the villages and towns in their older years, not because they were pursued from the city but because it was 'time' to go back home . Some simply retired due to old age. Others went into some farming or related businesses suited to the quiet life of villages.

As for those of us still young, if our villages of today were to suddenly provide better infrastructure (power, water, communications) as well as improved security and business climate, many of us city dwellers would not mind going back. Not because we were pursued from P/Harcourt, Lagos or Abuja.

So, it is not always a matter of being tired of dish washing or taking cr-ap from oyibo people. Most Nigerians I know abroad are well-educated and holding decent jobs. A survey some months ago showed that Nigerians are the most educated ethnic immigrant group in the whole of the US, with the highest ratio of Masters/PhD degrees. Read more: http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/03/20/survey-nigerians-most-educated-in-the-u-s.html. Majority of these Nigerians are certainly NOT washing dishes or driving taxis. They are in highly skilled jobs, with above average salaries.

Regardless of where it is, people will move to find opportunities. That is why inspite of our insecurity, lack of power and corruption, a lot of expatriates STILL come to Nigeria. When they decide to leave, as some will inevitably do, it will NOT be because we deported them or because they were tired of 'washing our toilets'. It will because they have decided to move.

It is all about opportunities. If you can find such 'opporchos' in your fatherland, all the better.

You spoke my mind. As for me, I'm almost done with this country. In the next 5-7years, my time will be up and I'm leaving. I'll just visit U.S. on regular basis, probably 2/3x a year, that's it. When I get to Nigeria, it's for "GREATER" opportunities, not because I'm washing plate, fu/ck NO; change my career from finance to aviation. Love to fly those planes, with VLJ now in the current market and with Nigeria's aviation industry expanding, there's hope. At least, I'm not looking to work for someone but my own - small airplane charter

justwise:

Dust

Like u. U are mere knuckleheaded dust that is living deludedly in oyinbo,s world.

chreld_b: Personally I think almost everyone that has commented on this thread so far has some good points and are relatively correct (different strokes for different folks). In my own opinion, if you are a Nigerian (raised in Nigeria), it is better to settle in Nigeria in the long run but foreign exposure is absolutely necessary. it is a big mistake to assume that relocating from Nigeria to a more developed country equates to a happier life and access to greener pastures. If that is where an individual lays their hope on then they are almost hopeless. if you choose to go abroad (a better developed country) for the purpose of exposure, furthering your education, getting abreast with modern trends e.t.c in whatever career or occupation you choose to be involved in with the aim of adding value to and developing yourself then your on track. But if you relocate as a result of frustration with the happenings in the country (which i cant blame anyone for doing @ this point in time) then you are simply gambling and may most likely return in the same frustration that made you run away in the first place. Bottomline diaspora no be heaven o and Nigeria no be hell to. if you know what your doing, you will know what to do

Yes thats it. Definitely.

There aint no party like lagos party. Nigeria is a free country. U fit dey blast GBEDU at the highest volume, nobody fit arrest u. U fit make ur generator face another mans house, no police go arrest u. Even if u Bleep an underage girl, nothing dey happen. U fit get as many wife as possible, na ur money kill am, U fit born 6 pikin of 6 different mothers(2 face ll ve more to say on dat) no shaking. I really love this country. To make am for Naija no be beans o! We go gather make am here ni.

bobbyjabo:

This comment makes alot of sense.the only Achievement majority of Nigerians in diaspora can boast of is EXPOSURE...in my opinion,only the wise ones makes that bold step to relocate back home.

Let me help you re-phrase your statement so you can get a different perspective of your own argument/logic:

"the only Achievement majority of Nigerians in cities can boast of is EXPOSURE ...in my opinion, only the wise ones makes that bold step to relocate back to the villages.

How does that sound to you? Oya, we are waiting for you to relocate back to your village. Dont forget to take your 'exposure' along with you. And make sure you dont loose it (exposure) along the way o! cos that's the only thing you have over your village counterparts.

justwise:

This is a narrow minded view, not everybody that relocated were happy with the move, some went back to the west after some times.

Many Nigerians have made other countries their 'home' and still visit Nigeria to invest and for other reasons, refusing to move permanently does not make them unwise, rather does it mean that they are unpatriotic.

Nigeria is my home by default, that does not mean that i will live and die there, wherever i found myself and happy is where i call 'home'.

Yea you right..I guess you have a pretty good job you doing wherever in oversea you are...speak for yourself brof,but you know there alot of people in oversea that wake up at 6.00am in that cold weather to go and wash toilet or resume in kitchen or carer house.Would you say there lifes is better of if they were in Nigeria?

justwise:

You are obviously got no clue what you are talking about.

How does coming back to Nigeria makes one genuine and authentic? Your views are still some 70yrs behind.

He still dey 19th Century LOL

bobbyjabo:

Yea you right..I guess you have a pretty good job you doing wherever in oversea you are...speak for yourself brof,but you know there alot of people in oversea that wake up at 6.00am in that cold weather to go and wash toilet or resume in kitchen or carer house.Would you say there lifes is better of if they were in Nigeria?

Waking up @ 6am in the morning is "STANDARD" for most folks, getting to work in the cold is usual for folks as well. It's unfortunate that they do odd jobs, but they should hang in there for something better. Life is better anywhere in as long as you plan it.

@ blackbody aka yohooboi. i hail. Continue to spoil things for innocent genuine nigerians u here? people like you are the Nigerians that give Nigerians a bad name worldwide. Am sorry but yahoo boys irritate me because they think they are smart. but little do the know that they are imbeciles. However, I stand to be corrected

Da Mayor:

Thats not true. Isnt Nigeria our country again? so person no fit just say "I want to go home"? You make it sound like they had no other choice. Theres plenty of good reasons to go HOME.

Ooh it is true. Classicalman is right! 2BH, no matter how much noise pple make about, "come back home this, come back home that". Reaally don't think pple would yet. Don't get me wrong, that message has deffo been heard loud and clear. Its already making some pple actually consider it.but know of pple that actually thought, sure..why not. Only to come bak and run away again in after the 3rd week or so.
Some pple are just not ready yet to live less than the way they've been living all in the name of, "fake patriotism". The country should try match the way things are over there. And the country would sell itself.

And at the same time, u lot shouldn't try to demonise or try to paint in black the life in those countries. Cos, must say, pple who have papers and no of the opportunities available to every legal/legit nigga, know how funny some of u lot are AMD they're simply smiling, shaking their heads.

Be Real brraaaaa! And open ya mind!

efe22: He still dey 19th Century LOL

Ur time havent kicked off. Pre-evolution.

bobbyjabo:

Yea you right..I guess you have a pretty good job you doing wherever in oversea you are...speak for yourself brof,but you know there alot of people in oversea that wake up at 6.00am in that cold weather to go and wash toilet or resume in kitchen or carer house.Would you say there lifes is better of if they were in Nigeria?

You have a good argument. However, it is also true that a lot of people wake up at 4.00am in Lagos just to be a molue conductor or sell Gala on Falomo bridge. Would you say their lives are better than every village dweller? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on which villager you are comparing them with, and it depends on what options would be available to them if they returned to the village.

Some people want to be in Lagos just for the heck of it. A fairly decent choice that we must all respect. Many others are in Lagos because they are actively supporting younger ones and aged parents in the village by waking up at 4.00am either to sell Gala - or work in a Bank. Hence, the same way people get up by 6.00am just to get to work in New York, London or Toronto....and they still support people back home in Nigeria, regardless of their skill level or salary. There is no option that is better or best. It all depends on the individual and his unique circumstance.

Where you live, work or call your home is a matter of choice or circumstances. Its not where you are from, but where you are -that really matters in the long run. Otherwise, most of us should vacate the towns and cities where we live/work today and relocate to our ancestral villages or hamlets. Are some diasporans better of in Nigeria? Most definitely. Are some Nigerian city hustlers better of in their villages? Most definitely.

Every choice in life has its consequences.