Every week, Zikoko seeks to understand how people move the Naira in and out of their lives. Some stories will be struggle-ish, others will be bougie. All the time, it’ll be revealing.

She’s 28, currently living in Canada with the love of her life but this wasn’t always the plan. This is a story about how it unfolded.



Let’s start from the moment you knew it was time for Canada.
That would be 2017, precisely. I’d applied to yet another Masters’ program and gotten accepted. The tuition became an issue as I couldn’t afford it at the time.

My brother suggested I take the immigration route, saying it was cheaper than paying so much for school and then getting a job later. I wasn’t really interested because I felt immigration was going to be tedious. But I’d been on the Masters’ waka for five years at the time, and I just wanted to reach my goal.

Then one day –

Ah, the one day.
One day, I heard people shout “UP NEPA” after being without light for almost a week.

I just lost it.

Hahaha. It just had to be NEPA.
I realised I’d known this phrase since I was a kid and was wondering if I’d like my kids to see it as a norm.



Then I logged on to Twitter and all the frustrating things about Naija just rushed at me. I messaged my brother and we started researching how I could move. Right now, my entire family is on the track to moving out hahaha. I have a sibling in the U.K. also looking at a permanent move to Canada too.

Ha. Japa Clan.
Hahaha. Just my siblings actually.

Tell me about the first money Canada collected from you.
IELTS, in 2018. ₦65,000. The first time I wrote it, I didn’t get the score I wanted. By the time I was ready to write it the second time, it was already ₦75,000.

Wait, what do you mean you didn’t get the score you wanted?
IELTS is made up of four parts: speaking, reading, writing, listening.

Each part carries a total score of nine. They’ll also have a cumulative grade for you. Since the express entry was a point-based system, it works very well for you to score at least 8-7-7-7 (8 in speaking, 7 in the rest). These scores carry weight when you’re trying to see what cumulative score you might get on the Canadian immigration ranking tool. The ranking tool is to calculate points ranging from education to work experience to marital status, to age, to English language proficiency.

So whatever your cumulative points sum up to here determines if you’re qualified to enter the pool of people that will be eligible to apply for the Canadian express entry.

I scored 6.5 in writing, which messed up my entire result.

You were working while writing these exams, right?
Yeah, at an advertising agency as a client services executive. ₦80k a month. So I saved some of my income for a couple of months, while my brother sent me the balance.

Okay, what else did you pay for on this highway to Canada?
I had to pay ₦15,000 to have my transcripts sent to an evaluating body in Canada. That took a while, because of ASUU strike.

Oh, look at Nigeria fighting back to keep you.
Hahahaha. If I hear.

Anyway, I paid for that, got a reference number, and that reference number is what I used to create a profile. The evaluation money cost ₦88k when you change it to naira. It was actually paid for by my brother because the money was too much for me at the time. Also, you get a police certificate to confirm that you have no criminal record in Nigeria. That one cost me ₦3,500.

Ah, clean slates only.
Yep. Also, my husband and I were already dating at this point, and our plans aligned perfectly.

Hmm. Holy Canada. Holy Matrimony. Hearing husband for the first time in this conversation.
Hahaha. Remember that second IELTS that I wrote? I got 6.5 again. So my husband suggested that we merge our applications together and be on the journey as a unit.

Wait, did you just say unit, like a Voltron? Please explain how this works.
Hahaha. Yes, they let you do this. Apart from individuals applying, you can actually apply as a unit. Whether with child or not. For unit applications, there has to be a primary and secondary applicant. So if I’m applying with my husband who has better qualifications and IELTS scores, he’ll be the primary applicant, while I’ll be the dependant.

There are a few benefits to being the primary applicant. Like, the application profile, and correspondence. If you get permanent residency too, the secondary applicant can’t go without the primary applicant. So if the primary applicant dies, everything done burst.

Two seconds.
If you’re married, it increases your score. If you have a Masters’ Degree, it increases your score, if you have a PhD, even higher score. Then there’s the proof of funds part. For a single person, you need to have $12,000 CAD. Basically, they want you to be able to fend for yourself for at least 6 months, in case you don’t get a job immediately. As a couple, we had to keep $15,772 CAD. Applications for right of permanent residency cost us $550 CAD per head.

More payments.
My husband had money saved for years from work; God bless him. He was pretty frugal even though he earned a lot, so he covered most of the expenses.

There’s the medicals part. Basically, you need paperwork to show that you’re medically fit and you won’t be showing up in Canada with diseases that will require quarantine and stuff. That cost ₦28,000 per head.

The thing about the process is, the money can be overwhelming. But as each one came, we knocked it off. I had help from family, and of course from my husband.

Then one day, you just get a response and everything changes.

Slow down. How long did it take you to finally get a response?
The entire processing time took five months and eight days. The entire journey from that UP NEPA, took one year and 4 months.

On the 8th day after the five months, we got a request asking us to submit our passport. Then we had to wait two weeks for the passport to be returned to us.

Read the full conversation: https://www.zikoko.com/naira-life/canada-express-entry-costs/

Even if it costs 20million naira to leave this country, it's worth every penny.

Hmm. Tell me something

thesicilian:
Even if it costs 20million naira to leave this country, it's worth every penny.

how can you come up with 20 million and then run away from that same source I don't know if you understand me?

Instead of spending so much just to travel, it will be better for me to use that money for investment.
Then countries will be looking for u. I applied twice and i didn't get the visa.
Since then i only think of investment in my village, town or city, state and thinking of expanding it in the country.
U don't have money for business right?
but u have money for international flight tro and fro.
U also have money for visa application and for processing fee.
Now put the money together and concentrate with all seriousness in an investment. Allow the business experts to guide you and u be a millionaire.
I wont encourage some1 whose struggling to use such amount to do what?
Next!

Boringdraw1:
how can you come up with 20 million and then run away from that same source I don't know if you understand me?

I understand you perfectly, lol.
If it takes you 5 years to come up with 20million naira, and you travel out to a place where there are much less mad people, do you know you can make that money back in less than 2yrs?

How did it cost 8.8million? the maximum amount should be 2million, inclusive of IELTS, Wes, medicals, police report, application fee. The proof of funds is for them to keep and use in settling down.

sweetrie:
How did it cost 8.8million? the maximum amount should be 2million, inclusive of IELTS, Wes, medicals, police report, application fee. The proof of funds is for them to keep and use in settling down.

It's not even up to 1.5Million.. give or take.
Currently 1CAD = # 282
So do the maths

sweetrie:
How did it cost 8.8million? the maximum amount should be 2million, inclusive of IELTS, Wes, medicals, police report, application fee. The proof of funds is for them to keep and use in settling down.

Lol it's just click-bait nonsense.

9ja083:
Instead of spending so much just to travel, it will be better for me to use that money for investment.
Then countries will be looking for u. I applied twice and i didn't get the visa.
Since then i only think of investment in my village, town or city, state and thinking of expanding it in the country.
U don't have money for business right?
but u have money for international flight tro and fro.
U also have money for visa application and for processing fee.
Now put the money together and concentrate with all seriousness in an investment. Allow the business experts to guide you and u be a millionaire.
I wont encourage some1 whose struggling to use such amount to do what?
Next!

Many of you get wrong impression that everyone leaving Nigeria is about money. Some just want a better and a saner environment for their children where their children have more chances to national benefits even than they will in Nigeria, where there kids will not be harassed or killed by SARS for driving good cars or having dreadlocks, where there kids will have access to better health, may I remind you that even Buhari jets out for better treatments. The list goes on and on

8.8m indeed abeg

thesicilian:

I understand you perfectly, lol.
If it takes you 5 years to come up with 20million naira, and you travel out to a place where there are much less mad people, do you know you can make that money back in less than 2yrs?

Yes with yahoo. Fraud. Thief

The 8 million is inclusive of the cost of her wedding ceremony.

Meanwhile, the progression is astonishing!

Boringdraw1:
how can you come up with 20 million and then run away from that same source I don't know if you understand me?

i would run bro, money wey be say if u get am self, no rest of mind especially as a young guy, police ,sars, cults oh God.. naija yaff casted

peeps4u:


Many of you get wrong impression that everyone leaving Nigeria is about money. Some just want a better and a saner environment for their children where their children have more chances to national benefits even than they will in Nigeria, where there kids will not be harassed or killed by SARS for driving good cars or having dreadlocks, where there kids will have access to better health, may I remind you that even Buhari jets out for better treatments. The list goes on and on

I understand ur view. My parents were brought up in the village and they are well disciplined.
My parents didn't take me to overseas for me to behave well.
Child upbringing is the responsibility of both parents and not country.
Yes country may contribute but its not a major work of President.
In U.S., children are misbehaving. They have access to gun and have less attention to education. Even when they have great opportunity for it.
In U.K. children use knife to kill at a tender age.
In Nigeria children engage in bad things including cult.
I have seen children that behave well despite been brought up in a poor environment.
Everything depends on the role of the parents.
What kind of idea do u impact on them?
What do u encourage them to do? And how do u do it?
Am not a regret to my parents and i didn't cross the border.
It depends on us PARENTS!

Dangote can never be hustling for a visa.
If he goes to an embassy to apply for a visa, they wont ask him much but will say "thank u Sir. We are pleased that u are coming to invest in our country. "
Same with innoson, otedola etc

Once they are enjoying their lives in Canada, it is worth every penny.

Nigeria is bad because of the people in it. 80% amount of trauma and stress we go through as Nigerians daily is caused willfully by our fellow Nigerians.

9ja083:


I understand ur view. My parents were brought up in the village and they are well disciplined.
My parents didn't take me to overseas for me to behave well.
Child upbringing is the responsibility of both parents and not country.
Yes country may contribute but its not a major work of President.
In U.S., children are misbehaving. They have access to gun and have less attention to education. Even when they have great opportunity for it.
In U.K. children use knife to kill at a tender age.
In Nigeria children engage in bad things including cult.
I have seen children that behave well despite been brought up in a poor environment.
Everything depends on the role of the parents.
What kind of idea do u impact on them?
What do u encourage them to do? And how do u do it?
Am not a regret to my parents and i didn't cross the border.
It depends on us PARENTS!

You clearly got me wrong.

This is not about parents, I agree every parent has to play his part to bring up the children in good ways.
But I'm not talking about child upbringing or moral here. I talking about some people relocating because they want a safer environment than what Nigeria offers where their children will not be harassed or killed for having dreadlocks or driving good cars, and also in an environment where their children will have better healthcare and education. Like I said before, the lists go on and on.

There are crimes all over the country, but the rates are different. You can't tell me police extort citizens brazenlymin canada like we experience in Nigeria.
Police won't arrest or intimidate you for driving good cars or having dreadlocks in canada.
Police won't burst into clubs and arrest every young guy there and tag them Yahoo guys.
There are better health care facilities, recently, one guy made FP on nairaland who was said to be former moderator here, the guy died of wrong blood transfusion in LUTH. Another woman narrated last week how her child died at same LUTH because doctor failed to show up since night till following morning till the child died.
There is a better education in Canada.
Better roads
Better light.

And there are better chances that their children won't face much uncertainty in unemployment like in Nigeria when they grow up, there are more opportunities there.
The lists are endless

These are reasons many people are relocating; not because of money. A lot of people relocating to Canada are doing well in Nigeria but they just want a better environment for themselves and children which I think it is reasonable.

So, the talk about investing the money they use to travel on business is lame to many people; they are doing well already in Nigeria but they think they deserve better country than Nigeria.

Even our president has his leave and rest in abroad, has his treatment abroad, his children have their education abroad. Isn't that a testament to the fact that anyone who has the wherewithal to move out of this country should do so?

seanwilliam:
i would run bro, money wey be say if u get am self, no rest of mind especially as a young guy, police ,sars, cults oh God.. naija yaff casted

Besides, it takes one useless policy from the govt to ruin a business.

Do you know this border closure is affecting some Nigerians because they can't export to the neighbouring countries? Innocent citizens are paying the price for the inefficient and corrupt custom officers who can't man the borders because of the bribe they take from smugglers? Must we close border against Legit businessmen who import and export because we want to stop smuggling when we have customs?

[quote author=9ja083 post=83939707]Instead of spending so much just to travel, it will be better for me to use that money for investment.
Then countries will be looking for u. I applied twice and i didn't get the visa.
Since then i only think of investment in my village, town or city, state and thinking of expanding it in the country.
U don't have money for business right?
?

And I the next 12_15 years your children will be on nairaland asking questions on how to migrate! Everything is not money, most people.travelling just want a better and healthy life that Nigeria had failed to offer

[quote author=WARUM post=83951114][/quote]


Same thing I was telling him. Many are relocating just for the future of their children where the uncertainty in the future will be minimal for the children.
It is not all about money money many of these people think. All these people relocating are doing well in Nigeria already, that's why they can even afford the cost of relocating

correctguy0900:


Yes with yahoo. Fraud. Thief

No dull yourself o, make e no be say by the time you realize the truth e don almost too late...

thesicilian:

No dull yourself o, make e no be say by the time you realize the truth e don almost too late...

I hear u

How many Nigerians are killed for wearing dreadlocks? You guys exaggerate these things Joor.

If you are in America or even in Canada and watch their local stations you will be like 'Wao, na Canada all these things dey happen?".

peeps4u:


You clearly got me wrong.

This is not about parents, I agree every parent has to play his part to bring up the children in good ways.
But I'm not talking about child upbringing or moral here. I talking about some people relocating because they want a safer environment than what Nigeria offers where their children will not be harassed or killed for having dreadlocks or driving good cars, and also in an environment where their children will have better healthcare and education. Like I said before, the lists go on and on.

There are crimes all over the country, but the rates are different. You can't tell me police extort citizens brazenlymin canada like we experience in Nigeria.
Police won't arrest or intimidate you for driving good cars or having dreadlocks in canada.
Police won't burst into clubs and arrest every young guy there and tag them Yahoo guys.
There are better health care facilities, recently, one guy made FP on nairaland who was said to be former moderator here, the guy died of wrong blood transfusion in LUTH. Another woman narrated last week how her child died at same LUTH because doctor failed to show up since night till following morning till the child died.
There is a better education in Canada.
Better roads
Better light.

And there are better chances that their children won't face much uncertainty in unemployment like in Nigeria when they grow up, there are more opportunities there.
The lists are endless

These are reasons many people are relocating; not because of money. A lot of people relocating to Canada are doing well in Nigeria but they just want a better environment for themselves and children which I think it is reasonable.

So, the talk about investing the money they use to travel on business is lame to many people; they are doing well already in Nigeria but they think they deserve better country than Nigeria.

Even our president has his leave and rest in abroad, has his treatment abroad, his children have their education abroad. Isn't that a testament to the fact that anyone who has the wherewithal to move out of this country should do so?

sweetrie:
How did it cost 8.8million? the maximum amount should be 2million, inclusive of IELTS, Wes, medicals, police report, application fee. The proof of funds is for them to keep and use in settling down.

POF for couple is 4.4m. You also pay some money to the CAD govt for the residency document. Then flight tickets and initial accommodation: Abi una go sleep under snow?

stagger:


POF for couple is 4.4m. You also pay some money to the CAD govt for the residency document. Then flight tickets and initial accommodation: Abi una go sleep under snow?

I got house before I landed, we didn't spend up to "8.8m" for family of 3. The POF is your money in your account. So is it a cost?

sweetrie:
How did it cost 8.8million? the maximum amount should be 2million, inclusive of IELTS, Wes, medicals, police report, application fee. The proof of funds is for them to keep and use in settling down.

You don't know what you are saying.

POF for one person is around 12,000CAD which is approximately 3.3m.

IELTS, verification of documents and other little payments here and there will cost another 400 to 500k.

Flight ticket will cost you almost another 300k.

The total is already around 4.5m.


If you read the story, she traveled with her husband. And she also added her wedding cost which was around 2.5m.

If the cost was only 2m, all Nigerians would have been in Canada now.

9ja083:
Instead of spending so much just to travel, it will be better for me to use that money for investment.
Then countries will be looking for u. I applied twice and i didn't get the visa.
Since then i only think of investment in my village, town or city, state and thinking of expanding it in the country.
U don't have money for business right?
but u have money for international flight tro and fro.
U also have money for visa application and for processing fee.
Now put the money together and concentrate with all seriousness in an investment. Allow the business experts to guide you and u be a millionaire.
I wont encourage some1 whose struggling to use such amount to do what?
Next!

Which investment are you going to put your 8.8m into in Nigeria?

This is how you know people that have never touched 1m raw cash in their life.

Grupo:


POF for one person is around 12,000CAD which is approximately 3.3m

If you read the story, she traveled with her husband. And she also added her wedding cost which was around 2.5m.

If the cost was only 2m, all Nigerians would have been in Canada now.

Why would you add wedding cost to costs incurred in relocating? I gave birth here should I add the costs too as part of my relocation cost?
She could have gone to registry and pay only $200, why didn't she?
How is POF in your account a cost please?
People have landed and not use the POF, so should they keep including it in the cost of relocating. Anyways it's a blog, na them know

Grupo:


Which investment are you going to put your 8.8m into in Nigeria?

This is how you know people that have never touched 1m raw cash in their life.

Sorry am already into it.
. And in the village, 90% of ppl cant afford going to big hospital for treatment. So i opened a health center in village.
Now am thinking of adding cars and schools to it.
With 8 million, u can have a nursery and primary schools.
With 8 million u can open a motor part business.
With 8 million u can open a good health centers in your village.
With 8 million u can have a standard pharmacy.
With 8 million u can be a major distributor in diapers.
With 8 million u have a mini mall.
All u have to do is to think of what ppl actually need in your location then move into it. If u can't handle it, invite an expert let them guide you.
Everything in this country is money but u need your brain to start thinking.
Even if u want to move to agriculture, just make sure ppl knows what u are doing and u will have customers.
So when i use the word THINK am always thinking of business that wont hurt anyone

There are crimes everywhere but the rates are different?
Tell me or show me the news where in USA or Canada police are stopping random young guys in good cars and tagging them criminals forcing them to ATM and withdraw for them. This ugly thing happens every day across the country such that young guys are even afraid to go out with good phones or laptops. Some people feel they deserve better and saner country than Nigeria and this is enough reason for anyone to relocate if he s the means.

tessytessy:
How many Nigerians are killed for wearing dreadlocks? You guys exaggerate these things Joor.

If you are in America or even in Canada and watch their local stations you will be like 'Wao, na Canada all these things dey happen?".

You're obviously not a business man.
You're mentioning health centers and pharmacy? Are these businesses anyone can do?
And who told you all proprietors of school are doing financially better than anyone who uses same money to travel out.

9ja083:


Sorry am already into it.
. And in the village, 90% of ppl cant afford going to big hospital for treatment. So i opened a health center in village.
Now am thinking of adding cars and schools to it.
With 8 million, u can have a nursery and primary schools.
With 8 million u can open a motor part business.
With 8 million u can open a good health centers in your village.
With 8 million u can have a standard pharmacy.
With 8 million u can be a major distributor in diapers.
With 8 million u have a mini mall.
All u have to do is to think of what ppl actually need in your location then move into it. If u can't handle it, invite an expert let them guide you.
Everything in this country is money but u need your brain to start thinking.
Even if u want to move to agriculture, just make sure ppl knows what u are doing and u will have customers.
So when i use the word THINK am always thinking of business that wont hurt anyone