Someone you know has left or is planning to leave. 1,000 Ways To Japa will be speaking to real people and exploring the infinite number of reasons and paths they use to get to Japa.
Every Wednesday at 9 am, we’ll share the story of someone who’s found a path to a new country. It’ll go to very interesting places you won’t always see coming, but most importantly, it’ll be insightful.
Everything changed when the first subject of #1000WaystoJapa found out that he wasn’t as “comfortable” as he thought he was in Nigeria. But the universe didn’t just give him a japa ticket out of Nigeria, it gave him love too.
When did you first consider the possibility of living outside of Nigeria?
The first time was when my partner Precious was going to school abroad.
Ah, she japa’d.
Initially, the plan was for her to return; I was the more stable one. But with travel, there’s always the possibility of relocating, so I started thinking about it.
When was this?
That was two years ago. Before then, I hadn’t considered it. I was comfortable.
What does comfort mean to you?
Comfort means not worrying about money. After becoming career stable in the last three years, I haven’t worried much about money.
Interesting. What do you do for a living, and how did you achieve career stability?
I’m a designer—animation, visual design, branding, motion design, web design, and sometimes I produce and direct videos.
Ah, so an all-round Creative Director, eh?
I found stability about a year before Precious went abroad. First, I overcame the initial career struggles of chasing higher salaries. I’d gained experience, identified my strengths within my market, and realised the demand for my skills was consistent. I was also in a network where job opportunities were readily available, so I haven’t had to actively apply for work since my first job.
When was that first job again?
2017, so about seven years ago.
Mad. Okay, so Precious went abroad for school and—
My desires have outgrown my comfort, especially after we got married and started considering children—
Hold up. When did y’all marry?
Don’t worry, I’ll tell you that part. But first, comfort for kids requires considering school fees, their environment, and security. I realised the amount of money needed to create that environment in Nigeria outweighed my current definition of comfort.
Ah, that.
The currency devaluation also meant that things were constantly getting more expensive, even when I was earning more. More money is worth less. I want a good quality of life for my family and the ability to make choices without constantly compromising.
Did any particular event solidify your decision?
I wanted to buy a house in my estate, and they quoted me ₦400 million for a duplex– someone else actually paid for it. That someone else had already purchased both available slots at that price made me realise how limited my comfort was.
It didn’t include things like travelling, which I now realise I enjoy. So, even though I had some comforts, it didn’t translate to bigger life goals like buying a house for my family and me.
Another example is that I have a car I don’t drive.
Ah, why?
A friend of mine got to a police checkpoint at night. They entered the car, sat beside him, pointed a gun at his head, and told him to transfer all his money.
What the–
This was before #EndSARS–the friend, too has japa’d with his family. The worst part is that he was alone, and there’d have been no witnesses to anything. So, I don’t go anywhere without witnesses in the car, whether it’s family members or an Uber driver.
Wild. The tipping point is starting a family and needing to recalibrate your life expectations. How did your family react?
Yes, absolutely. I told my sister first, and she was happy and excited. My family had already assumed I would leave. Had we stayed, they might have questioned why we didn’t take the opportunity to live abroad, especially since it had opened up.
When did you discuss relocating with Precious?
We’d been having these conversations about opportunities, especially around finances and what was possible. She’s more financially grounded; I’m more anxious about money. She manages her spending well and makes it stretch, while I always aim for a higher income.
Do you know why you’re anxious about money?
So, my mum was a single parent who had to figure out how to raise her kids. So, she also japa’d.
From generation to generation…
Haha! I understood why she had to do it, but somehow, it instilled in me this need to always figure out how to take care of myself. I never really wanted to rely on anyone for financial support. I also don’t want to have a scattered family like that.
Okay, so Precious? It sounds like her moving to school solidified your own decision.
Precious convinced me more than I convinced her. The opportunities were appealing, and my job in Nigeria required long hours; she always felt that it wasn’t necessary to make a good living.
She wanted more control over her time, and her job in Canada allows for that.
What does she do currently?
She does childcare and therapy as side work. She earns enough to pay rent, manage her expenses, and even cover some school fees. And that’s from working part-time, under 20 hours a week.
After both of you started speaking about it, when did it become clear that you wanted to leave?
First, it became more urgent after her first year there. I was optimistic about how easy it’d be to go and visit her. Then flight tickets started getting more expensive, while the visa processing times also got harder–there was a six-month waiting period.
It was taking a serious toll on me, on us. It felt like being stuck in a limbo. We knew we wanted to be together but needed to get more concrete. If I couldn’t go, then she was going to come.
So sorry about that, man. I have a feeling we’re back at the wedding part.
Yes, when we started working towards her coming, it also became a conversation about us getting married. And so, the plan was that we’d marry, she’d return to school, and I’d re-apply for a visa.
What kind?
A Spousal Work Permit; it’s easier to obtain and allows me to work for any employer. It essentially grants me the right to work unlimited hours.
Oh, interesting. How long is the visa valid for?
They only granted me a one-year visa because my passport expires in a year. Ideally, they would have given me a three-year visa. I plan to renew it once I reach Canada.
So, you did get married. When did–
Yes, yes! 5 months ago.
Congratulations! I imagine that marrying automatically meant a clock started ticking for you. What was on your moving to-do list?
Money. I’d used all my money on our wedding, so I began saving immediately after the wedding. I knew I had to build a financial runway for Canada because of the time it would take to find a job. Finding a job is a full-time job in itself. And I want to know that I have a few months where I just wake up every morning and apply non-stop.
So, my goal was to save six months’ worth of living expenses—rent, groceries, and basic comforts. Add to the fact that my wife is–
Awww, your wife.
Hahaha. Add to the fact that my wife is already in Toronto. Two-income household. My target savings for six months was $6,000 USD.
That’s a little over 8,000 Canadian dollars?
Yes, and so, to raise that money, I started taking on more projects, selling my stuff, and looking for job opportunities in Canada.
Selling your stuff feels so permanent.
I knew I was leaving, so I had to decide what to do with my possessions and rent. Maintaining a home here didn’t feel logical when I wasn’t sure when I’d return.
Fair. You leave tomorrow. What time is your flight?
10.30 pm. My mum, my siblings, and a close friend will be there. A lot of friends want to come, but the airport tends to get messy.
Murtala Muhammed International?
Yes, the last time I saw my wife off, they didn’t allow people who didn’t have a passport or boarding pass to enter the hall. You just said your goodbyes at the door. I entered, so I’m hoping I can go with my family too.
I hope so. What about your friends?
We’re gathering at my place just before I leave for the airport. We’ll spend some time together, and say our goodbyes.
Bruh. A lot has happened in a short amount of time.
Yes. First three months of the year? Wedding planning. The rest of the year up till October; japa planning. Add to that, long-distance marriage is difficult. Long-distance dating is tough enough, but marriage is a different ball game.
Waking up every morning with the reality of being apart, especially when it’s out of your control, is really hard.
What has been the most challenging part mentally?
It’s the whole two years of uncertainty, and it affected my planning for the future. Every idea or opportunity I considered was weighed against the uncertainty of when and where I would be living.
What’s the most challenging part about leaving?
I think it’s the little things that you take for granted. It’s all the people I could spontaneously visit. I could just send a text, and all my friends would be in one room. I didn’t do this all the time–in fact, I didn’t do this enough. But the option was always there.
Now, it’s simply not possible to do it.
I felt that at the back of my throat. Will you ever live in Nigeria again?
Day-to-day living? I doubt it. I’m not the most optimistic person, and Nigeria is hard to be optimistic about, even in good cases. So, I don’t see a situation where things get better, even though I wish it’d get better. If I can’t accept Nigeria now, I doubt I’d accept a situation where it’s worse.
Interesting way to put it.
I’m 31 and living in Lagos, I earned between 2.6 million and 3 million. Some months were really good, and it’d go up to 4 million working on projects. In Nigeria, there are those isolated cases where you have estates, areas where you’re isolated from all of Nigeria’s realities.
Bubbles.
Yes, but you get reminded that you’re in Nigeria once you leave those places. So, living? Definitely not. So, what will most likely happen is that I’ll visit for about a month or two months.
But living here again over a long period? I don’t see it happening.
Have a safe flight, and have a good life.
Thank you!
Thank you for reading the first episode. If you like it, share it with your friends, and everyone.
In next week’s episode, you’ll read about a marketing bro whose quest for a normal life led him to the Global Talent Visa.
See you at 9 a.m on Wednesday!
