Klass99:


What your Ghanaian friend did is something I wish I had known earlier or younger me had done sooner (i.e. the aggressive saving then investing, towards an early retirement) Too bad I don't earn in foreign currency like him, the naira go slow runs for me.

What the oyinbo man did, is a realization I came to last year when Covid happened and we were in lockdown. I realized (Klass) you can retire early and not continue this rat race, I realized this work and quench mentality or work till retirement age, doesn't have to be your story or reality.

seunny4lif:
I returned to Nigeria 5 years ago
Worst decision ever

I know a lot of the people that returned home after getting good money from those Countries but most don run back or to other countries.
Going back to Nigeria is sweet if your families are rich

Smile4mee01:
Most Nigerians youth would fancy traveling abroad to better their lives, which is not a bad thing. In fact, some people's lives have changed for the better only because they traveled out of Nigeria.

However, this thread is about those who chose to return home for reasons such as
1. Inability to get legal papers to continue to reside there.
2. Personal choice
3. Better Job offers
And by Abroad, I mean developed “1st world countries “like USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany etc

As a Nigerian in Diaspora myself, one of my good friends (We both in our 30s’) who is Ghanaian is ready to go back to his country. He has been very frugal here saving over $100,000 cash/yr for the past 3 yrs. He says he has dedicated 3yrs of his life to working so he can set himself up for life. He worked as a health care support worker, taking care of the disabled and aged ppl, a job many people will consider dirty. His plan includes buying affordable rental real estate that can generate passive income. And retire at age 50. He is also good with stock trading and does that to generate some money on the side, something he can do anywhere in the world. He has plans to also go into politics as he feels he can impact his hometown.

Some of his concerns include:
1. Inclusion: Despite how well-spoken and intelligent he is, he never feels like he belongs here especially when he is being racially profiled.
2. Women are Powerful here. I have known this guy for a while and he is a decent Christian, but by marrying her he could lose everything he has worked for if things go south. The government does not want to know who is right or wrong oo, they would cut your assets and leave you to pay child support.
3. Loss of culture: He fears when he has kids, his children will lose a sense of their culture and tradition
4. Old age: Old age here can be scary too, especially when you grew up in Africa where we have a family-orientated family structure. When you are old here and can't support yourself. Families dump their aged parents in aged care facilities. Not the fault of the kids but it's how the system is run.

Anyway, I was wondering why don’t Nigerian’s dream the same dream. Some Nigerians turn out to be very successful abroad, but many are just living paycheck to paycheck and would be better off returning home where the money has much more value. 1USD = N505. Or is Nigeria so bad, that opportunities don’t lie in it? Remember the Indians, Chinese come here to take advantage.

I must give credit to Nigerians. We dey Hustle. God. Nigerians dey try.

It was when I met a 40yr old oyinbo that has retired that I started thinking deep that there is more to life than working working working.
Haven said all these, I know my country and the many issues we have. Security, healthcare, family or village people, etc. but Still, Are many Nigerians not better off going back home with all they have saved Abroad. Let's not forget, Banky W, Tinubu, Tiwa savage, Some Top Bank executives, and corporate ppl all returned home. Had they remained abroad, they could still have been just ok but maybe not as successful.
So this takes me back to the question

Nigerians who returned from Abroad, Any regret?

Moderator : Abeg front Page. Thank you

AlphaLion:

My people, don’t allow some persons deceive you. The west is a complete capitalist society and it even reflects in senior care.
What this person failed to mention is the number of homeless old people littered everywhere in the abroad that government has ignored.
Even the old people’s homes are of different grades. You will only be taken care of according to how your pocket can provide for you. If your money no reach, you are on your own. And you know it’s not hard to be homeless in the west.

If you want to spend your last days in an old people’s home, start saving money now so you can afford a home with excellent care. Or else…

AlphaLion:

My people, don’t allow some persons deceive you. The west is a complete capitalist society and it even reflects in senior care.
What this person failed to mention is the number of homeless old people littered everywhere in the abroad that government has ignored.
Even the old people’s homes are of different grades. You will only be taken care of according to how your pocket can provide for you. If your money no reach, you are on your own. And you know it’s not hard to be homeless in the west.

If you want to spend your last days in an old people’s home, start saving money now so you can afford a home with excellent care. Or else…

erico2k2:

This is how you know those that jst got abroad or dont even have a visa,
the homeless persons are homeless by choice and they have drug problems. Homelessness is actually a sickness attributed to ones mental state!

Klass99:


@ The bold, in doing my research on how to quit the rat race one article said to do it effectively - you'll need monthly income from non-job sources which exceeds your monthly expenses

In my mind I was like, why don't they teach these things in school? Or why do our parents not teach financial literacy in the best way they can? Na to dey groom person for marriage only, we sabi for Africa.

I know 4 people who returned home after about 10, 13 and 9yrs overseas.

Tony 9 years in the UK - said he got tired of the system and systemic racism he occasionally encountered. He was just one year from acquiring his residency and people advised him to hang in there for one more year before returning to Naija........but he said he was so fed up another year would have felt like Yaba left to him

Mike 13 years in the UK - said everything worked right, the system, infrastructures were efficient, the govt wasn't an inept one etc, but he would never be rich there as much as he would be in Naija. So, he came home.......plus he was ready to marry and as a traditional Igbo man to the core I'm not sure any foreign based women would have worked for him, whether black or white.

Amanda, 4 years in the UK then another 5 in France - said she returned because we have a strong network of family & friends relationships here, unlike overseas and she really missed that. According to her if you need 10k, 20 or more there's no way your family or friends won't raise that money for you, even if the 20k comes from 4 different people (as in, 5k from each person) But, overseas if you need like £2 OYO will be your case. Plus, she wanted to give back to her community in Naija.

Alex 6 years in............I can't remember the country again , came back because he felt his life was too regimented by bills. According to him he couldn't do much after paying every damn bill, he never had enough left over to just chill or do nice things for himself the way he could in Naija.

He said in Naija, you can pay bills and still have enough left over to travel, lavishly hang out with your guys, assist others who need financial help etc His hands were pretty much tied when it came to these activities overseas.

All of these people are doing well and I haven't heard or detected a trace of regret from any of them.

erico2k2:

Returning bck to 9ja is a gradual process, you must be set, at least have house, cars and a passionate business and enough capital

MeghaneMorgane:
For anyone who goes abroad, the aim should not be to stay there and just live your live there. The aim should be to get citizenship and save enough money that you can use to invest back in Nigeria

The citizenship part is for the sake of your future children. You want to give them as much opportunities as possible for them to succeed easily without stress, and of course 1st world countries offer this.

After getting your citizenship, you can decide to return and then be shuttling the two countries. Doing business in Nigeria as well as over there abroad.

There are some people abroad that actually have big plans for Nigeria but first they must sort themselves out by securing the citizenship.

Botking:
It all depends how much you have saved so far

And another thing, make sure you bring your westerner wife and children back home when you're returning

Beloved3:


Nice one Klass. Very educative as usual.

Just a little note from me.
Tony really should have stayed one more year and gotten the citizenship. What he did was like refusing to climax after all the hard work.

I have a friend too who has got UK citizenship. He's been there for years. He recently sold his house over there (paid for completely through mortgage) and came to Nigeria to build a very spacious duplex.

He then set up a business in Owerri which didn't yield much returns. So he came back to the UK and worked for a year and gathered more money.

He's still looking to go back to Nigeria and establish again.

Being a citizen gives him the leverage to be able to shuffle between UK and Nigeria depending on his needs.

By the way Klass, which is the exact idea of retirement that you envision? Is it to have your own business as means of income or to have passive incomes from a stream of investments

Lamanii22:
I haven't even boarded a plane before but then I'd love to read other people's comments...

Smile4mee01:


He works as a disability support worker and aged care support. It means he cares for those who live with disability, some people dont like to do it. But my guy no send. He makes his money, and can use that as capital to set himself up in Ghana for life.

He also lives miserly, drives a cheap car, lives in a cheap area.

Let's just say he is blessed with delayed gratification, he would rather live like this today and live a good life in his country.

MeghaneMorgane:
For anyone who goes abroad, the aim should not be to stay there and just live your live there. The aim should be to get citizenship and save enough money that you can use to invest back in Nigeria

The citizenship part is for the sake of your future children. You want to give them as much opportunities as possible for them to succeed easily without stress, and of course 1st world countries offer this. God bless you for this comment of yours. I am 36 years old and a state civil servant whose salary is poor to kick off a family in this turbulent Buhari era. I intend to study in the UK soon. With this remarks of yours, I am strong. It gives me a great strength and optimism. Thanks.

After getting your citizenship, you can decide to return and then be shuttling the two countries. Doing business in Nigeria as well as over there abroad.

There are some people abroad that actually have big plans for Nigeria but first they must sort themselves out by securing the citizenship.

FreeStuffsNG:

All the folks I know that have this your mentality are from dysfunctional families here in Nigeria so when they leave, they don't come back cos they literally have no family and their foreign hosts know .
In fact, about 4 of them came home to only bury their parents. Like I told one, you reap what you sow in life.
Being wealthy is different from being rich. Most Nigerians in the West think they are rich but certainly they are not wealthy

AlphaLion:

My people, don’t allow some persons deceive you. The west is a complete capitalist society and it even reflects in senior care.
What this person failed to mention is the number of homeless old people littered everywhere in the abroad that government has ignored.
Even the old people’s homes are of different grades. You will only be taken care of according to how your pocket can provide for you. If your money no reach, you are on your own. And you know it’s not hard to be homeless in the west.

If you want to spend your last days in an old people’s home, start saving money now so you can afford a home with excellent care. Or else…

seunny4lif:
Lol
Business is this Nigeria?

Why will I come back to Nigeria when I have my families here.
When am old, I can be taking care of my grandchildren.
Retired people are the one who travelled out most on holiday.