The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
Kanu (36) doesn’t trust most people, especially relatives from his father’s side. In this episode of Abroad Life, he talks about the spiritual reasons why he’s convinced that his two businesses failed because of them and why he decided to relocate without informing them.
Where do you currently live, and when did you move out of Nigeria?
I left Nigeria in October 2023, and I currently live in Northampton. I moved here as a student, but I’m done with my studies now.
What was the motivation behind your move?
I’ve never liked Nigeria since day one, so when my brother suggested that I move, it was an obvious decision for me. He was here before, but he moved back to Nigeria. Now he wants to return to the UK because life is better here.
Better in what sense?
The money I make in the UK weekly is more than my two months’ salary in Nigeria. Food is also very cheap here. I spend only £100 on food monthly even though I don’t live alone (I live with my girlfriend). Before my girlfriend joined me as my dependent, I was spending less than £50 on food.
Were you cooking or eating out?
I was mostly cooking. It’s my girlfriend who likes to eat out. There isn’t much to eat here anyway; their food is basic— just chips and chicken. Plus, the Nigerian restaurants here are expensive, so I’d rather just cook. One time, after I gave into my cravings and ordered Amala, I was given my bill and saw it was around £18, which should be around ₦36,000. Nobody should be spending that much on Amala. When you compare that to chicken and chips, which cost around four pounds, that’s very expensive.
You mentioned that you’re living with your girlfriend; how’s that going?
It’s been amazing. Back in Nigeria, we couldn’t live together because I hadn’t paid her bride price. Being in the UK with her has been a blessing because the bills are too much for one person. She’s a braider and can comfortably make what I make in a week in less than 24 hours—I just graduated last month, so I haven’t gotten a professional job.
Congratulations. What was it like studying in the UK?
I think I prefer the education system in Nigeria. The UK school I attended made it feel like I was teaching myself; they just gave us course outlines, videos and other resources. I don’t know about other schools, but my school also didn’t have exams. We did assignments and presentations, and that was all. Even the tasks weren’t challenging because the lecturers walked us through it. In Nigeria, you never know what to expect; you also have to work really hard to get good grades, which makes you feel highly competitive.
Isn’t that a good thing?
It is a good thing, but I love some healthy competition. I’m grateful for the experience, though. I finished with a distinction. I got five A’s and two B’s, but getting an A in my dissertation about nonprofit organizations in Nigeria was the real game changer. I worked in an NGO in Nigeria, so writing the dissertation wasn’t hard.
I’m curious: what did your life in Nigeria look like?
There wasn’t much to it. I had an interesting job, but it got boring along the line. My boss started gatekeeping some tasks, and I just got tired of receiving my salary without doing the actual work. The opportunity to relocate was a means of escape. The first thing I did after my visa got approved was to keep it from my office people. You never really know whose energy is going to bring you misfortune.
So you just left with saying goodbye?
Yes. And it’s not just my colleagues. I didn’t tell some friends, either, and I didn’t tell anybody from my father’s side. The organisation I worked with belonged to a relative from my father’s side so that’s why I didn’t tell my colleagues.
Is there a specific reason you didn’t want people from your father’s side to know you were travelling?
I had to keep it low because I’ve had some crazy experiences with them. I’ve done two different businesses that failed drastically after I informed people from my father’s side. I had a carpentry and clothing business, and the moment I told them, everything crashed down. After those businesses failed, I decided to start another one without informing them, and it was successful.
I landed at the airport before telling them I was relocating and then submitted my resignation letter. They didn’t even let me leave the airport before they removed me from the WhatsApp group in the office, but I don’t have regrets.
Relocating is a spiritual achievement, and if I had told people about it, it probably wouldn’t have worked out. It’s been almost two years since I moved, and some people still don’t know about it.
Interesting. What was the reaction of the friends you didn’t tell about your relocation plans?
I don’t feel obligated to tell everybody about my plans. I told the few people that needed to know, and that’s what matters.
How did your colleagues react?
I don’t really care about their reaction; It was a toxic job. One time, a colleague who also happened to be a relative threatened to assault me physically. That was the last time I cared about the job. Then, there’s the fact that they constantly excluded me from important projects and assignments.
I’m sorry. I hope your life in the UK is much better
My life in the UK is perfect. I’m learning new things and making money that has value. I love my life here so much that I no longer care much for social media. I can’t relate to the loneliness that most people complain about in the UK because I don’t like humans. So yeah, life in the UK is much better.
How are you cohabiting with your girlfriend if you don’t like humans?
She’s different; she’s my best friend. If I have her attention, I don’t need anybody else’s. I’m okay with having my woman around and keeping every other person at a distance. I can spend every day with her and not get tired.
The only two things I miss about Nigeria are playing football and eating good Nigerian food. The first thing I’ll do when I visit Nigeria again is to find a place to buy proper pounded yam.
LMAO. What else has caught you off guard since you moved to the UK?
I don’t know why, but most people here greet with their heads. It’s really funny because these people taught Africans to greet in English just for me to move to their country and find out that they greet with their heads. And please don’t get me started on how bipolar the UK weather is.
I hear this one all the time. On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you with your life in the UK?
9.5. Once I get a professional job and driver’s license, it will be 10.
Do you want to share your Abroad Life story? Please reach out to me here. For new episodes of Abroad Life, check in every Friday at 12 PM (WAT).
