In the year 2000, I made the difficult decision to leave Nigeria for South Africa. At the time, the economic hardship back home was overwhelming, and I was grappling with personal challenges that made staying even more difficult. Like many others, I believed that success could only be achieved by escaping the country—a decision now commonly referred to as “Japa,” a Yoruba slang for “to flee.”
What I found on the other side, however, was not a utopia.
Starting Over in a Foreign Land
Upon arriving in South Africa, I had to start from scratch—doing jobs that I would never have imagined taking on in Nigeria. As an immigrant, I quickly realized my place in the social hierarchy: a third-class citizen in a land that was not mine.
Still, adversity planted the seeds of resilience. A few years later, I founded Siyabusa Training Solutions, a company dedicated to developing human capital. We offered leadership and management training programs for Nigerian professionals, conducted in South Africa with an enriching tourism experience in Swaziland. This venture opened doors and introduced me to many accomplished Nigerians, with whom I built strong and lasting relationships.
No Place Like Home
Despite the progress, there came a sobering realization: no country is perfect, and nowhere truly feels like home except home. Many Nigerians abroad are silently struggling, even while projecting polished lives on social media. The accents may change, and the photos may be glamorous, but behind many of those images are stories of hardship and sacrifice.
Ironically, some Nigerians who have never lived outside the country—aside from short holidays—may be better off in many ways: grounded, content, and connected. The idea that life is always better abroad is, for the most part, a myth sold through curated narratives and misunderstood realities.
Japa vs Japada: The Complex Desire to Return
While some Nigerians have genuinely found opportunity and built stable lives abroad, many long to return home. This desire to return, known as “Japada,” is real—but rarely acted upon. Why? Because the Nigeria they left behind has, in many ways, not changed.
From poor infrastructure to insecurity and a lack of basic public services, the obstacles to return are daunting. Yet the love for Nigeria endures. Every year, Nigerians abroad send billions in remittances back home—not out of obligation, but from deep-rooted loyalty to the land of their birth.
The Real Problem: A System That Hoards Opportunity
Nigeria’s biggest problem isn’t just the government—it’s the culture of greed that has infiltrated every level of society. Opportunities exist, but they are hoarded by a privileged few who guard them jealously. The political elite are the worst offenders, recycling power within their families and reserving appointments for close allies and kin.
The consequences of this systemic exclusion are clear: a frustrated youth population, brain drain, and widespread disillusionment with the idea of national progress.
Reclaiming Nigeria: The Path Forward
To reverse this downward spiral, we must address our collective mindset. The National Orientation Agency must be repositioned and empowered to champion a new kind of patriotism—one rooted in empathy, discipline, community, and shared responsibility.
It is time to return to our indigenous values and culture. We must embrace our languages, rethink imported ideologies, and redefine success. Our youth must be taught that integrity and hard work—not shortcuts—are the foundation of lasting achievement.
We must also understand that no foreign power will develop Nigeria for us. Technology, innovation, and progress are not gifted—they are taken through determination, collaboration, and bold vision. It is our duty to take ownership of our future and build a Nigeria we can all be proud of.
Conclusion: A Call to Lead and to Love
To the Nigerian abroad: if your heart still beats for home, you are not alone. And to those still within the borders of Nigeria: you are the ones holding the frontline. Whether you stayed or left, we must unite in spirit and purpose to chart a new course for our nation.
The greatness of Nigeria lies not in what we hope others will do for us, but in what we are willing to do for ourselves.
It’s time to stop waiting for change—and become the change.
