Monaboo:


I read your story and it's making me feel like crying. So touching. I'm happy for you and the sacrifices your dad made for you.

Maybe it's becos my mum is a Public School Teacher.

All good. We thank God.

GlobeTrotter2:
the Nigeria you left and yearn to go back to is not the same Nigeria today. I will not advise anyone to stay in Nigeria if you have thee means to travel through the right route

All things being equal nothing beats the feeling of being in your home country. If I am able to get certain opportunities in Nigeria I’ll move home. As a human being my desires are unlimited lol

UnfairLife7:
Interesting

But i need to let you know that the country Nigeria is nothing to write home today. The rate of unemployment in the country is unbearable. Parents now discourage their children from pursuing a degree after high school. Even children themselves are also unbothered having seen their neighbours, uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces et al that has been unemployed for years after school. You'd imagine why can't they consider business right? But sadly only those from rhch or comfortable home whose parents, families could raise some funds would consider business.

I suggest you come back home probably for a month to see for yourself. Most Nigeria graduate are either into cyber fraud or unskilled labour like motorcycle riders, bus conductors and the likes. Those that are working earn meagre income compare to the level of inflation in the country. In Nigeria today, who you know is superior and much better than a first-class. We have first-class in Nigeria jobless or being underemployed. I have seen a family with 4 graduates and they still struggle to feed in Nigeria.

Nigeria in your father's time doesn't exist anymore. Our politicians had reduced the masses to nothing with hardship and unfriendly policy. I believe we all know relocating abroad for greener pastures is not always easy and living in your home country is actually the best. However, this only applies to those who had something reasonable doing not for those unemployed or underemployed graduates. Migration is not a crime. It is part of human endeavour. I see no crime in people migrating. People migrate for several reasons. Some economic, education, health, security et al. People migrate temporary or permanent

One thing you should also know that Nigeria doesn't come close when it comes to countries that are relocating. We do not come top 20. Countries that are doing better than us, their citizens still relocate massively for whatever reason best known to them. Nigeria only love making noise. How many people can even afford relocating in Nigeria today. Less than 5% can afford it. The remaining 95% are stuck. They obviously aren't happy but they had no choice. Reason why the rate of crime had gone up in the country. Once the level of poverty and hardship in a country keep increasing on a daily basis, obviously it'd lead to increase in crime.

What would be your sincere advice for a graduate who has been unemployed for years or earning #30,000 monthly as salary? What would be your advice if such a person got the opportunity to relocate for greener pastures? You'd tell that person to remain in Nigeria?
In your father's time first-class graduates are given automatic employment but that doesn't exist anymore. Unemployment and poverty level in Nigeria during your father's time was little compare to what we have today. Nigeria's population during your father's time was lower compare to what we have today.

Corruption, nepotism, pOVERTY, unemployment, insecurity et al

I don't want to write anything about Nigeria government because i believe you know they're the architect of all these menace we're going through in the country

It’s hard no doubt and I don’t doubt any point you’ve raised. I visit Nigeria every six months and my last visit was in June this year. However I’ve realised that merely being in country A doesn’t always solve the problem on an individual level. For instance in Canada immigrants without a work permit are not able to work legitimately or even apply to work till they get the required permit. Thus an underemployed nurse moving to Canada as an illegal immigrant will also struggle. On a country to country level the developed countries offer more opportunities than Nigeria on many fronts but on an individual level the differences become more pronounced.
This year alone I have met Nigerians living under stress/duress in Canada after they sold their home to finance their studies at Indian run private colleges in Canada. Due to the exchange rate variation they’ve had to lose so much to come here. Their immigration status is shaky & they are under so much stress sometimes expressing regrets. In the same instance I’ve met Nigerians who moved to Canada with a permanent residence status and started working almost immediately after with things working out for them. Hence I see this more from the perspective of an individual. Some are thriving in Nigeria and some are thriving in USA or Italy or elsewhere.

erico2k2:

sO THE GOOD ROADS AND SECURITY AND EQUALITY ARE ALL HYPED UP RIGHT?

Its all hyped. I live in Greater Toronto Area and there is a neighborhood called Jane & Finch popular among many low income earners of African descent. The roads are bad there. Infrastructure is poor with high rates of crime. A high income earner will definitely not live in Jane & Finch thus to me avoiding poverty is more important than being in country A or country B. A poor man abroad will equally suffer hardship

Agugbadin:

Why are they coming back to fight for political appointment and position here in Nigeria. Gbajabiamila could not pay his client he used her money in USA ,he came to Nigeria and within a short time made money from politics and went back to US to pay his debt .Check out Obidients,many of them are Diaspora people who want to come and make money in politics but were disappointed hence all this noise on social media.

People just keep hyping these developed countries. If I hadn't lived in USA, Canada and UK I would have believed some of these things. Some Nigerians deliberately leave a stable but not perfect life in Nigeria to live a dirty poverty-stricken life abroad. They are at the bottom of the food chain abroad but colonialism effect has wired them to believe it is better to be at the bottom in the midst of white people than to be in the middle amongst their fellow Nigerians.

UnfairLife7:
A maid to a white man will make you buy or build houses in your home country, have fleet of businesses and support people financially while you also have access to world-class education, healthcare, saner environment et al, just like your leaders and their children are benefiting

OR

Be a teacher in your home country as a patriot while you beg the Maid to send you some pounds or dollars to sort out your needs

Chose one

That's the colonialism influenced thinking I'm talking about. My father retired as a teacher (some call it academia) at a federal university in nigeria. He loved research and raised a number of research grants over the course of his career. He was overburdened with work and served on multiple public health committees. His salary as a professor was low but he also consulted for public health institutions. In the family some made fun of him due to his modest lifestyle. When he was about to build his retirement house his senior sister who dropped out from secondary mockingly asked him if he can afford a storey building. When I was due for university education my dad encouraged me to write SAT and apply for scholarships as he did during his time. I did not get a scholarship and my dad paid my fees 100% as well as rental/upkeep. I did not work one day in USA. Some people predicted that we will not be able to afford it because we love big things but I graduated in 4 years. Proceeded to graduate school and finished without debt. My dad's brother who lived in USA was also asking condescending questions because they never believed people in Nigeria could do well enough. If you believe and strive to make it in Nigeria there is a chance that success will come. I currently live and work in Canada but will never turn down any good opportunity back home.
I am the child of a teacher and I am proud of what my teacher dad was able to achieve despite how harsh Nigeria can be.

Bliss52:



Optics

Nigerians would hustle up to 3 million Naira working comfortable jobs and Japa to work for Oyinbo and snap pics .. horrible jobs

Two friends (fiction)

Chinedu and Chuckwudi

Both guy served their masters as apprentice and started a business valued at 3 million, monthly profit of #300,000

Chinedu Japa to Malaysia thinking he would get a job without certificate after selling off his shop

Unfuntunately no Job except selling drugs.. which he sold and got caught


Chuckwudi continue with his business and opened many other shops , married and started a life,


.

Coloniaism really destroyed us to the point that some believe its better to be a maid to a white man than to be a teacher in your home country

Hard2pickAname1:
So I need my passport back quickly for a certain reason. That's why

Oh okay. Cairo May be faster if things have not changed

Hard2pickAname1:
Hello all,

I just got a mail to send my passport and other docs for Confirmation of Permanent Residence. I heard the VFS Lagos-Accra procedure takes a lot of time.

Does anyone have some direction on how to go through a Country that processes it faster. Thank you

lol. Please send to accra as its the nearest to abuja/lagos. Last year I developed cold feet after I got back my passport with the visa and the COPr. Fear of the unknown lol . But after a month I got my motivation back and got into the canadian job market eventually landed a job. You will get it done. I don't thin you need to stress about the the fastest visa office. Congratulations on your approved application

GoodFaith:
\

That is the mistake some people make
A co-worker told me I was hiding my high end car at home Mercedes. I told him I don't have any high car that was like 6 years ago,
Today I am still driving my old car
Other co-worker that seat across from me once told me thanks. because he hear lot of my personal business why I am on the phone
He made the same move I was moving in life
Dude said he might retire sooner that he was planning

I learnt long ago that building wealth and attaining financial freedom is a very slow process that requires consistency and perseverance. The Nigerian culture can be oppressive hence people feel they need to acquire things they don’t need or can barely afford to prove to others that they’ve arrived. I don’t subscribe to that and I enjoy my peaceful life. My 15 year old Camry is there in Lagos. Once I’m in naija I start it and drive around. Some people have been telling me that as I’m in Canada I ought to have shipped in a better car but I no send them. Even in the Toronto I don’t have a car. Rented an apartment 2 mins walk from a subway station / bus station and it’s serving me well. I no dey compete lol

klawaaa:
Abroad na your mate. The rate of fake lifestyle westerners live, I doubt why they condemn Nigeria with scam. Na to dey live life on credit... Most Americans are living live on credit and they go everywhere in the world to brag how they are the weathiest nation in the world and take others' natural and human possessions. This life, I think we just have to fake it to feel we are there. I see a lot of Nigeria abroadians dey show their houses to oppress their countryman counterpart and I wonder why they do so. Most of the house that that would scam their countryman on japa consultancy and pay the damn mortgage for lifetime. If I make about a million naira monthly in nigeria, why on earth would I relocate with nonimmigrant visa? Thank God for social media, at least, people can have other side of the story if they wish to hear.

Nigerians that even earn 500k monthly can do many things easily without being in debt. Two of my guys who moved to Canada less than a year ago are already in possession of a BMW and Mercedes indebted to the tune of almost $50,000 each. They sent pictures of the car to people in Nigeria already lol showing how great there life is.

GoodFaith:


I know that country and City TO very well.
Your problem is you are very narrow minded and ignorant.
All you are doing is looking at things just from your narrow view.
U came to Canada with paper
u had education
U have work experience

What is the justification for moving abroad without the right permit ? If I am narrow minded for moving abroad with "paper" as you call it or thinking that the proper thing to do is to be a legal resident then so be it. There are tons of Nigerians in Canada with valid study permit, work permit, PR and citizens. Those that opted to come here as tourists and stay back for 15 years stuck made the choice. I won't normalize it after all everyone I know in Canada has a valid right of residence.

sukkot:
So this topic has to be explored because I know many people personally under this category. Now I don’t know about other countries but let’s focus on the UK for this topic.

I know that unless you are extremely lucky it is going to take you between 10 to 15 years to fully settle in terms of papers and money and career and housing etc. in between that time you are running from pillar to post and the silent prayer is that God please don’t let my mother or father fall sick within this 10 to 15 year timespan or else I am most likely never going to see them again.

Well I have many friends and relatives who this happened to. In that time span that they are still unsettled and looking for paper or money, mama get cancer for naija. They are stuck abroad. Mama eventually die. So they never got to see their mother for over 10 years and will never see her again.

So I guess the question is if you find yourself in a situation like this, being in the UK for over 8 years and papers never correct so you are stuck, then you hear that your mother is dying.

WHAT DO YOU DO? DO YOU ABORT MISSION AND RETURN BACK TO NIGERIA TO BE WITH YOUR DYING MOTHER KNOWING YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE UK AGAIN OR DO YOU JUST FASHI MAMA AND LET HER DIE WHILE YOU CoNTINUE YOUR QUEST TO LOOK FOR PAPERS AND POUNDS ? What would you do?

I moved to Canada as a PR on May 12th 2022. Started working a job in my field on May 24th 2022 . Moved out of friend’s apartment on June -
1 2022 after receiving my first salary . Stayed at an air bnb house hunting till September 30, 2022. Moved to my apartment October 1, 2022. Traveled to Nigeria for Christmas/new year holiday on December 27, 2022. Returned to Toronto on January 18, 2023. Visited South Africa on holiday on June 16,2023. Decided to visit Nigeria from there on june 24th,2023. Returned to Canada on june 30, 2023. Godwilling I’ll be in Nigeria for Christmas 2023. All this it takes 15 years talk is BS. I know lots of people who moved to Canada via express entry that travel in and out . If you move abroad through the proper channel you’ll not be stuck anywhere.

DereI:


Exactly this.

Start applying for jobs

Start looking for accomodation

Start planning for life in canada because it’s no jokes here

Not a joke. When I lived in Lagos I accommodated friends and even friends of friends who visited Lagos. Never saw it as a big deal. In Canada accommodation is a big deal. When I was struggling to rent a house all those who offered to help came from the angle of “come and stay in my house and pay me instead of renting your own place”. Glad I turned down all offers even though I would have saved some money. What I’m I working for if I can’t have a roof over my head at my age.

Brownmannie:

E reach to worry because those that submitted on a later date after mine has received theirs.

Nothing to worry about. I'll encourage you to focus more on the transition to Canada.

AyabaS:


Renting can be so stressful, I saw shege with landlords but thankfully I don’t rent anymore. Most will try to one up you especially as an immigrant cos they feel you don’t know what’s up. There’s an Ontario tenant rights group on FB that can help you understand your rights and responsibilities.

Yea one agent suggested that I just buy an apartment instead of this rental. But as I don't want to rush into buying without understanding the robes I am managing.

On a lighter note when I lived in Lagos I found an apartment adjacent to where I was living. I viewed the house in February 2019 and told the property management company that I'll be able to move in June of that year when my rent expires. They communicated to the landlord and he accepted to wait after I wrote him a letter of intent. I'll pick Lagos over Toronto/GTA in the property market area. Lived in Lekki 1 from my NYSC days till I left Nigeria and I can say that in Nigeria a house is first a residence/shelter before an asset or business. In Canada a house is almost any and everything. People live and work for a tiny piece of house.

I was telling somebody in Toronto that my sister's friend was house hunting when I moved to Canada and she asked if he she could stay at my rented apartment in Lagos while house hunting and I obliged. He asked me how much she was paying me and I told him we don't pursue money to that extent in Nigeria. We accommodate one another for almost nothing. I know people that were housed for one year, two years even three years in Lagos till they were able to find their feet. This is why it is easier to move from wherever to Lagos without POF than to move to Canada with POF.

aestake:

Indian schools in GTA. Those two yellow things na technology them represent o.

😂😂😂😂

Profgordons:
I would not agree totally with you on the quality of education dished out by the colleges. An education abroad is more than just an education and I would not expect the curriculum to be less than you will find for an equivalent course taken online. The major problem lies with the student who need to work several jobs to survive at the expense of the education offered.

More so, the individual who has some education in Canada, regardless of its “quality” stands a good chance in achieving social and economic integration of the individual is focused and finds the right opportunities.

Subject to debate but there are good and shitty schools everywhere in this world. My academic experience at an ancient British university (grad school) was top notch compared to my academic experience at a small uni in Washington. A good number of ’my teachers at Edinburgh uni were oxbridge trained & the course quality was top notch. At my current place of work all the members of the product dev team I joined are grads of Waterloo uni, uni of
Toronto , queens uni & one western uni. Those who studied outside Canada attended unis in Israel , Russia , USA , U.K. , Turkey & one Cape Town. We all connected on LinkedIn & that’s how I got a glimpse of the academic/work profile of my of my co-workers.
There are many quack colleges in Canada patronised by mostly Indians serving more as visa sponsors than as academic institutions.

AyabaS:


Just wanted to point out incase you’re not aware that your landlord owes you one months rent as compensation for evicting you for personal use. Also, if he ends up re-renting the place within a year of you leaving, you can get much more up to a year’s rent sef. Had similar issues with a previous landlord and when they saw that I was very familiar with the RTA and knew my rights, they paid me my dues.

The shameless man put up the apartment on kijiji for rent a few weeks ago. He packaged the ad as renting a room in the condo as opposed to renting the whole condo. I’m still learning the robes here (16 months after). Thanks for the information

Profgordons:
Remember we are humans, desperation outweighs these thoughts. When you are trying to escape a vicious circle there are many things you will not give credence to.

What I have come to understand is that our paths will remain different in life and even if people have found themselves in a slippery situation, all we can do is to continue to provide the support we can.

I met a Yemenite a while ago who landed with absolutely nothing, he only had one skill which was to drive. He found a fellow Yemenite who offered him a car on hired purchase without any down payment and with this he started a life. He did complain about the income but at least it put food on his table and he could send money home.

These are the basics that many continue to lack and would make them see any other side as greener. It may require more will power than expected but last last we get what we want with determination and good support system which unfortunately many Nigerian communities lack but the Arabians and Indians are on a different level at that. In 50years from now, Canada will return to an ‘Indian Country’.

Lol even immigrants in Canada are beginning to question the government's immigration plan as its beginning to look like greed. The government has no plan to drastically increase the economic immigration quota. Yet there are tons of bogus colleges springing up and sponsoring study permits. Canadian universities are known for their tough entry requirements however, with these colleges just pay and come in. No accommodation, low quality teaching in anyway nobody cares about what the college has to offer. Its just the study visa as a path to PR.

aestake:

Nicely put but folks in Nigeria know more than you. They don't know that POF figure na govt own ooo. Real street has its.

Lol street isn’t smiling. It gets much easier once you get a good understanding of the system which takes some time

NuCypher:


I think you got the best advice already. You need to realise that your Canada challenges will not stop at just getting PR. If you are overwhelmed now and can't drive yourself farther to achieve your goals, then you need to ask yourself if you'll be ready to drive yourself even farther when you face the typical Canada challenges that people face on the daily being in Canada. Let's be honest, applying for PR, whether by learning French to improve your scores or doing a second master, is the easy part of this Canada PR journey. Being and living in Canada itself is not even that easy, forget all the paparazzi. How far will you push yourself to get your desired job? How far will you push yourself to save in an economy that just wants to continue taking from you? How far will you push yourself to bear the loneliness that comes with not seeing your family members you left back in Nigeria for months on end? That push you is what you need to start giving yourself now. I know people who have combined their jobs with learning French and increased their scores. They are often the ones best prepared for the challenges Canada offers. The ones who complain day and night are often the ones who got the PR on a platter and thought life should be easier from there.

Nairaland is an interesting place. I'm not a naysayer but there is some kind of attitude one needs to make progress in Canada. Most times people with the right attitude succeed. Like you mentioned Canada is not a bed of roses as painted out there and while I admit that I am happier and better off living/working in Canada, I also continue to share that adjustments are necessary when making a move to Canada. The work culture is different. There are no shortcuts. Rules are rules. Financial culture (credit economy) is also different from what many of us are used to.
For instance I did not move to Canada till I landed a job in my field but even at that I had a problem with accommodation (last year). No agent was willing to take up the task of finding me places because I had no credit history. Job letter/pay stubs did not help out in the first few months. When I eventually got my first credit report the score was below 700 and the history was short. No landlord accepted my offer. I applied to rent over 80 condos while staying at an Air BnB. Friends who offered to help accommodate me posed as helpers but actually saw me as a candidate they could use to reduce their mortgage payments. I opted to remain in an Air BnB and continue house hunting because I felt staying in someone's house will make it harder to get settled. Agents encouraged me to outbid other renters to have an edge. The only landlord that accepted my offer gave a condition (6 months rent upfront). It is against Ontario's law but I was tired of living in an air bnb (4 months). I agreed and paid him. He structured the tenancy as first three months and last three months which meant I had to resume paying rent again after three months. Towards the end of my lease the landlord sent me an eviction notice under the guise that his son was moving into the unit. I was scared of the rental market due to my previous experience. The landlord later called me to share the condo with his son (its a 2-bed condo) which I rejected because I furnished the apartment fully and didn't think it was a good deal. He offered to reduce the rent but I said no to him and stopped paying him because he was holding my $6,000 in deposit (last three months rent). I am staying in the condo till the 3 months expires in November. I was also able to rent another condo more easily this time around (tenancy starts in november) with a much stronger credit score and history.

The summary of it all is that there are challenges on ground. Money is needed from day 1 in Canada. People who borrow POF and arrive with little or no money may even feel the harshness of Canada more. No where is easy. Last time I went to USA people were also complaining about interest rates and cost of living.

Pamperme:
Hello

My friend fell out with his agent, and asked her to withdraw his EE profile. Unfortunately, he doesn't even have any details of the application. How does he go ahead with a new profile without the old number?

I wanted to advise him to create a new profile and delete it. So he can create another new one referencing the one he deleted. I am not sure if this is the best advice and decided to seek help from you all instead.

Thank you

Is the agent a licensed immigration consultant ? If not your friend may be at his mercy as all entries made pre and post ITa are logged to GCMS and if their is any discrepancy in information the applicant may risk being accused on misrepresentation.

Unperturbedpota:


Why do Nigerians talk about what they have no idea about? It might be me being petty but Oga why not face front since you don't know anything?

My response was based on the post. If you you don’t want comments why did you post it . Nevertheless based on your story I know enough to not hold brief for an immigration fraud (married an akata to secure a green card ) or for a convicted criminal .

You are attacking people yet from your post it’s obvious you don’t even know that akata refers to a black American/African American woman not a white woman.

Onefornaija24:
My primary school mate just got convicted in the USA for 36 months.

It had to do with money laundering, aza man issues about 200k USD.

He has a green card but not a citizen.

He has been in the USA since 2017.

He has 2 kids he gave birth to there with naija wife.


He impregnated an akata, akata oyibo woman gave birth while he was in prison because he was already in detention till the court conviction last week.


WILL HE BE DEPORTED after serving his jail terms?

By the time he comes out akata may have moved on and will probably demand child support from him which will make it harder for him to attain financial stability

Iamfrank:
U have a very healthy circle.. japaing is not for everybody, the truth is that anywhere u find peace and rest of mind is ur own abroad... Last last na money make everybody wan japa.. As long u r making money in naija just enjoy d little time we all have on earth...

Most Nigerians japa because of money. Nigerians by their nature don’t move away from where they are making money. I’ve met people make fun of those who japa simply because they are making money from bribe in Nigeria. Just do what is best for you with realistic expectations because money is scarce everywhere

Chigozie321:
I'm sure everyone here has a friend or relative that has JAPA in the last two years.

My siblings have all migrated. I'm the only one remaining in Naija. I do not intend to leave the country for some personal reasons at least for now.

At times I feel lonely and unhappy seeing that most of my loved ones have dispersed all over the world. No more going to weddings, house warming, naming, etc. together

Where I work, my closest work pals have all migrated. Even most of my church co-workers and neighbours sef don commot.

As an individual/family, how has it affected you? And how are you rebuilding your local network?

How are you making new quality relationships in the workplace, home, place of worship, etc.?

Don’t worry some will come back particularly those who went to study. Nothing like home

From my little nairaland handle and Twitter handle I wrote short messages about the unviability of people’s sojourn to the U.K., USA and Canada . If done properly Nigerians will blossom but the way I saw a lot of people make this move showed that they had no idea of the hardship awaiting them. An Anglo-Saxon in America or Canada with citizenship, local education , permission to work , work experience, job, savings/support system and access to credit spends an average of 20 years or longer to pay up for a house. Then a Nigerian aged 40 sells his/her fully paid up house+assets to move to these countries without the right to work unconditionally , without the right skills (in some cases) , zero savings (probably in debt) , no home and little/zero access to credit .
How else can you explain the possible outcome of moves like this? Some have blossomed taking this risk but the majority have not. Canada offers direct permanent residency to skilled immigrants thus people are usually able to re-balance themselves after some time but the U.K. is dicey as you need to meet certain conditions to maintain your residency status which adds to the stress .

aestake:

I have a pal who got screwed because of the POF thingy. Saskatchewan no dey use am play. As Nigeria dey now, I am feeling for him and his family.

Humans are adaptable and can adapt to any situation. Once I miss an opportunity I try to move on as quickly as possible . Canada has its issues too just like Nigeria hence even here one has to be strategic to survive

NaijaGoingMaple:


That's not always the case. They should do exactly as advised. They will only lose $300 application fee if declined and nothing more..

Assuming that a negligent immigration officer will skip the POF shortfall and approve the application hardly ever works on points based immigration systems .

deharbay:
I currently have a spousal sponsorship PR application in the pool. I’d like to know if I can also go through express entry pool, as my application has taken over a year with no significant progress. Thank you

Go for it please. People who qualify for both programs opt for express entry due to the processing speed

Vietnaminfo:
I'm inquiring on behalf of a family friend, who has completed her initial degree in Biochemistry, followed by a second degree in Pharmacy, and is currently concluding her Masters. Now at the age of 42, she is married and has 6 children. She's contemplating applying for the Express Entry program and is seeking clarity regarding her eligibility prospects. If anyone could provide a straightforward response regarding her chances and suggest any suitable programs, she's open to embracing them. She's also considering registering for the IELTS. Is this a worthwhile step?

Scaling through point based express entry at 42 Is hard based on age. Moving to a new country at 42 is also hard