₦airaland Forum

I'm so not sure what to title this...if any of the mods has better title, then fire on

Year after year, people all over the world attempt to migrate to developed countries in search of the golden fleece. Many are coming from developing or underdeveloped countries and they intend to become ambassadors of their familes and communities, remitting hard currency to the hungry mouths they have left behind. When a young hot-blooded man from Nigeria realises that the minimum wage in the United Kingdom is about £6.50 an hour, the calculation that he could make nearly a thousand pounds every month is enough to spur him to sell his father's house and get a one-way ticket to come to 'jand and hustle'. After all, 1000GBP can make over 300,000 naira. Imagine making 300,000naira over 12 months!!! By the time he comes back to Nigeria, he should be a big boy.

The Travel pages of Nairaland are replete with individuals who are desirous of leaving Nigeria for anywhere. I literally mean anywhere. They will literally go anywhere in the developed world, from Quebec to Copenhagen to the faraway lands of Adelaide and Brisbane. There is absolutely nothing wrong in seeking for a ticket to a better life. Yours truly was (and is still) also a silent devourer of pages of Nairaland Travel information and I'm grateful to God everytime I think of my PR card resting somewhere.

The subject of this my write-up is mainly about the poor Nigerian éspirit de corp among Nigerians in the diaspora. I'm familiar with the attitude of the Indians and the Caribbeans in this regard. From my observation, it is so much easier for a Jew or and Indian or even a Somali to be 'helped' into the United states than it is for a Nigerian to make the jump. Even when they settle, they assist each other to get jobs and all other support mechanisms they'll require. Let's call our new Indian immigrant, Rajesh. Rajesh is filed for by an Uncle/Aunty in Ohio. He comes into the US and starts living with his Uncle while working at the petrol station of his Uncle's friend. Rajesh continues to climb, go to school, gets a degree and opens a restaurant where he can employ other new Indians who migrate. . .OR . . .Rajesh is smuggled into the United States and his relatives quickly find a legally landed immigrant for him to get married to. Some years after the marriage, Rajesh gets his green card and the marriage is dissolved, everybody is happy and the Indian community is +1. . . OR. . . Rajesh's uncle travels fro Houston to New Delhi to adopt all his Uncle's children. The children, who understand the sacrifice being made, study and make a success of themselves. Later, they file for their parents who are getting old and would benefit from American healthcare.

I understand the plight of many Nigerians who are reluctant to help other Nigerians migrate to better climes. I have heard of a few cases where Mr. A gives Mr. B his documents to work with and Mr. B goes ahead to put Mr.A in soup by getting in trouble with the law. The one thing you do not want to do is get in trouble with the establishment. They keep records and on the day of judgement, you go hear am! Many people who are sponsored, arrive and lose track of why they are in the States or the United Kingdom and they fall by the wayside, doing drugs or chasing some of those delightful destiny-destroying Jamaican girls. I have no problems with those who avoid people like this.

However, a candle loses nothing by lighting another. You may not have the resources to file for somebody, but ask questions about your relatives. That your brother's son who has just landed in the US, can you help with accommodation? Are you actively seeking for employment for the child of your kinsman who needs a job but doesn't know how to plough the system. Why not encourage your female relative to come to the United States and Canada and have that her baby? You should also provide financial encouragement o! The truth is that there are many Nigerians who just want to come and work hard. They want to maximise the opportunities availed to them by the system. It is not enough to sit in your fancy house in the US from January to November, then come back to Nigeria for Xmas, sharing small small dollars everywhere.

There are many ways we can help our nation grow. As destitute as Somalia is, it still receives millions in dollars in remittances from Somalis working in the United States. It is not only Senator Obanikoro that should benefit from having Nigerian & American citizenship, we can do it too.

Ka Chineke mezie okwu

ps: to all the NLders working hard to find legit means of finding a better life outside the shores of this house of Lord Lugard, may God bless your hustle

ccaramel:
Having lived 15 years in Toronto/ Calgary. Beelon1020 is absolutely correct. You guys that immigrate to Canada from Europe ( mostly fake refugee claimants ) always complain and can't cope here because you don't have a plan and mix with people that can't give you sound advise. Get away from the Jane/ Finch crew and mix with bright minds. I came to Canada as an international student for undergrad without knowing one person in this country. You can get a good car for $1000 max if you have the right links( bought a car within a year and had own basement apt working just a student part time job) you can Rent a very clean 2 bedroom apt/ condo. $1200 max per month Or not so clean for about $900. All utilities included. Heat in winter, ac in summer, water, hydro, laundry.

The best option is the skilled worker program or Manitoba provincial nominee program. You become a PR upon your arrival in Canada and entitled to free health care, local tuition fees, no need of work permit. It will be very expensive coming as a student. You pay for healthcare out of pocket which is pricy and you pay intl student fees and you can't really work full time. Everything you need to make a decision is at www.cic.gc.ca don't let anyone discourage you. It's yours to discover. Canada is a great country! O Canada, we stand on God for thee meanwhile the cold is BRUTAL o. -35c just the other day...Arghhh. Nigeria will always be home anytime.

irridemi:
Thank u so much, I really appreciate this very insightful. My sis in law is in Vancouver and she stays with her fellow course mates, so we can't even stay with her and from what she suggested Ontario or satsachewan are good province for us. Am an auditor by profession that's why hubby wants me to follow him and work while he enhances his skills. The course he wiLl be going for costs around 15,000 to 20,000dollars for the whole programme, so u are saying we should av additional 20,000dollars for upkeep?. Thank u once again, God bless u