After reading a thread on Nairaland titled (Naija to Yankee: Thoughts and Experience), I thought I should document my move in the opposite direction. I thought this would make for a nice read because it’s the opposite of what’s going on now with everyone seemingly fleeing Nigeria.

I left Nigeria in July 1986 to get a degree in aviation and complete training on becoming a commercial airline pilot. Having never seen a computer before I left Nigeria I was instantly hooked by computers and programming when arrived in the USA and I changed my course to computer science. My first program I leant was Turbo Pascal.

But I’m jumping ahead. Let’s go back to 1986.

Stay tuned.

Copied from Village Headmaster Forums @ http://forums.villageheadmaster.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=52#p59

EgunMogaji2:
I thought I should document my move in the opposite direction. I thought this would make for a nice read because it’s the opposite of what’s going on now with everyone seemingly fleeing Nigeria.

And I am one of those that advised against such a move during that chat in San Diego.
Seems to be working out fine for you though Aare Omi-Adio

following

Shagati:


And I am one of those that advised against such a move during that chat in San Diego.
Seems to be working out fine for you though Aare Omi-Adio

You did Sir.

More to come.

This will be interesting. Egbon has finally decided to "put pen to paper".
Following...

EgunMogaji2:
After reading a thread on Nairaland titled (Naija to Yankee: Thoughts and Experience), I thought I should document my move in the opposite direction. I thought this would make for a nice read because it’s the opposite of what’s going on now with everyone seemingly fleeing Nigeria.

I left Nigeria in July 1986 to get a degree in aviation and complete training on becoming a commercial airline pilot. Having never seen a computer before I left Nigeria I was instantly hooked by computers and programming when arrived in the USA and I changed my course to computer science. My first program I leant was Turbo Pascal.

But I’m jumping ahead. Let’s go back to 1986.

Stay tuned.

Copied from Village Headmaster Forums @ http://forums.villageheadmaster.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=52#p59

[/b]

Very funny! Cheap advert

I think this would be a very interesting narration of your journey and perspective having lived on two different continents (the comparisons etc.,) to you moving back to your original home country. I'm interested in seeing why you chose to move back...or if it was always your end goal?

Since you, apparently, are a born and raised Nigerian who moved to the U.S, lived there for a time, and then moved back to Nigeria, it's like a "Naija to Yankee and Yankee "Back" to Naija" sort of story.

EgunMogaji2:


Copied from Village Headmaster Forums @ http://forums.villageheadmaster.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=52#p59

You should visit and register

Following.

And get someone on Nairaland to design a good village headmaster logo for your front end.

PART TWO:

Welcome back.

I want to quickly explain the why's. Why decide to go foreign and why USA. Because it seems like folks are just dying to go to any place.

After finishing high school, I worked for a bank with the intention of growing within. Back then correspondence schools were very common. You'll graduate with a UK degree without leaving Nigeria. While at the bank I worked at the foreign exchange department which put me in close contact with a lot of foreign students. And there the seeds were sown.

In Ibadan where I lived primarily, and where I retired to, there were lots of social scene for the young adults. We had the two zoos, Leventis, UTC, Kingsway, etc We had Odeon, Scala, Queens and KS cinemas. So there were lots of things to do here. So my move wasn't for lack of social activity or job. I say all this to paint a picture of the Nigeria that I left.

Very quickly, back then most of the public transport were brand new Toyota, Datsun and Mitsubishi. I am talking tear rubber taxi cabs. Even the buses like Urban, Coasters were new. Motorcycles were few and far in between. One of the saddest things I see now is old people, entire families on okadas. Very painful. The Nigeria I left would never allow that.

Lots of coups in the 70/80s so I am used to military rule. Believe it or not there was much orderliness in the community. Army was always present, the military Gorvenors were always showing up unannounced at various places. We had Operation WAI. War Against Indiscipline.

In part three, we'll quickly go to the USA and then come back to Ibadan. There's no need to stay to long in the USA, to me it's humdrum.

Later.

Should be an interesting read.
Lemme balance hear.

@ EgunMogaji2, still waiting.

This should be very interesting

Miracle was here...may God help me migrate overseas so I can document mine...

Yes!

Following

PART 3:

America wasn't my first international visit. I had my eye opening experience that lif ecould be better when I visited UK and Switzerland during the bridge between graduating grammar school and starting work. Let me just quickly say here that it's almost a religious experience when you will first experience a working society.

I flew Alitalia from Lagos to Los Angeles (with a stopover in Rome). I was the only black person on the flight from Rome to Los Angeles. Some of the air hostesses were genuinely intrigued and I was treated very well. In fact I was invited to the cockpit when they learnt I was on my way to the US to train as an Airline Pilot. This will never happen again due to terrorism. Sadly.

I travelled in July so the weather was perfect in California when I arrived. Though I've travelled before to Europe but the USA was a whole different animal.

The first things that I noticed were:

People were friendlier
Streets were wider
Cars were bigger

I left Los Angeles and went up North to San Jose to my school. On the first day of class I found the computer lab (remember I have never seen one in person and up close before).

I started hearing about Microsoft, Windows, Bill Gates, etc and I was hooked. I immediately changed my course to computer science. I still got my Private Pilots license but never made it back to the cockpit as an airline pilot. No worries.

The first time I went back to Nigeria was in 2006, exactly 20 years after I left her. Friends, I was in massive culture shock and actually contemplated going back to the USA on the next available flight. I really did but my Mum talked me out of it. Things were now different in Nigeria. Much different. Much worse than when I left.

I'll add some pictures of my 2006 visit later to http://forums.villageheadmaster.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=52&p=62#p62

After my initial confusion, I loosened up and started enjoying myself. Once I stopped looking at everything from an American perspective then things were alright. Manageable. I toured some of my schools, old joints and work place. Quick hint: whatever you do when you get overseas, never relax and always strive to do better because your mates that you left behind are not slouches either. They are also coming up and growing. Some of my friends were enjoying things like drivers (one for oga and one for madam), servants, etc. One friend basically just lent me a "spare" Range Rover and driver (I declined because I wanted to enjoy Nigeria as a regular Nigerian).

After my two weeks vacation, on my way out I decided then that I wanted to retire back to Nigeria. From that decision I visited Nigeria almost every year, some years more than once.

I got married twice in the USA, got divorced twice, bought many homes, built some homes, had a rewarding career, did all the expected things, paid my taxes, etc. Nairaland is filled with similar stories so no need to bore you guys with all that.

I may refer back once in a while to the USA but for the most part we're done there. Nigeria is the koko.

We move.

Source: http://forums.villageheadmaster.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=52&p=62#p62

[quote author=ChristoBam post=84944497][/quote]

Good morning.

stonemasonn:
@ EgunMogaji2, still waiting.

Yeah, sorry for timing. I'm retired so like a butterfly I just fly all over the place at whim with no schedule

iammiracle1:
Miracle was here...may God help me migrate overseas so I can document mine...

Amen.

I actually feel very strongly that part of the NYSC should be a mandatory government sponsored 3 months travel study to a developed country.

Not saying that "they" are better than us but if majority of Nigerians experienced a better country and come back home I think things will change. A lot of Chinese, Indians and Pakistanis went back home, now look at them.

Ishilove:
1986??

Yeah, I don tey for there. Started smelling house

Frankly, I consider myself lucky to be able to do this, there's not one morning that I don't wake up here and not thank God for his blessings to be back in Nigeria still hale and hearty.

There are a lot more who are even there longer than I was that can never come back home. Either due to Nigeria perceived issues, some of which are real, but some can't come because they've gotten themselves hooked into the system.

I am an Ijebu tribal man and part of our common prayer is 1) Not to die overseas and 2) Not to bring our dead body home.

EgunMogaji2:
PART 3:


I got married twice in the USA, got divorced twice

Tuale baba!

Me I cannot Can in today's America.

stonemasonn:
Tuale baba!

Me I cannot Can in today's America.

It's by Gods grace that I'm still standing tall. Many end up in jail, dead or destitute.

EgunMogaji2:


Yeah, I don tey for there. Started smelling house

Frankly, I consider myself lucky to be able to do this, there's not one morning that I don't wake up here and not thank God for his blessings to be back in Nigeria still hale and hearty.

There are a lot more who are even there longer than I was that can never come back home. Either due to Nigeria perceived issues, some of which are real, but some can't come because they've gotten themselves hooked into the system.

I am an Ijebu tribal man and part of our common prayer is 1) Not to die overseas and 2) Not to bring our dead body home.

You've been around the world and have come home to roost. I want to be like you when I grow up.

Ishilove:

You've been around the world and have come home to roost. I want to be like you when I grow up.

Thank you very much.

For me there’s no point going overseas and not coming back to Nigeria.

deuzgreat:

How old are you? I'm guesssing 60, plus 5 minus 5

You’re way off.

I am blessed with an opportunity of early retirement.

A quick side note. An unsolicited advice to young folks just starting out.

1) Pick an end goal. Whatever it is. Canada citizenship. Castle in Edinburgh. N100M in savings. Shit shack on 100 acres. Whatever.

2) Hustle/struggle every waking hour of your daily life towards that goal.

3) When you reach that goal or within reasonable spiting distance of it then hang it up.

4) Start enjoying your non work life.

5) Don’t die on the job or work till death.

Let me observe first