Hi everyone I hope I have posted this in the right section . I just want your opinions on this matter... I am a British woman very happily married to a nigerian man he is ikwerre, we have four children together. We currently live in the UK and are planning to relocate to portharcourt next Christmas my husband is into export business so money will not be an issue. My question is how is a white British woman accepted in Nigeria we will be moving to his village not far from PH.
I trust my husband that this is a good move as I am fed up with UK work to just pay bills only and owning house in UK is a joke as government can sell if you get sick or die.
I would just like to know if I will be accepted in Nigeria?
I am pretty much submerged into your culture I cook every kind of soup stew and rice dish. In fact in our house we eat mostly Nigerian food I am also aware of the cultural differences. We are both born again Christians too I know God is everywhere so I have faith that this move will work out by his grace.
Any contributions on my post would be very much appreciated... Thanks in advance

Very nice. Successful relationships like urs delights God. It shows clearly ure a woman that fears God and wants to see that ur hubby successful in all his endeavours. However, u might be in for a huge cultural shock in d first few months when u come. I know u know ur hubby well. In coming to 9ja u have to trust and protect ur husband. Protection from principalities and powers, glorified prostitutes, negative talks, etc. You'll need to pray a lot more. U'll probably think that God is a Nigerian going by the miracles u'll see around u daily. In 9ja respect is d key. It will break down tough doors. Once ure submissive to ur hubby and greet everyone u see warmly(young and old), they'll move mountains for u in ur time of need. Cos of u ur hubby will find immense favour. Ur enemy will respect u and in turn ur husband cos of u. Show urself to be with all humility. Show that u care. If ur hubby has d money then help him invest it in God. Help the needy around u, sick, destitutes and extended family members. In 9ja its not just ur family anymore but rather his whole extended family. U need to know how to manage ur hubby, children, extended family, church family and neighbourhood family. Sometimes it seems daunting but since God's got ur back I have no doubt in my mind u'll be successful and have lots of great time.

@OP: Nigerians always tend to make foreigners feel at home, and I'm sure most Nigerians will go out of their way to make you feel welcome in Nigeria. It would be a huge culture shock when compared to the UK especially with regards to the erratic power supply, security issues, corruption, abysmal healthcare services e.t.c; but if you can manage these issues, you should do fine living in Nigeria.

Frontpage please. Mods, Seun etc. Let's celebrate those that do us proud. Thank you.

Thank you for your time and reply it is a very useful contribution especially the respect and humility aspect I know that is a bit part of your culture and it is scriptural of course this is something I have had to work on in our marriage and my walk with God.
In the UK I currently attend redeemed and have started to train in pastoral work in the community here so anything we do in Nigeria must definitely involve God's work who knows what he has in store for us spiritually?
At the moment the service I am running is aimed at Caucasians as they find it easy to relate with me as I am also Caucasian.
I hear in Nigeria getting people to church is not a problem here it is the opposite we are trying hard to evangelise and win souls.
God bless you for your replies

Thanks Claremont

That's good to know I know the electricity issue may be a shock and difference in health care etc. I am looking to live there not as British but as a Nigerian and blend.

@ op....its good to embrace your husband's culture but don't lose your own sense of you. Your children have dual heritage give them the British side too? You won't be able to blend in even Children of two Nigerian parents can not blend in but that's OK. I would suggest that you straddle to worlds. The expat world and the Nigerian world.

By the way are you settling down in Portharcourt? I was on another site today for expats and there was a lady from UK, husband from PH and children. She was thinking about moving to Abuja though.

I strongly suggest taking a few trips to ease yourself in to a life in Nigeria and make expat friends as well as Nigerian friends.

@op, I don't think you'll find it difficult relocating to PH. There are a lot of whites in PH and Calabar so you don't feel otherwise, but I still prefer Calabar to PH because of its environs. I hope this will help.

Op there is a very strong trend of people relocating to Nigeria at the moment, many with no ancestral links to Nigeria at all.

Welcome to the garden city, you will love every bit of the excitement.

First and foremost get registered in a good hospital as you may encounter malaria, the weather is quite humid so ensure you drink a lot of water. There are lots of good private schools so the children will have a lot of options. Try not to show off wealth is the secret to living in Nigeria. Don't get latest model cars even if it must be brand new, pick like 3 years back. Since you are a christian, the holy spirit will guide accordingly in all things.

Welcome to my city,

PS, Port Harcourt is currently quite filthy and has quite a bit of power outtage so also plan towards that by maintaining high levels of personal hygiene and getting an inverter and also rechargeable fans.

oyibonaija, its no problem moving to naija... you will easily have friends from your church.

the first challenges are malaria and culture-shock.

So I advise you plan to come here for a month at a stretch several times before you finally move. Put the children into consideration too

otokx:
Welcome to the garden city, you will love every bit of the excitement.

First and foremost get registered in a good hospital as you may encounter malaria, the weather is quite humid so ensure you drink a lot of water. There are lots of good private schools so the children will have a lot of options. Try not to show off wealth is the secret to living in Nigeria. Don't get latest model cars even if it must be brand new, pick like 3 years back. Since you are a christian, the holy spirit will guide accordingly in all things.

Welcome to my city,

PS, Port Harcourt is currently quite filthy and has quite a bit of power outtage so also plan towards that by maintaining high levels of personal hygiene and getting an inverter and also rechargeable fans.

Nawo oooh

Thanks for the advice we will be living just outside of P.H for now and regarding cars etc I am lucky that my husband had always been a man that doesn't like to show off anyway so we won't be driving a new car as such.

Nah wa ooh for what lol it is true what he said and the holy spirit always guides us in all things.

U re welcome to Nigeria any day anytime, @OP u will like it here in Nigeria. Rivers state is a riverine state and boasts a lot of rainfall during the year like London so u might not find that strange, alot of fresh sea foods for ur pleasure, friendly people, quite a number of good schools for ur kids, make ur husband's family members ur friends and u will have a swell time here. Hope this helps. All the best.

oyibonaija:
Thanks for the advice we will be living just outside of P.H for now and regarding cars etc I am lucky that my husband had always been a man that doesn't like to show off anyway so we won't be driving a new car as such.

I am sorry to digress from other peoples advice here. I work with expatriates from different countries of origin here in Port Harcourt. There are over a thousand of them here. None of them move around freely. I repeat NONE! They all have to pay for mobile police officers or sometimes soldiers to escort them around. Even with the presence of armed security they still do not mingle with people freely because of fear of attacks and kidnap. Once your skin is white here you become an easy target. Its very rare to see whites in public place like markets, bars etc without escort. And if you happen to be kidnapped you pay millions to get released. I would not advice you to live here. It was in the past they enjoyed freedom of movement. Even where they live is heavily guarded and somewhat hidden mostly within their work place.
However whenever any of these expatriates get to Lagos they do not need any escort. They move around town very freely. You see them driving themselves in Lagos. So Lagos is better for you. Or be ready to spend a fortune on security.

oyibonaija:
Hi everyone I hope I have posted this in the right section . I just want your opinions on this matter... I am a British woman very happily married to a nigerian man he is ikwerre, we have four children together. We currently live in the UK and are planning to relocate to portharcourt next Christmas my husband is into export business so money will not be an issue. My question is how is a white British woman accepted in Nigeria we will be moving to his village not far from PH.
I trust my husband that this is a good move as I am fed up with UK work to just pay bills only and owning house in UK is a joke as government can sell if you get sick or die.
I would just like to know if I will be accepted in Nigeria?
I am pretty much submerged into your culture I cook every kind of soup stew and rice dish. In fact in our house we eat mostly Nigerian food I am also aware of the cultural differences. We are both born again Christians too I know God is everywhere so I have faith that this move will work out by his grace.
Any contributions on my post would be very much appreciated... Thanks in advance

I will suggest that your husband moves with you to Abuja. Thats a much saner and safer city. Then take a few trips to Port Harcourt to see things for yourself. We Nigerians treat the foreigners amongst us well. Even if they are from our neighbours i mean Ghana Benin and ECOWAS countries.

rhames:


I will suggest that your husband moves with you to Abuja. Thats a much saner and safer city. Then take a few trips to Port Harcourt to see things for yourself. We Nigerians treat the foreigners amongst us well. Even if they are from our neighbours i mean Ghana Benin and ECOWAS countries.

Lets not over stretch the truth, foreigners are not really safe in Nigeria especially a white person

justwise:
[/b]

Lets not over stretch the truth, foreigners are not really safe in Nigeria especially a white person

I work with some here in Abuja and I know that for sure they are safe here.

rhames:


I work with some here in Abuja and I know that for sure they are safe here.

Abuja and PH are not the same

justwise:


Abuja and PH are not the same

Thats the reason i recommended Abuja in the first place.

What of calabar?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dRXc3yd1DA

Why I Moved Back To Nigeria

Horus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dRXc3yd1DA

Why I Moved Back To Nigeria

Did this girl just call Nigeria a growing country?

calm down it's just 8 months living in a family house

justwise:

Did this girl just call Nigeria a growing country?
calm down it's just 8 months living in a family house

What should she call it?

Pidgin2:


What should she call it?

Stagnant?

justwise:

Stagnant?

Lol, okay, if that's what you think

Pidgin2:


Lol, okay, if that's what you think

Stating the fact

justwise:


Stating the fact

Of course, as someone that has been around Nigeria in 2 to 3 weeks, I believe you

Pidgin2:


Of course, as someone that has been around Nigeria in 2 to 3 weeks , I believe you

As someone that was born in Nigeria and lived there as an adult before traveling more than 10yrs ago.

Nothing significant has changed during my two weeks stay in Nigeria. The same issues I knew of before leaving years ago.

justwise:


As someone that was born in Nigeria and lived there as an adult before traveling more than 10yrs ago.

So? You only come for visits.

Have you been to all 36 States since you arrived 2 weeks ago?