He has a gateman/security guard at home. His children go to a private school—dropped off and picked up by a dedicated driver or the parents.

In the West, this person could only be a millionaire footballer, a millionaire music star or a millionaire in a certain field. Even top politicians cannot easily have this enviable life.

Back in Africa or Asia, this person could be any ordinary person who has figured out his life or a person slightly flourishing in business or working in a well-paid job.

Therefore, if you intend to relocate to the West, you should ask yourself—am I going to heavily compromise on my lifestyle and how long can I entertain or sacrifice the life I’ve known.

As an expert UK immigration lawyer, I always argue that if you intend to relocate to the UK—you should critically evaluate what you are giving up and what you plan to achieve. Just don’t jump because everyone is jumping.

More importantly, if you are 40 years and above, you must double-think about relocation—especially the intended outcome. And the level of lifestyle cuts you are ready to accommodate to achieve that outcome.

I’ve heard many stories of people who had house helps back home and relocated to the UK or Canada with their 3 or 4 children (without these house helps)—only to realize that they cannot afford the level of support they had back home and have found themselves in serious problems (depression, regret and painful adjustments).

The absurd adage, “no pain no gain” may be true. But sometimes, you don’t have to re-live a pain which you have already lived somewhere.

We all have one life and if you’ve managed to find a comfortable footing or lifestyle in a certain country, don’t just uproot yourself to go and start afresh somewhere else to suffer. What if you die 2 years after relocation while still in your struggling stage?

How many of us are willing to go back to secondary school and University (for about 5 years) all again—even if it means we will get slightly increased pay?

The thing is, if you are 19 years old or 22 years old, you can easily relocate, adjust and take the pains of relocation with ease. But if you are 40 years old with some level of comfort or roots in your home country, relocation wouldn’t be that easy.

Life is a daring adventure. But always think twice and consider many things, including even the effect of the cold weather on you as an older person. It shouldn’t all be about the money—it should be about the total “lifestyle” awaiting you.

You should even ...



https://techandbiz.com.ng/2024/04/28/when-you-have-to-re-think-about-relocation-to-a-western-country/

It's a very personal decision. People need to tone down the rhetoric (on both sides).

Many people have humbled themselves and started over in middle age abroad. And it wasn't a horror story because they were leveraging their resources, life experience, professional experience, and education. There's tons of people who simply went to nursing school, and they're enjoying a middle class life somewhere in America. There's also plenty of 20somethings intent on going elsewhere who find themselves right back home. Being 20 doesn't somehow make you immune to brokeness.

I don't want to bring them up, but there's plenty of middle-aged Asians and Hispanics/Latinos that don't hesitate. And a lot of them barely speak English. lol Most of the latin ones don't even have an education.

Japa has no age limit. You can migrate at 40, 50, 55 if you haven't achieved what you desire in life in the country you currently live, it has nothing to do with age. Many Nigerians after retirement from civil service go back to starting a new business at mostly 65yrs plus because they realized they didn't achieve much in their full employment years. So if they could do that, what stops them from migrating abroad to look for a greener pasture? I don't see any issue with people migrating abroad at any age, so long as they are migrating legally and know why they are migrating.


The only place I would agree with the op is that if you have achieved a certain level of financial stability and comfort in Nigeria, and you are 45yrs and above, if what you did to achieve the financial comfort is a bit secure to like 60% and can carry you till you are 65yrs, then you may need to forget Japa and focus on consolidating your existing success in Nigeria through none equitable investments spread across different portfolios.


But please let's not make Japa an age thing, age is nothing but a number. Some people's life will begin at 40, some at 50, others at 55, it does not matter, we all mustn't be rich or successful before a certain age. Whenever you find your success, embrace it and be grateful to God.


But from my little findings, the major reason most middle-class Nigerians are migrating abroad is not really to make money, but most out of fear; fear of the unknown, as in nobody knows what would become of Nigeria in few years to come with the crop of criminals parading themselves as President, Governors, Senators, Ministers and their likes, it's scary. These failed Nigerian leaders have ended up making Nigeria look hopeless and futureless. Nigeria has become a laughing stock, especially when it comes to insecurity (kidnapping, robbery, money ritual, banditry, terrorism, etc). It's really scary because these issues can escalate into a civil war anytime. This is what people are mostly scared of and reason many people you see as rich in Nigeria are abandoning all they have acquired in Nigeria to relocate abroad with their kids