Rossinky:


You sure? Loads of qualified Nigerian graduates in low-paid jobs in the UK, bro. Many work in security, warehouse jobs, or drive cabs, and it's not really their fault. It's not as if they haven't applied for professional jobs. They just don't get called in for interview. But they are always looking to better their condition, so they tend to progress eventually. Many just save up and start their own business at some point, or retrain in some professional field with job guarantees, and do pretty well. You have guys who studied say civil engineering at uni, couldn't get jobs in the field after graduation, worked odd jobs, and then did a short course (with job guarantee) in book keeping, or IT support, or project management, and voilla! Life don change for dem..

why are they still in the UK? For me UK no be country,. I look at them like the English speaking Russia. Well That was not what I meant with that comment . I really can't type now.. if only nairaland enabled voicenotes

[quote author=OlakunmiSMELTD post=86633428][/quote]

Oga take it easy.

Rossinky:


You sure? Loads of qualified Nigerian graduates in low-paid jobs in the UK, bro. Many work in security, warehouse jobs, or drive cabs, and it's not really their fault. It's not as if they haven't applied for professional jobs. They just don't get called in for interview. But they are always looking to better their condition, so they tend to progress eventually. Many just save up and start their own business at some point, or retrain in some professional field with job guarantees, and do pretty well. You have guys who studied say civil engineering at uni, couldn't get jobs in the field after graduation, worked odd jobs, and then did a short course (with job guarantee) in book keeping, or IT support, or project management, and voilla! Life don change for dem..

At least they HAVE jobs, and the hope/guarantee of eventually getting a better position with experience.

Can you compare this to the millions of brilliant, hardworking graduates whose lives have been rendered useless by years of joblessness in Nigeria? Graduates who are left with no choice but to start up petty "businesses" such as event catering, barbing, hair dressing, small chops, makeup artist etc..

Besides, a security job in the UK is not something you should add to your list, those dudes are GENEROUSLY paid and don't really have to do much on the job but sit there and browse the internet ... dont get it twisted.

J111333:
If you land in the States with age on your side and want to live a life of low debt (because debt is inevitable), then join the military and further whatever career you want after serving a few years or even further your career in it but you need to have sense otherwise you'll be discharged dishonorably.

An 0-4 officer in US military who earns 85-95k salary is better than a nurse who earns 100-120k. You won't understand this until you wanna live your dreams of buying a home. If you put all the discounts in things as little as gas bills, small as car insurance and big as home mortgage, you'll be proud to shout oorah.

This seems a popular avenue to Nairalanders. Have met a few of them in the USA military over the years.

All of this is subjective.

There’s good and bad in every single country in the world. I’ve met people from Sweden and Norway who migrated to the USA and had nothing but negative about these two countries that I think are above par.

I moved back to Nigeria over a year ago and frankly I wish I had done the move sooner.

Is it shangrila? It depends. But I’m having fun here.

Of course it’s probably my age bracket, exposure and ability.

OlakunmiSMELTD:


What of millions of jobless graduate in your country,
What of graduate earning 40k monthly
What graduate working as factory workers earning 50k 6am to 7pm non stop
( You mean if someone is doing this same work in Europe , he will still be earning 50k?)
Bros no let me vex for you.
Please if you get your better job in Nigeria, allow people wey no get go.
All I will say is , if you want to go abroad, make surely you go legally, through study or other means.

Useless country
China and Lebanese still treat us as slave in every factory
No security
Education fail
Getting job is connection. You must have 5years working experience, with msc and must be 23years of age.But they have already recruited people they want.
Nonsense

Bro you misunderstood what the guy was saying!!! Try read the person he was quoting then read his reply then you'll understand what he is saying!!!

Cos he was trying to tell someone that even though Nigerian Graduates in the UK might not get a good job in their field of study , they make do with Odd jobs just to make sure they have money in their pockets then they go for professional short courses in fields that are of high demand ...them over they are done with the course Better work begin they come!!! That's what he meant!!

sweetmelanin:


True..

In fact I was in Nigeria from end of November - January and boy, did I regret booking my ticket for so long! .. the situation of things are just too bad. Heat, mosquitoes, dust and filth everywhere.. there's literally no fresh air in Lagos. lack of jobs, frustration on everyone's face, the fact that NOTHING works, the overwhelming sense of discouragement and being stuck in a hopeless country... I was already exhausted by the end of week 2! Nigeria sucks and almost every young person I know wants to leave

My recent experience in naija is what prompted this thread as I need to remind those abroad of the realities in case people are getting those "no place like home" nostalgic feelings.

There's no hope for Nigeria anymore.. those who can leave should leave and those abroad should stay put.

God bless you my dear sister, i am doing everything humanly possible to leave this damn country

lordally:


Bro you misunderstood what the guy was saying!!! Try read the person he was quoting then read his reply then you'll understand what he is saying!!!

Cos he was trying to tell someone that even though Nigerian Graduates in the UK might not get a good job in their field of study , they make do with Odd jobs just to make sure they have money in their pockets then they go for professional short courses in fields that are of high demand ...them over they are done with the course Better work begin they come!!! That's what he meant!!

This happens also in the USA. Rebranding is actually not a bad idea. But I guess it’s when it’s done voluntarily.

omoluka:

God bless you my dear sister, i am doing everything humanly possible to leave this damn country

This is a life decision and should’ve taken lightly and especially based on online opinions.

Some are making it in this same Nigeria.

Good luck.

EgunMogaji2:


This is a life decision and should’ve taken lightly and especially based on online opinions.

Some are making it in this same Nigeria.

Good luck.

Money is not everything to me my bro, i am not an average Nigerian.

omoluka:

Money is not everything to me my bro, i am not an average Nigerian.

It’s funny that I never mentioned money

EgunMogaji2:


It’s funny that I never mentioned money

For some it is about living in a sane society. A place where mass transportation, security, health care, insurance, house ownership etc are all at high standards.

That's one big reason why so many people under 35 years are interested in countries like Canada, Germany and Australia. Most are not interested in (or hoping to) becoming a Dangote or Bill Gates in these countries.

sweetmelanin:
“Second Class Citizen”
Menial Jobs
This is very much dependant on your circle of friends/associates and immigration status. However, in my experience, the Nigerians I see around me are doing exceptionally well abroad – we are Business Analysts, Engineers, Scientists, Senior Social Workers, Occupational Health Therapists, Project Managers, Accountants, Solicitors, Pharmacists etc.. meaningful careers that pay well. Some of us here are real hustlers, getting certified and working contract jobs that fetch up to £450 per day (ask those Project Managers, IT technicians and Business Analysts). Therefore, the myth of menial jobs is very much outdated and perhaps only applicable to students or new immigrants in their first 1 – 3 years.
Feel free to add your points.

@sweetmelanin Oh my goodness! I could not have worded it any better than you did. Chop knuckle for keeping it real! Let us take the cost of housing for instance. If you want to buy a reasonable duplex in Lagos, you need to have at least 20 million Naira. Who has that kind of money? I am in my thirties living in the USA and before I hit 50 my house would be fully paid for as I took a 15 year mortgage. None of my peers owns a house in Nigeria as everybody is renting.
When I was in Nigeria, I tried to take a mortgage loan but the rates were absolutely ridiculous!

The only place I disagree with you is our assessment of menial jobs. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with doing menial jobs! Kudos to all the folks that do 'menial' jobs like wash dishes, clean toilets, serve food etcetera - you guys rock! Unfortunately we Nigerians are arrogant and somehow think that we are better than people that have 'lowly' jobs. Even if I am the MD of a company, I am no better than the cleaner.
To be honest, I used to have the whole 'menial' job mentality. But when I started college here in the States and saw some pretty fine oyibos sweeping my gym and washing dishes in the cafeteria my whole orientation changed. There is dignity in labor and if all you can get is a dish washing gig by all means do it!

EgunMogaji2:


It’s funny that I never mentioned money

"some are making it in this same Nigeria"

Creamychic:


"some are making it in this same Nigeria"

Building industries
Employing labor
Adding to the GNP
Living a healthy and balanced lifestyle

A dude I know very well is also going to UK
I and my elder brother followed him to the
airport
and in my mind I was like I should just enter that traveling bag

A dude I know very well is also going to UK
I and my elder brother followed him to the
airport
and in my mind I was like I should just enter that traveling bag

sevule:


@sweetmelanin Oh my goodness! I could not have worded it any better than you did. Chop knuckle for keeping it real! Let us take the cost of housing for instance. If you want to buy a reasonable duplex in Lagos, you need to have at least 20 million Naira. Who has that kind of money? I am in my thirties living in the USA and before I hit 50 my house would be fully paid for as I took a 15 year mortgage. None of my peers owns a house in Nigeria as everybody is renting.
When I was in Nigeria, I tried to take a mortgage loan but the rates were absolutely ridiculous!

The only place I disagree with you is our assessment of menial jobs. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with doing menial jobs! Kudos to all the folks that do 'menial' jobs like wash dishes, clean toilets, serve food etcetera - you guys rock! Unfortunately we Nigerians are arrogant and somehow think that we are better than people that have 'lowly' jobs. Even if I am the MD of a company, I am no better than the cleaner.
To be honest, I used to have the whole 'menial' job mentality. But when I started college here in the States and saw some pretty fine oyibos sweeping my gym and washing dishes in the cafeteria my whole orientation changed. There is dignity in labor and if all you can get is a dish washing gig by all means do it!

You are absolutely right! there is dignity in labour..

J111333:
If you land in the States with age on your side and want to live a life of low debt (because debt is inevitable), then join the military and further whatever career you want after serving a few years or even further your career in it but you need to have sense otherwise you'll be discharged dishonorably.

An 0-4 officer in US military who earns 85-95k salary is better than a nurse who earns 100-120k. You won't understand this until you wanna live your dreams of buying a home. If you put all the discounts in things as little as gas bills, small as car insurance and big as home mortgage, you'll be proud to shout oorah.

Abeg na for which country oo because e Dey my mind gann, but for USA now I no think say we fit join again as cus of the travel ban except if it still has ways of joining which I will be open to learning about it from you.
The U.K on the other hand accepts common wealth citizens which Nigeria is part of but the SPONSOR that they require of the applicant is the issue “ I don’t know anyone there at all”
Either ways any enlightenment from you will do

Creamychic:


"some are making it in this same Nigeria"

Those same people you think are making it are also thinking leaving the country...

babakb:


Those same people you think are making it are also thinking leaving the country...

My friend told me of a man whose take home pay (income after tax) was almost one million naira, yet he relocated to Canada with his family because he wants his children to grow up in a sane, safe and orderly society.

And yes some tech guys in Nigeria actually earn up to that from a salary job.

Marcelo290:
What you wrote up there is simply your own experience. There are people in same UK who probably have bitter experiences.

Besides, you used the UK which has a large black community and a relatively good economy as your case study. What about other countries in Europe that are renowned for racism coupled with their struggling economy?

The most important point you made is simply that of sanity. The kind of stressful lifestyle we live here in Nigeria is why our life expectancy keeps fluctuating between 40-49 years.

In all, it is not easy anywhere. We also have people living large in same Nigeria. So Whether abroad or Nigeria, I have made the personal decision to give my kids a better life. You too should do same.

See our signature for quality services..

Why is prince Harry giving up his royal heritage? because he married a colored woman and British press can't phantom this. The same way Diane was killed for daring to date an African. Name one black British prime minister ever lived despite black population. Leave that man, you're totally right, racism is very real even in UK

bligs:

Europe get levels oh, all those eastern European countries like Hungary, Poland, Belarus etc na wash, in as much as i shared the op sentiment, a lot of people are still struggling in same UK.

Romania + Greece + Iceland should be added to the list

jesmond3945:
i still get weird stares and people not willing to come close.

Or crossing over to the other side when they see your black skin. If you enter a bus where everyone is White, you will be isolated 99% of the time too

bligs:

With your logic, 90% of people struggling in Naija is as a result of their actions and inactions? My points is there is no place in the world that you won't find poor/rich people, with my little sojourn in life, have come across many typical white that can't spell their names talkless of writing it and yet these people ain't druggies, just that advanced countries poor people can still afford to buy all these McDonalds, KFC etc.
PS: There's a distinct difference between travelling and being successful.

Some can't afford it without begging

travelland:


Or crossing over to the other side when they see your black skin. If you enter a bus where everyone is White, you will be isolated 99% of the time too

you know how far na.

travelland:


Or crossing over to the other side when they see your black skin. If you enter a bus where everyone is White, you will be isolated 99% of the time too

What city are you in that white people do that frequently to black people?

jesmond3945:
i still get weird stares and people not willing to come close.

What city are you in that white people do that frequently to black people?