hammed71:
Going back home is not a viable option

He should keep doing menial jobs right?

mroyato:
It's quite unfortunate that I stumbled on this post very late (almost 2 years after). However, I am sure that the OP must have made a good decision; and I would appreciate if he could let us know what his final decision was.

That being said, there is a big illusion down here regarding the west. Many people (read Nigerians) think it's all rosy out there and would rather do a menial job with a PhD qualification in Germany or Canada than to make that bold decision of coming back home. They think it's your village people at work when you eventually decide to come home. Pathetic!

I do not know what name to call such a low self esteem mentality, and I always wonder how we have settled to live with such a low, weak, and timid mentality. Listen, there is an hidden hierarchy of preference in the west, and unfortunately, Africa is last on the scale with Nigeria sitting rock bottom on the list.

Unless you are an IT guru, extremely brilliant and exceptional, your chances of doing anything professional in the west is less than 10%. Except otherwise, you have an EU/US passport. Therefore, in most cases, the best option is to come back home, try your hands on a couple of things, and if it doesnt work, you can then consider going back to europe or any other location of choice.

The crux of my argument is that coming home is a viable option, and if there's any one else in this kind of situation, do not let anyone, be it your family member or friends, force or convince you into living an unfulfilled life that you will later regret, in the name of staying abroad.

My 2 cents!

Don't mind them. Only people who haven't traveled think like that.
Maybe, when i finally come back home in a few years time to run my own package, they will chase me back.

Explore other regions. Lately, there's been an influx of Nigerians migrating to Canada courtesy of their Federal Skilled Worker program. Look into it. You might end up getting a professional job out there.

Best wishes.

coming2america:
Listen....

I am a Nigerian who relocated to the US to go hustle...some years ago. I went on a visa, to do what guys normally do- over stay visa, marry change status and live the American dream

My friends were doing it and it seemed kinda cool. Got to the US- the NE, got a survival job, was zeemingly living well, facebook pictures and all. Got into a bramch of IT(without papers) with w9 tho,and was earning like 20 an hour,which was something, though it wasnt steady, steady work.

To supplement i was a pizza driver by the side, also doing doordash, instashopper and all. But somehow, i was not happy, i knew i could do better.

To get any headway, i knew i had to marry-an akata or someone to get my stay to be legit and begin to work on a w2 with big companies getting steady pay.

I couldnt save enough to pay a girl $10k for marriage and the women loving me, were these obese, fat ugly ones who may be rich, but meeeeehn, getting an erection every night to service her for the 3 or 5yrs it would take me to get my PR was a no no.i cant keep up with pretense that long.

For how long would i then consider staying in the US as an overstay hoping for big break when i even got in, in my late 30's? The people,we(me and some friends from Naija who we came in together) looked upto were doing uber, amazon flex and Lyft. The big boys considered themselves car dealers- i come US come dey ship moto go back naija?

That seemed to be the immediate aspiration and so I asked myself, soooo, i will be drivung Uber in America? Taxi? Or be doing car dealer(which i didnt even have the money to go into) going to auction every tuesday and thurrsday? Thats the dream?

My IT work, those my managers and supervisors who paid me $20 an hour had bsen in the field for 30yeats and they always got to site before me and left after me, atimes 10hrs straight of work. So i asked mysf at what point will these peoplw rest?.At 70? 80? Because people with that kind of expeerice ( and i am talking master) are on the penthouse office in Lagos directing staff through managers. Here, they were still on the field. Haba

I decided i was coming back to Nigeria. I knew a couole of big wigs i felt qould give me a soft landing, but meeeehn, it hqs been hell since. Nothing has worked since i came back.

Ans i came back without money.

Now, all my hopes rests on a former Boss of mine who has is handling a huge govt project (we have been exchnaging notes on for the past three months)for the nexr 10years, totalling almost $12billion in execution.

If he calls me, hopefully within the next 48hrs,I would have been saved by the bell. If he doesnt,then i am doomed and oming back would perhaps be the biggest mistake of my life.

Look before you leap bro. Nigeria is hell, but by all means do not settle for menial jobs. But by all means, have a good alternative

Don't worry, everything will be fine with time. It is well with you bro.

Hope the topic isn’t too old

Whatever you do don’t come back to nigeria

The country drains you emotionally , physically , psychologically , financially , mentally , health wise , stress, security , so many things are not working.

I have real estate investment worth 90m in nigeria yielding annual income and stable business but I still want to relocate anytime I think about raising the kids and wife in this death trap called country !

Nigeria is really bad even when you have money you find it hard to have happiness .lots of people with problems . Really bad!

nairalanduseles:
Baba come Australia....i have been to the uk its dead ....come to Australia NSW u will thank me

Where are you at the moment?

Ssdd:
Hope the topic isn’t too old

Whatever you do don’t come back to nigeria

The country drains you emotionally , physically , psychologically , financially , mentally , health wise , stress, security , so many things are not working.

I have real estate investment worth 90m in nigeria yielding annual income and stable business but I still want to relocate anytime I think about raising the kids and wife in this death trap called country !

Nigeria is really bad even when you have money you find it hard to have happiness .lots of people with problems . Really bad!

You have investments worth 90 millions yet you have not visited any country before and now planning to Japa to unknown country, busy advising other to follow you on a blind journey in the name of Japa
My bro make we dey lie small small na. Truth be told you can not make 90 million outside Nigeria , who no go no go know. Stop using kids as excuse to Japa they are the future of Nigeria leader, developed country you want to Japa was developed by their youths and their kids of yesterday. Let’s stop this madness and stop disgracing Nigeria.

ShyWhale:
The high percentage of Africans even with German Phds doing menial jobs is highly discouraging and depressing. Most are trapped in the race for survival and I can't imagine myself living life like them.

This has to be trolling. I mean it can't be that bad.

haha......exactly the way it is brother.....just exactly. No trolling

Cousin9999:


This has to be trolling. I mean it can't be that bad.

iammo:


Stay in Germany, till You can sort a better country... Australia, Canada even Uk if you can get a job.., little money you get from menial jobs you get could be channeled into trying other countries skilled migration programs.

That extreme urge you have about Coming to Nigeria, is the work of demons, should you come back without the support of your Family, chaiiiiii you would regret regreting it


.

Op. Please forget any other advice you may read on this thread and stick with this alone... keep doing the work you can see for now at the expense of coming back home while you keep thinking how to make things better there... don’t come back home when you are not fully prepared and already to see all the calamity here..

HRprof:


You have investments worth 90 millions yet you have not visited any country before and now planning to Japa to unknown country, busy advising other to follow you on a blind journey in the name of Japa
My bro make we dey lie small small na. Truth be told you can not make 90 million outside Nigeria , who no go no go know. Stop using kids as excuse to Japa they are the future of Nigeria leader, developed country you want to Japa was developed by their youths and their kids of yesterday. Let’s stop this madness and stop disgracing Nigeria.

One day you will grow get to our age and understand nigeria isn’t worth it. I have been to many countries even stayed for some years before coming back. I am moving my wife and kids out. Money isn’t the problem. I know what I want ! You won’t notice it yet until you grow older. I know people who are stupid rich and have relocated. They aren’t mad ! they already foresee the country’s future.

You can stay in the country if you like it is your choice! Keep your hope alive

Ssdd:



One day you will grow get to our age and understand nigeria isn’t worth it. I have been to many countries even stayed for some years before coming back. I am moving my wife and kids out. Money isn’t the problem. I know what I want ! You won’t notice it yet until you grow older. I know people who are stupid rich and have relocated. They aren’t mad ! they already foresee the country’s future.

You can stay in the country if you like it is your choice! Keep your hope alive

If you claim that only older people get to understand there no future in Nigeria then why the old people in leadership position in this country? Why can’t them relocate to another country if they have seen the future? My dear if relocating to another country is the problem of Nigerian we will not hear bad news on Nigerians abroad! Let’s stop deceiving ourselves is not greener over there. If you have stayed abroad then come back to nigeria you will not sound they way you did on your previous comment. I’m sure you must have seen some jobless and homeless people there too! No matter you badmouth nigeria the truth remains that you are nigeria blood even those foreigners you are running to will still see you are a Nigeria.

Well, the UK has baddies. Germany, not so much.

2piK:


You are quite right about the difficulty in getting professional jobs in Germany, but this is not a problem with Germany; it's a problem in every advanced economy. The system in these countries is to always protect the interest of their citizens (rightfully so in my opinion), it's in Nigeria that foreigners would come into the country as expatriates and enjoy the quality of life that its citizens cannot enjoy.

Now you won't like the next few paragraphs. You are entitled. Germany never asked you to come and neither were you promised a job on completion of your studies. You made the decision to integrate yourself into it's society. Have you ever considered that a country like Germany that offers tuition free studies up to PhD level will not have shortage of skilled talents to choose from? So why should you be picked over other talents available? Because you have a masters degree? Do you know how many people have the same masters degree? Or even higher qualifications?

Advanced societies are selfish and only care about integrating the best foreign talents into their societies. So invest in yourself and make yourself stand out. Before you try to make excuses, i will briefly share my personal story and hopefully it will help reinforce believe in yourself and know that you can do it. I was your age when i came to the UK for studies, having no one except God as my friend and family. I discovered quickly that this place called the United Kingdom is a battle ground and i have my work cut-out for me if i am going to make success of it (i won't bother giving examples of what i experienced that informed this thinking as i think it's irrelevant to key points in your post).

During my studies, i did cleaning, support work, care work, kitchen staff (i did any kind of menial job to survive) and i always had a smile on my face because my life was better than when i used to hawk in Nigeria. However, I didn't get discouraged and i completed my bachelors as the best graduating student for my cohort. Based on this, I was lucky to get part scholarship from the University to do my masters which i completed in flying colours. Then the UK had a post-study visa for 2 years, got a job as a software developer with this PSW visa. When my 2 year visa was about to run out my company sponsored me and I got a work visa for 5 years.

Fast forward to the present, i have completed a bachelors, 2 masters and almost a PhD (in my 5th year of my part time PhD programme), I am now a British citizen with qualitative and extensive work experience spanning several EU countries (which incidentally includes Germany, I worked in Berlin for eight months, staying at the Westin Grand at the expense of my employers) and am now a software architect consulting for companies with the remit of providing technical guidance to their software development teams. Even during my work, I continued investing in myself, hence the other masters and my PhD (despite now having my own family).

Do you know how i got Software development experience in the UK?
Before coming here, I had 5 years working as a programmer, on arrival here I knew between classes and doing all sorts of menial jobs; i wouldn't have the time to explore volunteer opportunities. So what did i do? I was going round all local businesses (when i had free time between classes) around the university introducing myself. I explained who i was, what i was doing here and how i can help their businesses. Most of them, told me to jog on (which is British slang for f*** off) in the most polite way possible. So in my first year, no one offered me nothing. But in my second year of my studies, I got lucky there was this care agency that got tired of seeing my face, gave in and asked me to build them an application for managing their staff rota (till today i don't know if they requested this because they thought i won't be motivated to do it for free or even be able to deliver it).

I gave it my best effort, spoke to my course advisor at the university about the project. She was impressed and helped me massively. She designed sprints for me in which i completed specific features each sprint. She helped with testing the software, she wanted me to succeed, I owe her everything. The agency liked it and i got other jobs through them (this was 100% free, i never got paid any money for this project). By the time i finished my degree i had done about 5 of such free projects (now i have a portfolio of my work).

Do you know how i got my first professional job?
I will tell you. I was doing a cleaning job in my university, i had a floor i cleaned every morning before going to class, my floor had about 20 offices or maybe more...can't really remember the exact number. There was a particular office that i hated cleaning, it was always messy and took me lots of time to clean (time that i did not have). Typically i finish my shift before the lecturers come in, but on this particular day, i was cleaning this useless office and the professor came in before i had finished. I greeted him like he was my creator and apologised for not finishing his office on time (even though he was the one who came early). The bastard just nodded and didn't even say a word to me.

I didn't know that moment was when my life would change. 2 weeks later i attended a seminar in the University and this bastard professor was one of the speakers! Next morning when i got to his office to clean, he was already there. I was taken aback and before i could say anything he asked if i was at his seminar the day before, i answered in the affirmative. We got talking, he told me a bit about himself and his research interest (the focus of the seminar) and he got to know i could write software. He said they needed a software intern that could do some work for the research group. I didn't even think, I said yes and that was "my first unofficial professional job", working for his research group. Bye bye cleaning job.

When i finished my masters degree, the research group recommended me to one of their industry partners. My interview revolved around discussing my portfolio (the free job i did for the care agency and the systems research group). I got the job and that was my "first proper official professional job" and I gave it my all. 4 months before my post-study work visa finished the company sponsored me for my 5 year work visa, my parents were crying when i told them over the phone. I will be honest and say that i was underpaid during the period i was on the sponsorship visa, other colleagues with same level of experience or even less were earning double what i was earning...but i kept telling myself, this will not be forever. But when i got my citizenship, it's like i was launched into a new world. I left the company and got a job with a Swedish company in UK that paid me a fortune compared to my previous salary. Not just that, by virtue of being an EU citizen 27 countries became open to me where i could go work and i took advantage of these benefits.

So you see, it can be done. Was it easy? Not at all, i went through hell. But i knew what i wanted for my life, had a plan and worked extremely hard and while i might not be rich, I think i have managed to achieve some of my dreams. You are still young brother, at your age i didn't have what you had. You CAN definitely do this.

So what is my advice?
Moving countries is not always the solution at times. If you haven't sorted out your approach and self-belief, regardless of wherever you go; you'll have the same problems. Also, whatever you do, get a second nationality before you return to Nigeria as that alone will open untold doors for you in future, even if things don't go to plan in Nigeria you know you can always activate plan b (second nationality). Start networking and investing in yourself, it won't yield fruits immediately but don't be discouraged, eventually your hardwork will pay off. The truth is advanced societies don't care about the colour of your skin all they care about is that you have something that they need! Make yourself that which they need!!

And when your situation improves and feel like you have achieved some of your dreams. Start investing in Nigeria. The country doesn't need more job seekers. It needs entrepreneurs. This is my story, I hope it motivates you to be strong.

Wow! Not only do I love your post, I love you! and your Spirit!

Best wishes bro.

2piK:


I think some of us Nigerians need to cultivate how not to be selfish and think of others. Since my response to the OP's post, the volume of emails i have received from people wanting to have private conversations with me is unreasonable, in Europe time is expensive and folks back home need to understand this, if i spend my time responding to everyone individually; i won't have the time to continue my self development.

Whatever folks want to know, should be asked here for the following reasons:
- Asking questions on the thread ensures that other folks that have same questions can benefit from the answer.
- Other experienced folks on here can also contribute and maybe even give better answers than i probably can.

But most importantly, we need to learn how to research and figure things out for ourselves. Some of us never had the benefit of guidance (other than personal research) before embarking on our respective journeys. Let us have consideration for others.

Well said.

Wow. Just finished reading from page 1 to 24, what an interesting thread, very interesting and insightful. Thanks to everyone that contributed.

@OP: Nice post, can we have updates from you? What you up to now?

HRprof:


You have investments worth 90 millions yet you have not visited any country before and now planning to Japa to unknown country, busy advising other to follow you on a blind journey in the name of Japa
My bro make we dey lie small small na. Truth be told you can not make 90 million outside Nigeria , who no go no go know. Stop using kids as excuse to Japa they are the future of Nigeria leader, developed country you want to Japa was developed by their youths and their kids of yesterday. Let’s stop this madness and stop disgracing Nigeria.

Exactly. Even majority of the high middle class citizens in Germany or UK cannot boast of 90 million naira or lands and houses.

HRprof:


If you claim that only older people get to understand there no future in Nigeria then why the old people in leadership position in this country? Why can’t them relocate to another country if they have seen the future? My dear if relocating to another country is the problem of Nigerian we will not hear bad news on Nigerians abroad! Let’s stop deceiving ourselves is not greener over there. If you have stayed abroad then come back to nigeria you will not sound they way you did on your previous comment. I’m sure you must have seen some jobless and homeless people there too! No matter you badmouth nigeria the truth remains that you are nigeria blood even those foreigners you are running to will still see you are a Nigeria.

The answer to your question is simple
The same old people ruling you , the same old people have their families abroad. And almost all of them have dual citizenship and will move when things got worse. Same old people so called opportunist called politicians are only in nigeria to steal the money and will run when the smoke clears!! It is easier to steal in nigeria than anywhere and that’s why the politicians do or die here! You won’t understand now my bro. Just keep daydreaming and Goodluck

Ssdd:


The answer to your question is simple
The same old people ruling you , the same old people have their families abroad. And almost all of them have dual citizenship and will move when things got worse. Same old people so called opportunist called politicians are only in nigeria to steal the money and will run when the smoke clears!! It is easier to steal in nigeria than anywhere and that’s why the politicians do or die here! You won’t understand now my bro. Just keep daydreaming and Goodluck

So your plan is to keep your family abroad and come back to steal money like our politicians as you claim. Why not remain there and die there. The truth still remains that after staying broad they will still come back to tell us NO PLACE LIKE HOME, bros you are free to do whatever you want but my problem is the way you condemn your origin, your blood and your inheritance is too bad , you can achieve what you want without writing off Nigerians in total. Other country face challenges but they can never come online to condemned theirs country. This abroad when you plan to relocate, just mention to any citizen that your a Nigerian you will understand what I’m saying. I wish you good luck

HRprof:


So your plan is to keep your family abroad and come back to steal money like our politicians as you claim. Why not remain there and die there. The truth still remains that after staying broad they will still come back to tell us NO PLACE LIKE HOME, bros you are free to do whatever you want but my problem is the way you condemn your origin, your blood and your inheritance is too bad , you can achieve what you want without writing off Nigerians in total. Other country face challenges but they can never come online to condemned theirs country. This abroad when you plan to relocate, just mention to any citizen that your a Nigerian you will understand what I’m saying. I wish you good luck

My people don't understand. They think badmouthing their country every given moment is what it takes to show that they are enlightened or truthful.

The country we are running from was deliberately made poor by our own corruption in collaboration with the same Western World we are running to who know that keeping Africa poor would be to their benefit because they can also attract our best who would despise the motherland blaming it all on the politicians.
(Many of these politicians are mere corrupt stooges for the west who store much of Africa's wealth in Europe just like they also did for the colonialists in time past)

This mindset and despise for our own is part of why our rich are ready to spend millions of naira to make their child school in the U.S or U.K thereby enriching these universities even more.

I am not against people wanting to travel especially to make ends meet. What I don't get is why people would hate their country so much.

HRprof:


So your plan is to keep your family abroad and come back to steal money like our politicians as you claim. Why not remain there and die there. The truth still remains that after staying broad they will still come back to tell us NO PLACE LIKE HOME, bros you are free to do whatever you want but my problem is the way you condemn your origin, your blood and your inheritance is too bad , you can achieve what you want without writing off Nigerians in total. Other country face challenges but they can never come online to condemned theirs country. This abroad when you plan to relocate, just mention to any citizen that your a Nigerian you will understand what I’m saying. I wish you good luck

Those are educated illiterate Nigerians.....
They are many on nairaland....

Always badmouthing the country and comparing a third world country with the first world...

Those are the people that will still go to that abroad and scam the system over there.

oluayebenz:


Those are educated illiterate Nigerians.....
They are many on nairaland....

Always badmouthing the country and comparing a third world country with the first world...

Those are the people that will still go to that abroad and scam the system over there.

The worst part is that they know nothing about abroad thinking they will go there to pick money in the street and become rich overnight, unfortunately for them they become frustrated then looking for a way out by becoming a scammer. That’s why you are not proud to mention you are Nigerian abroad , they will first see you as a scammer. I will keep educating them whenever I see such post is so annoying

Inasmuch as I do not condemn Nigeria, but anyone condemning moving out of this country in search of greener pasture is not being truthful to himself.

I find it funny when people say that an average middle man in Germany and the UK can not boast of 90million naira.
Let me ask you
Is it in Nigeria that an average middle man can boast of 90 million Naira?
Some guys are not being sincere to themselves and I don´t like that.
At least an average middle man in Germany and the UK are not poor and frustrated by bad government.

Goztino:
Inasmuch as I do not condemn Nigeria, but anyone condemning moving out of this country in search of greener pasture is not being truthful to himself.

I find it funny when people say that an average middle man in Germany and the UK can not boast of 90million naira.
Let me ask you
Is it in Nigeria that an average middle man can boast of 90 million Naira?
Some guys are not being sincere to themselves and I don´t like that.
At least an average middle man in Germany and the UK are not poor and frustrated by bad government.

An average middle man in Germany and UK ( especially Germany) do not have lands and their own houses. They just work and pay almost half of the salary to the Government as taxes. It is easier for an average or middle class man in Nigeria to buy a land as an investment than for the average white man.
The people paying 11 million naira or 15 million naira from Nigeria to the UK or 8 million for Germany's blocked account are doing okay. What they lack are the basics from the Government. People in Germany get shocked when you reveal to them that you spent 10000 Euros or 7 million naira for studies, many of them get help from Government. In America many are into debts.
I'm not against relocating abroad when struggling but my logic is that one who can get 10 million naira in Nigeria or one doing well should consider and plan properly if it's really worth it.

GeneralDae:

An average middle man in Germany and UK ( especially Germany) do not have lands and their own houses. They just work and pay almost half of the salary to the Government as taxes. It is easier for an average or middle class man in Nigeria to buy a land as an investment than for the average white man.
Ask yourself, the people paying 11 million naira or 15 million naira from Nigeria to the UK or 8 million for Germany's blocked account are doing okay. What they lack are the basics from the Government. People in Germany get shocked when you reveal to them that you spent 10000 Euros or 7 million naira for studies, many of them get help from Government. In America many are into debts.
I'm not against relocating abroad when struggling but my logic is that one who can get 10 million naira in Nigeria or one doing well should consider and plan properly if it's really worth it.

Bros I have a ton of German colleagues and na lie. My coworker is 19 years and has his own house. He also drives a porsche.

GeneralDae:

An average middle man in Germany and UK ( especially Germany) do not have lands and their own houses. They just work and pay almost half of the salary to the Government as taxes. It is easier for an average or middle class man in Nigeria to buy a land as an investment than for the average white man.
Ask yourself, the people paying 11 million naira or 15 million naira from Nigeria to the UK or 8 million for Germany's blocked account are doing okay. What they lack are the basics from the Government. People in Germany get shocked when you reveal to them that you spent 10000 Euros or 7 million naira for studies, many of them get help from Government. In America many are into debts.
I'm not against relocating abroad when struggling but my logic is that one who can get 10 million naira in Nigeria or one doing well should consider and plan properly if it's really worth it.

How do you know that?

justwise:


How do you know that?

Because I have lived in Germany and have a lot of relatives and information on the UK. That's why I said Germany especially.

tensazangetsu20:


Bros I have a ton of German colleagues and na lie. My coworker is 19 years and has his own house. He also drives a porsche.

That's a minority, I tell you. Most pay rents and just live pay check to pay check. The average net salary is 2350 Euros for tax class 1 ( a single person without family).

GeneralDae:

That's a minority, I tell you. Most pay rents and just live pay check to pay check. The average net salary is 2350 Euros.

Probably in low skilled labour. Not so for high skilled careers in IT or healthcare. I know Devs working with companies in Germany and they are even paying them more than 2350 euros and they are living here in Nigeria.

tensazangetsu20:

Probably in low skilled labour. Not so for high skilled careers in IT or healthcare. I know Devs working with companies in Germany and they are even paying them more than 2350 euros and they are living here in Nigeria.

Even for high skilled labour. The average Brutto (Gross salary) is 3750 Euros ( Also for blue card) and that is 2350 Euros net.
Your friend must be in a good tech paying job. Majority of people do not work in tech.

GeneralDae:

Even for high skilled labour. The average Brutto (Gross salary) is 3750 Euros ( Also for blue card) and that is 2350 Euros net.
Your friend must be in a good tech paying job. Majority of people do not work in tech.

You can also say the same for the USA Canada and others. You see tech figures at six figures likewise healthcare. Majority of people don't work in tech. Minimum wage is 7 USD per hour though in some states it's much higher but then in Germany you get free healthcare. Your kids get world class education from primary to university. World class infrastructure too.