₦airaland Forum

Gerrard59:
Apparently, there are too many. Ednut1 already exposed him. Honestly, if I were in Nigeria, I would be extremely glad people are leaving the country. It is an opportunity to amass many assets at low prices. You think I would create threads discouraging people from relocating? Me that is a ruthless capitalist?

BTW, his ally of him with something oilandgas tried Express Entry, did not succeed and thus, became anti-japa. They should make their money quietly and purchase any citizenship of their choice. if they want.

All of us go jam for front.

shegzhkn:
Lol, ok you win.

truthsayer009:
See the link that explains it all here: https:// twitter.com/ DoubleEph/status/1083676925116248064

He allegedly also has an Irish passport.

Copy it and remove the blanks.

emmaodet:
Which one is Saint kitt again?

My brother did Solomon island passport which allows him enter Canada visa free but it looks the person that did it gave us dagbo

Studymore123:
Oga, calm down.....it's not by calling people names.

You wrote a lot of things and even took it personal but the question is: Do people really discourage others from travelling?

It's good if we separate facts from emotion. The sad reality is most Nigerians cannot travel. Most want to travel but are unable to do so, that's why travelling agents cash out big time. It's people like you that encourage others to waste their money instead of facing realities

The fact remains that Nobody can or is able to stop others. That others have a different perspective from yours doesn't translate to discouraging others. For example I just saw a thread of a guy that travelled through brazil to end up in the US. Others are on the same route, that's to tell you the mindset of the average Nigerian It's clear from your posts that you're not in Nigeria otherwise you'll save yourself those epistles. People are taking drastic steps and risking their lives but you're just focusing on others as if you have personal issues with them.
What I encourage others is if you have the opportunity to travel do so but don't endanger your life or waste your resources.

If you so much want others to travel out of the country, it's not by stating it online and insulting others. Make moves, educate others, give them the needed information and funds. That's what counts for me and not writing long epistles as if what you wrote would translate to visa issuance for others. There've been several people like you that "shout" online but when a new traveler will reach out to them in the new country, they'll refuse to pick calls

Gerrard59:
I feel I should try to elucidate some things with my little knowledge on migration:

- Individuals should understand that at the end of the day, your finances (aka money) is more important than the destination. You can have all the dreams (anyone can dream) but to actualise those dreams, you need the money. Mere sending documents via courier costs a lot and you might be required to send more than once. Another expense is English proficiency tests, I keep reading folks who ask about the possibility of getting admission without writing these tests (GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL etc) but you need to understand schools who would waive these tests (majority do now because of Covid-19) are low ranking, won't offer scholarships and will be expensive. The last thing I can advise a black African to do is to attend a low ranking institution abroad, don't compare yourself to blacks there who are citizens. Is it bank balance statement? Flight tickets? Living expenses? School fees? Quarantine period expenses? Tests' costs? So, everything boils to money. Start saving rigorously but do so in dollars (I got to know this hack from Kemi Onabanjo - associate partner @McKinsey&Co who went to INSEAD, France - who saved the bulk of her school fees in dollars before devaluation occured five years ago as a result of decline in crude oil prices) not naira, and save under your pillow. Emefiele aka Meffy has been very funny. .

- Study the countries' route to citizenship (the outright goal for many here, I believe). The longer it takes, the more discouraging. A country like Switzerland should not be on your radar but Austria should. Policies can change but you should be strategic and think long term. However, in some cases, you can aim to study in a Country A and use the degree to work in Country B whose route to citizenship is easier. Does not sound easy but hey, nothing good comes easy. For instance, we know schooling in Canada is expensive (the person I know who finished there has uncles working in ExxonMobil & Shell) and the requirements from the embassy is one of a kind. Mind you, 8 out of 10 students are denied student visas (https://qz.com/africa/1708714/canada-rejects-most-african-student-visa-applicants/). But if your aim is to work/live in Canada, you could do that by aiming to get a graduate program that is fully funded in the US, preferably a top university. Finish from there and apply for jobs in Canada. Why the US for graduate studies? The US is the number one country in funding grad students, a place where the higher education system is well developed and has disproportionately the highest number of top universities globally according to the top three higher education ranking agencies (ARWU, QS & THEducation). Canada does not fund grad students as much as the US esp in MSc courses. Like I said, target top universities. A degree from Cornell University would not be downgraded irrespective of the colour of your skin or nationality (quotas might exist). But remember, to get a funded position in most US universities, you need to write the GRE, GMAT &/or TOEFL, so get ready.

Best wishes!

On the issue of 2nd passport. It has benefits but doesn't translate to travel. Travelling requires time and money. Many Americans doesn't have a passport and for those who do about 10% have been to 10 or more countries That tells you that only a few really travel.

Lets state facts and stop getting emotional over trivial issues.

Gerrard59:
You think I should condone hypocrites?

YOU SEE THAT THING? i WILL CALL OUT THE HYPOCRISY!

Studymore123:
In my ethics class, I learned that we’re all hypocrites in different ways so I know everyone got a measure of hypocrisy but let’s leave that aside.

Absolutely, you have every right to take on hypocrites. At least we have freedom of speech, so everyone is free to express their likes or dislikes. My post was not an attack on you per se but just stating facts.

Everyone knows that the US is far better than Nigeria, so if anyone is giving a contrary view, I look at the issue dispassionately and at individual circumstances. I was a guest speaker in a travel conference and that opened my eyes in the business opportunities in that industry.

The elite will always have their way. In an area I lived in PH, most of the residents have their children in foreign schools, they can afford it with ease and the children gain residency of those countries and that’s how the cycle moves.
The average Nigerian though is living from hand to mouth, so where will he get the millions to migrate, I tell such ones you better learn an in-demand skill or go and farm. The stories of grass to grace is diminishing. 80% of the Nigerians working in the big companies abroad come from wealthy families or already had good jobs in Nigeria.
I was a uni dropout and while in school, all the Nigerians I knew had parents who were doing very well but you won’t know if you’re not close to them. The others were those who had scholarships and “hacked” their way through the system.

The world is not fair, you have to “hack” your way in this life. I’ve worked in 3 continents and gained valuable insights through observation and interaction that “life nor balance”. In a matter of days, I’m done with Nigeria but have contributed my part to national development.

I must acknowledge there’re many smart Nigerians who have no business been in Nigeria. I’ll advice them, don’t give up, but for the majority that keep making us to have have long visa wait times I’ll say plan for your kids future and stop wasting your funds.

I’m not against you or anyone attacking anyone but what counts more is creating a positive impact in the lives of others. Please keep doing so.

One of the ways we do so was creating japachronicles .com

gforce5:
You have a point you know. Immigration is an expensive affair. Only a few can afford it Majority of the working class and poor cannot afford to Japa. However, it's not bad trying to encourage people to create options for themselves IF they can. Life is very unfair to the less privileged.

tensazangetsu20:
The thing with immigration from a Nigerian perspective is that everyone is always aiming the popular, expensive and competitive countries. There are a lot of countries with very strong passports that are still very affordable to move to even for people without Enough money.

ajsans:
Would you be kind to list the countries and an estimate of the cost it would take please.

Thank you.

tensazangetsu20:
Google is there to research bros.

Studymore123:
Bros, when I was thinking you will give me tips to shoot my shot, you said I should use Google.

pansophist:
Fun fact.

If Ecowas was not created when Nigeria was still a good country, even our neighbor Benin republic will require a visa from us. We don too cast. If you remove Ecowas countries from the list, then you will realize that Nigerians are actually locked up and can't go anywhere meaningful.

Please japa if you can, but please don't go to Canada, it is too cold, dark and boring. Every other place is fine.

tensazangetsu20:
Isn't Scandinavia also like this. I don't think people care about loneliness or all that crap. Canada comes second after the USA in terms of economic opportunities and thats what matters to most immigrants.

pansophist:
Well, I just like to jab Canada once, no take am seriously. Scandinavia is equally cold, but it's better than Canada by far. It is not that expensive for one, and it is the welfare state. The government goes give you so much money you go tired. Free education, free healthcare, and cheaper housing. Also, Scandinavia is connected to Europe proper, so flights to southern Europe are inexpensive and plentiful. It's about the overall package.

tensazangetsu20:
The thing with immigration from a Nigerian perspective is that everyone is always aiming the popular, expensive and competitive countries. There are a lot of countries with very strong passports that are still very affordable to move to even for people without Enough money.

tensazangetsu20:
Yeah of all the western countries na only UK I no fancy. Would even prefer staying back in Nigeria than moving to the UK if UK was the only japa option.

gforce5:
Yeah, UK is not an easy place. Lived there for like twelve and a half years. Taxes are too high. It was easier when Labour was in power. Conservatives have set that country back 20 years. Still do back and forth as my extended family lives there. Ireland, surprisingly, is a better option if you are looking for UK style education and lifestyle. They are still in the EU and cost of living is slightly cheaper than the UK. Right now, with the current immigration climate, it's best to go to countries that are more lax and flexible such as Brazil, Argentina, Finland or even France. US, Canada and Australia are too competitive and expensive if you don't have enough funds.

tensazangetsu20:
High taxes, atrocious salaries, and insane living costs. Makes absolutely no sense to move to the UK. Replace Argentina with Uruguay and France with Chile or Mexico.

gforce5:
Yes, the UK's wave of popularity was 15-20 years ago. Now, it's too stressful. Is Uruguay easier than Argentina? I thought that they were the same. My only issue with Mexico is the high crime rate and political instability. There's a reason why so many Mexicans are heading towards the U.S. on a daily basis.

Gerrard59:
My point is, people would always migrate as long as the economic reason makes sense for them to do it. They can decide to return or not. This your boss mindset is your personal opinion. Some people are not interested in being entrepreneurs, earn well, and that is enough. I have stated in the last sentence that many would be employees, not employers. This belief that everyone must be an entrepreneur is the reason POS stalls outnumber hospitals in Nigeria. Why? cReAtE a bUsInEsS. I was part of the interview coaching assessment where a man in his mid-30s came for prep to be interviewed at Sahara Group. This man studied at one of the federal universities in the South West and did his MSc and PhD at the University of Georgia. To you, since he is returning to Nigeria, he must start his own energy company. That is not how it is done elsewhere. There will always be more employees than employers. Even the Sahara Group sef was co-founded by a man - Tonye Cole - who japa'd to Brazil to do his MSc in Architecture even though his dad was a one-time ambassador.

BTW, middle age people that came back? The man I mentioned who studied at Cambridge returned and started his business. Others decided to work in Nigerian companies either as expats or Nigerian nationals. Every mallam to his kettle. About Ezra and Shola, they honed their skills and made it. However, their contemporaries are also leaving so that they attain those citizenships and currently work in top firms in the abroad. It is their choice to remain there or not. Whether they become boss or not is their personal problem. Ezra and Shola as they are can decide to buy Grendaian citizenship as they have the money (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/12/10/wealthy-nigerians-buying-citizenship-overseas), but should the next Tom and Harry wait till they blow? Again, Ezra and Shola are entrepreneurs who made it, but what about the numerous others who will be employees? Should they not utilise the opportunity when it is available? Without sounding like a broken record, many will return, give it time. Unless you want to propose a bill prohibiting diasporans from returning to Nigeria. But hey, that bill has to pass through Mr Femi of the HoR, who once studied and worked in the US.

gforce5:
Dear young Nigerians aged 35 and below, I cannot stress the importance of acquiring a second passport from a functional society. In this era of globalization and technology, the freedom to travel without any restriction cannot be overestimated. It doesn't mean that you have to abandon Nigeria totally for another country. It's about having options to make life easier for you. Nigerians often brag that all you need is money and everything else falls in line. That's not totally true. Yes, money helps make life easier but it's not enough. The way foreign countries are treating Nigerian passport holders this days, money is immaterial. They don't rate your money at all. Even Dangote himself, the richest black man in the world, complained a few years ago that with all his money, he needs a visa to travel everywhere within his own continent.

Benefits of dual nationality: With a second passport, you have visa-free access to most countries in the world. No more queuing a foreign embassies and thereby subjecting yourself to rubbish. Being a dual national means that you have an option. A plan B if you like, in case you are fed up with the situation in Nigeria. That backup plan is very important with the state of the country. You can also transfer citizenship to your children and grandchildren thereby ensuring that your descendants future is secured. They will be very grateful for what you have done for them. Many parents in the 70s and 80s didn't take advantage of those opportunities and they are now regretting their actions. Having a second passport is also good for business and career advancement as you can travel anywhere for business, conferences and job opportunities without restrictions.

So, young people, if you have the opportunity, try and acquire a second passport either by JAPA or investing a significant amount of money to get one. Don't listen to people telling you to just focus on making and spending money in Nigeria. These people are short-sighted and are unable to see the big picture. There's a reason why a lot of the 1% are now acquiring second passports from countries such as St Kitts. Most politicians have second passports. You think they are fools? Saraki will never relinquish his British passport in the name of patriotism. Do you think that Ben Bruce Mr. "grow the naira" would renounce his US citizenship for Nigeria? Many rich people envy those with dual nationality as they don't have the same limitations as those without one have.

gforce5:
Dear young Nigerians aged 35 and below, I cannot stress the importance of acquiring a second passport from a functional society. In this era of globalization and technology, the freedom to travel without any restriction cannot be overestimated. It doesn't mean that you have to abandon Nigeria totally for another country. It's about having options to make life easier for you. Nigerians often brag that all you need is money and everything else falls in line. That's not totally true. Yes, money helps make life easier but it's not enough. The way foreign countries are treating Nigerian passport holders this days, money is immaterial. They don't rate your money at all. Even Dangote himself, the richest black man in the world, complained a few years ago that with all his money, he needs a visa to travel everywhere within his own continent.

Benefits of dual nationality: With a second passport, you have visa-free access to most countries in the world. No more queuing a foreign embassies and thereby subjecting yourself to rubbish. Being a dual national means that you have an option. A plan B if you like, in case you are fed up with the situation in Nigeria. That backup plan is very important with the state of the country. You can also transfer citizenship to your children and grandchildren thereby ensuring that your descendants future is secured. They will be very grateful for what you have done for them. Many parents in the 70s and 80s didn't take advantage of those opportunities and they are now regretting their actions. Having a second passport is also good for business and career advancement as you can travel anywhere for business, conferences and job opportunities without restrictions.

So, young people, if you have the opportunity, try and acquire a second passport either by JAPA or investing a significant amount of money to get one. Don't listen to people telling you to just focus on making and spending money in Nigeria. These people are short-sighted and are unable to see the big picture. There's a reason why a lot of the 1% are now acquiring second passports from countries such as St Kitts. Most politicians have second passports. You think they are fools? Saraki will never relinquish his British passport in the name of patriotism. Do you think that Ben Bruce Mr. "grow the naira" would renounce his US citizenship for Nigeria? Many rich people envy those with dual nationality as they don't have the same limitations as those without one have.

pansophist:
What about Dual nationals with Nigerian and Togolese passports, does it count? ;

So man, dual nationality, even triple nationality doesn't mean shit, it is the quality of the nationality that matters. A quick question. Which will you pick? A Swedish passport only, or a triple citizenship (Nigerian, Togolese, and Afghanistan passport)?


I get your point sha. Just want to whine your nipple small

Gerrard59:
Anyone who does not know this is a profound ignoramus, no ifs or buts. Those who know it but intentionally dissuade or discourage others from doing it are wicked and barbaric. There are many of them here, from Redsun (who has been in the UK for donkey years) to Sukkot (who is a British citizen) to 1Sharon (another British citizen) to my favourite - Dasparrow - a woman who loathes Nigerians and in particular Nigerian men. Hers is even crueller as she relocated from the west to Nigeria, hated what she experienced and fled to a no-name country in Central America. What does she do on Nairaland? Internet Witchcraft! She dissuades and tells young and ambitious Nigerians not to relocate abroad. What she does not say is that she has not let go of her European citizenship. Another one is EgunMogajji, who is an American citizen and a proud serial divorcee that stays somewhere in Ibadan and married a 20-something year lady. He constantly preaches that you should not bother having a second passport, but he has one and even his first daughter studies at Stanford as an American citizen. What about Nairaland's richest brostitute? Seatrade, who with his previous moniker, mocked diasporans only for him to create a thread disguising that his friend wants to know how to obtain American citizenship. https://www.nairaland.com/6742025/citizenship-investment-canada-usa#105611566 No wonder he is lurking around Covenant University or Babcock to grab a girl from an upper-middle-class family (hoping that she is a dual citizen), even though his character befits women from IMSU or Oko Polytechnic.





Additionally, THERE IS NO NIGERIAN ELITE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A SECOND CITIZENSHIP OR CHILDREN ARE PREPPED TO OBTAIN ONE Apart from skit makers who are new in the game, no notable comedian's wife birthed in Nigeria. ALL gave birth in the US, thereby making their children Americans. The same applies to musicians. It is the reason I am pissed when wicked misfits constantly vagabond this section opening their smelly mouth waaaaaa chanting that young people should not japa. You mean like Akin Alabi who hustled in the UK? Don Jazzy, who did the same? DBanj, whose dad is an ex-military officer that did the same? Mike Adenuga, who rode taxi in the US? What about Banky W whose mom worked in ExxonMobil, gave birth to him in the US and he studied at Corona Schools, the same school Osibanjo studied? Only for him to come and lie that his parents struggled, which is why they rented a flat in Yaba during the '70s. You mean the same Yaba that was home to the then middle class? Or him being a Nigerian-American married to Adesuwa, a British-Nigerian? Or his friend, the pilot, a Canadian-Nigerian who is married to Toolz, daughter of the Oniru of Lekki, who is a British-Nigerian? Or her friend Stephanie Coker, a British-Nigerian, who is married to the younger brother of the co-founder of GTB, who too is a British-Nigerian? Or Mo Abudu who is a American/British-Nigerian and son studied at Duke University? Or her erstwhile employee presenter Zainab Balogun, another British-Nigerian who married an American-Nigerian? Or the other erstwhile employee I used to crush on - Cynthia Kamalu, who married a Nigerian-American? Or Iyin Aboyeji, whose wife is an American citizen, and father worked at ExxonMobil and whose sister studied in the UK? Or Hakeem-Bello, whose daughter studied at Harvard and Stanford and ALL members of his family are dual nationals between the UK and US? Or Nnamdi Kanu who is a British-Nigerian? Or Sunday Igboho who is a German citizen or Sowore who is an American citizen?

C'mon!

There is no Nigerian elite, dead or alive, that does not or did not have a second passport to ease travel whether for leisure or business or academic-related events. I have stated it recently that visa free access is hinged on wealth not race. The reason the olodos on Twitter think it is race is that sub-Saharan Africa is home to the largest number of black people, and as a result, many black Africans are denied visas. Even at that, citizens from countries like Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and even far-flung black-dominated places like Bahamas, Bermuda and Barbados don't face similar scrutiny as their contemporaries in sub-Saharan Africa. Have you seen African Americans complained that they were denied visas because of their skin colour? Are they not black people too? But woke olodos on Twitter don't understand simple economics, the reason they spend time chanting and whining that bOrDeRs ArE rAcIsT. As if they would offer unfettered access to a poor black stranger instead of Elon Musk. Except you want to have hope that sub-Saharan countries would be as rich as Malaysia before her citizens begin to enjoy visa-free travel.

As for returning to Nigeria, trust me, many would return. One reason many would return is the weather. The new wave of emigres lived in the tropics for at least 25 years, so it won't be easy to adjust to temperate climates. My friend in Canada complains about the same thing. She told me clearly "once I attain citizenship status and the passport, G59, I am out of this place". Again, the vast majority of Nigerian elites once worked or studied abroad. From Tayo who is Paga CEO (has American citizenship) to Segun Agbaje who also studied and worked in the US to Emi Lokan and many many others. What about Okechukwu Enelamah who studied Medicine at UNN and did his MBA at Harvard? He co-founded African Capital Alliance, Nigeria's first private equity firm. Ibe Kachikwu nko? Studied Law at UNN and went to Harvard for his MSc and PhD? There is even one I used to admire who studied at Cambridge University and started his consulting business in Lagos. He, too, just like his contemporaries, is a British-Nigerian. One might say Northern elites don't do the same. That is a very big fat lie! Which child of any Northern elite studied in Nigeria? Sanusi's children studied in the UK ditto for El-Rufai's. What about Buhari? He claimed to be poor before the 2015 elections. However, ALL his children studied in the UK. Do poor people's children study in the UK? Esp when they did not attend top schools that have lot of scholarships to offer? Let's not even go to the south, where Amaechi's son is in Canada or Okorocha's son who finished from University of Manchester?

The effects of having a second and, most importantly, a strong passport cannot be over-emphasised. To buttress it, before 2010, Nigerians could travel to 76 countries without obtaining a visa. Ten years later, it plunged to 46. What do the next ten years hold? DrCheif on Twitter narrated his experience when he visited one African country. Upon the usual show me your passport, he showed the official a Nigerian passport. Even though it is visa-free for Nigerians (e fit don change sef), the official dilly-dallied. As time was going, Cheif brought out his American passport and showed the official. What did the official say? "You should have brought this out in the first place". Today, Cheif stays in Ghana. I have met a Belgian-Swiss missionary who has only applied for visa once and that was when she visited Benin Republic. She was confused about how to apply for a visa because prior to that, she had never done it. Also, the woman who owned the travel agency I bought my ticket through has travelled to over 80 countries, including places where black people are very few. Her parents migrated to study in the US, gave birth to her and siblings and returned to Nigeria. Today, all her siblings are American citizens and ditto their children. But she stays in Nigeria because she likes it there. No harm feelings. However, unlike the witches and wizards here, she encourages young people to do the same and take advantage of the opportunities. In life, always seek for more options as those with options have more opportunities. There are even foreign politicians that are tri-nationals.

Also, the aspect of entrepreneurship sef. Except for very few folks who are mostly in tech (most studied in top schools or had rich backgrounds), the most successful entrepreneurs started their businesses after working for some years. It is only in Nigeria I have read that young graduates should start their businesses even if it is POS or cyber-cafe or selling 1kg of gas. Elsewhere, young people work in companies (co)-founded by people who have worked and honed their skills elsewhere. That is how it is done. While there, you gain expertise, knowledge and network. You can decide to return to Nigeria, nobody will stop you. The Paga CEO did it after studying at two top universities, the most recent being Stanford for his MBA. PayStack folks worked for almost ten years before setting up theirs. But the online miscreants in the programming section believe anyone who knows how to type "Hello Word" should open a tech firm to create the next fAcEbOoK. Bloody olodos! Nevertheless, very few people will become entrepreneurs as there are more employees everywhere than employers, regardless of what the ignoramuses who learnt elementary economics by standing near the windows during their SS1-SS3 stages parrot. So, in the nearest future, many of your bosses will be those who did Express Entry or submitted Proof of Funds.

shegzhkn:
If I am not mistaken you are referring to the EB5 visa, it is now 900k USD and also I doubt MC oluomo has that kind of money no matter how you want to spin this thing.

Gerrard59:
Anyone who does not know this is a profound ignoramus, no ifs or buts. Those who know it but intentionally dissuade or discourage others from doing it are wicked and barbaric. There are many of them here, from Redsun (who has been in the UK for donkey years) to Sukkot (who is a British citizen) to 1Sharon (another British citizen) to my favourite - Dasparrow - a woman who loathes Nigerians and in particular Nigerian men. Hers is even crueller as she relocated from the west to Nigeria, hated what she experienced and fled to a no-name country in Central America. What does she do on Nairaland? Internet Witchcraft! She dissuades and tells young and ambitious Nigerians not to relocate abroad. What she does not say is that she has not let go of her European citizenship. Another one is EgunMogajji, who is an American citizen and a proud serial divorcee that stays somewhere in Ibadan and married a 20-something year lady. He constantly preaches that you should not bother having a second passport, but he has one and even his first daughter studies at Stanford as an American citizen. What about Nairaland's richest brostitute? Seatrade, who with his previous moniker, mocked diasporans only for him to create a thread disguising that his friend wants to know how to obtain American citizenship. https://www.nairaland.com/6742025/citizenship-investment-canada-usa#105611566 No wonder he is lurking around Covenant University or Babcock to grab a girl from an upper-middle-class family (hoping that she is a dual citizen), even though his character befits women from IMSU or Oko Polytechnic.





Additionally, THERE IS NO NIGERIAN ELITE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A SECOND CITIZENSHIP OR CHILDREN ARE PREPPED TO OBTAIN ONE Apart from skit makers who are new in the game, no notable comedian's wife birthed in Nigeria. ALL gave birth in the US, thereby making their children Americans. The same applies to musicians. It is the reason I am pissed when wicked misfits constantly vagabond this section opening their smelly mouth waaaaaa chanting that young people should not japa. You mean like Akin Alabi who hustled in the UK? Don Jazzy, who did the same? DBanj, whose dad is an ex-military officer that did the same? Mike Adenuga, who rode taxi in the US? What about Banky W whose mom worked in ExxonMobil, gave birth to him in the US and he studied at Corona Schools, the same school Osibanjo studied? Only for him to come and lie that his parents struggled, which is why they rented a flat in Yaba during the '70s. You mean the same Yaba that was home to the then middle class? Or him being a Nigerian-American married to Adesuwa, a British-Nigerian? Or his friend, the pilot, a Canadian-Nigerian who is married to Toolz, daughter of the Oniru of Lekki, who is a British-Nigerian? Or her friend Stephanie Coker, a British-Nigerian, who is married to the younger brother of the co-founder of GTB, who too is a British-Nigerian? Or Mo Abudu who is a American/British-Nigerian and son studied at Duke University? Or her erstwhile employee presenter Zainab Balogun, another British-Nigerian who married an American-Nigerian? Or the other erstwhile employee I used to crush on - Cynthia Kamalu, who married a Nigerian-American? Or Iyin Aboyeji, whose wife is an American citizen, and father worked at ExxonMobil and whose sister studied in the UK? Or Hakeem-Bello, whose daughter studied at Harvard and Stanford and ALL members of his family are dual nationals between the UK and US? Or Nnamdi Kanu who is a British-Nigerian? Or Sunday Igboho who is a German citizen or Sowore who is an American citizen?

C'mon!

There is no Nigerian elite, dead or alive, that does not or did not have a second passport to ease travel whether for leisure or business or academic-related events. I have stated it recently that visa free access is hinged on wealth not race. The reason the olodos on Twitter think it is race is that sub-Saharan Africa is home to the largest number of black people, and as a result, many black Africans are denied visas. Even at that, citizens from countries like Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and even far-flung black-dominated places like Bahamas, Bermuda and Barbados don't face similar scrutiny as their contemporaries in sub-Saharan Africa. Have you seen African Americans complained that they were denied visas because of their skin colour? Are they not black people too? But woke olodos on Twitter don't understand simple economics, the reason they spend time chanting and whining that bOrDeRs ArE rAcIsT. As if they would offer unfettered access to a poor black stranger instead of Elon Musk. Except you want to have hope that sub-Saharan countries would be as rich as Malaysia before her citizens begin to enjoy visa-free travel.

As for returning to Nigeria, trust me, many would return. One reason many would return is the weather. The new wave of emigres lived in the tropics for at least 25 years, so it won't be easy to adjust to temperate climates. My friend in Canada complains about the same thing. She told me clearly "once I attain citizenship status and the passport, G59, I am out of this place". Again, the vast majority of Nigerian elites once worked or studied abroad. From Tayo who is Paga CEO (has American citizenship) to Segun Agbaje who also studied and worked in the US to Emi Lokan and many many others. What about Okechukwu Enelamah who studied Medicine at UNN and did his MBA at Harvard? He co-founded African Capital Alliance, Nigeria's first private equity firm. Ibe Kachikwu nko? Studied Law at UNN and went to Harvard for his MSc and PhD? There is even one I used to admire who studied at Cambridge University and started his consulting business in Lagos. He, too, just like his contemporaries, is a British-Nigerian. One might say Northern elites don't do the same. That is a very big fat lie! Which child of any Northern elite studied in Nigeria? Sanusi's children studied in the UK ditto for El-Rufai's. What about Buhari? He claimed to be poor before the 2015 elections. However, ALL his children studied in the UK. Do poor people's children study in the UK? Esp when they did not attend top schools that have lot of scholarships to offer? Let's not even go to the south, where Amaechi's son is in Canada or Okorocha's son who finished from University of Manchester?

The effects of having a second and, most importantly, a strong passport cannot be over-emphasised. To buttress it, before 2010, Nigerians could travel to 76 countries without obtaining a visa. Ten years later, it plunged to 46. What do the next ten years hold? DrCheif on Twitter narrated his experience when he visited one African country. Upon the usual show me your passport, he showed the official a Nigerian passport. Even though it is visa-free for Nigerians (e fit don change sef), the official dilly-dallied. As time was going, Cheif brought out his American passport and showed the official. What did the official say? "You should have brought this out in the first place". Today, Cheif stays in Ghana. I have met a Belgian-Swiss missionary who has only applied for visa once and that was when she visited Benin Republic. She was confused about how to apply for a visa because prior to that, she had never done it. Also, the woman who owned the travel agency I bought my ticket through has travelled to over 80 countries, including places where black people are very few. Her parents migrated to study in the US, gave birth to her and siblings and returned to Nigeria. Today, all her siblings are American citizens and ditto their children. But she stays in Nigeria because she likes it there. No harm feelings. However, unlike the witches and wizards here, she encourages young people to do the same and take advantage of the opportunities. In life, always seek for more options as those with options have more opportunities. There are even foreign politicians that are tri-nationals.

Also, the aspect of entrepreneurship sef. Except for very few folks who are mostly in tech (most studied in top schools or had rich backgrounds), the most successful entrepreneurs started their businesses after working for some years. It is only in Nigeria I have read that young graduates should start their businesses even if it is POS or cyber-cafe or selling 1kg of gas. Elsewhere, young people work in companies (co)-founded by people who have worked and honed their skills elsewhere. That is how it is done. While there, you gain expertise, knowledge and network. You can decide to return to Nigeria, nobody will stop you. The Paga CEO did it after studying at two top universities, the most recent being Stanford for his MBA. PayStack folks worked for almost ten years before setting up theirs. But the online miscreants in the programming section believe anyone who knows how to type "Hello Word" should open a tech firm to create the next fAcEbOoK. Bloody olodos! Nevertheless, very few people will become entrepreneurs as there are more employees everywhere than employers, regardless of what the ignoramuses who learnt elementary economics by standing near the windows during their SS1-SS3 stages parrot. So, in the nearest future, many of your bosses will be those who did Express Entry or submitted Proof of Funds.