When Dubem and his wife moved to the UK three years ago, they had no idea that the “for better or worse” part of their vow would become literal. He talks about how he and his partner were able to survive a long-distance marriage, health issues, relocation and financial stress.

When did you start considering japa as an option?

Japa has never been a strange concept to me; It’s a normal thing in my family. All my siblings left the country on the student route, and I left Nigeria using the Spousal Support  Visa route. 

I initially preferred Canada, but my wife got a job in the UK, so we had to move here instead. We made the decision because it felt like we were working hard and earning well in Nigeria but weren’t seeing any results. It just felt smarter to start over in a country with systems in place to make your life easier.

How’s that going?

So, we left the country with a ten-year plan. The idea was to return after ten years and set up our business. We planned to save up at least ₦100 million in capital.

We’ve been here for two years and are about 20% close to our savings goal. But recently, we had to buy a car. We paid in cash because we were still holding on to the Nigerian mentality that you are better off saving than relying on the credit system, which is a working credit system here. I’m only just now starting to accept that it’s a better way to make big purchases. We also had a baby.

Congratulations!

Thank you. That gives you an idea of why we’re still at 20%. I’m confident that we’ll go harder soon. 

When we first moved, we lived in two different towns about seven hours’ drive away from each other, but that allowed us to focus on working as much as we could and earning a lot of money.

We used to travel to see each other once a month and spend a weekend together. Recently, though, things have changed, and we now live together. We now have other things taking our money, but we’re definitely still on track for that long-term goal.

How long did you guys live apart?

Almost a year. 11 months apart.

How did that affect your relationship?

We are not strangers to long-distance relationships. When I met my wife, I was schooling in the north, and she was transferred to work in Abuja. We decided to stay friends, but as time progressed, we started dating. When we started dating, I got a job in Abuja, and she got another job in Lagos. So doing long distance in the UK was no different.

You mentioned that you left on a spousal support visa. What did the process of getting the visa look like?

The UK’s National Health Services is one of the biggest employers of immigrants in the UK. My wife is a radiographer, so there were good job opportunities for her. We started the process before getting married, but COVID-19 forced us to deprioritise it.

The first thing we did was to register with the licensing board here. To do that, you need to present specific certificates showing that your education in Nigeria is equivalent to the UK’s requirement. This stage would also require you to present a statement of result. In our case, getting that document wasted our time because Nigerian universities can be somehow.

Once you can satisfy their requirements for that award, you get a license proving you have the right to practice in the UK. Once you pass that stage, you pay the registration fee and everything else.

The next thing is to apply for jobs that offer sponsorship. Those are the kinds of jobs that can give you the documents you need to apply for your visa. In our case, relocating with this visa took almost 10 months because we had issues with our passports. We both decided to renew our passports before leaving, and even though we paid for the fast track, it took us about two months to get that passport. We also had to prove that we were married.

We got our marriage certificate from a small court in my wife’s hometown, so we worried it wouldn’t be internationally acceptable. The court in question had no verifiable email or contact information, so a friend advised us to attach a PDF containing pictures of our wedding day, and that was what we did. 

Another process that frustrated us was getting the tuberculosis test. You can only take the test in a UK-approved home centre. Getting a date for the test was hell; Something that should typically take weeks ended up lasting for about two months. We nearly lost the sponsorship from her employer because they thought she was unserious. Thankfully, everything worked out in the end.

Thank God!

Yeah. The final thing we needed was a police character certificate to prove that we were not criminally wanted in our country. Some parts of the application process for this certificate can be done online, but you have to go to the police station for your biometrics and other things. I remember my wife leaving the house around 8 am and getting back around 6 pm. That was because there was a long queue, and the process was unnecessarily stressful. She even had to pay a policeman about ₦2,000 to quicken the process.

God abeg. So, what was it like settling into the UK?

My wife’s employer had an apartment ready for her when she arrived in the UK, but there was a rule against me living there. She was living close to London while I  had to move to Newcastle.

I was squatting with a friend whose apartment was big enough for two people. But getting a job wasn’t easy for me even though I was well educated and had a great portfolio. 

After some rejections, I realised that they didn’t necessarily respect my Nigerian education. It wasn’t a question of competence because I wasn’t even getting interview invitations. Some Nigerians in the UK advised me to apply for factory or supermarket jobs, and that was what I did. I didn’t even last up to two weeks before I fainted at work–I had to do lots of heavy lifting while working from 6 am to 6 pm, and we weren’t allowed to sit at all during those 12 hours.

At first, it was just a fall, but I picked myself up immediately then I fell again, and I was asked to go home. I was stuck at the bus stop for hours, and it was freezing. I hadn’t made enough money to buy a proper winter jacket. The one I had was the second-hand jacket I bought from Yaba. I can’t remember the details, but it was at the bus stop I ultimately passed out.

I somehow ended up at my friend’s place, but  I insisted on not going to the hospital (as I was later told). I was unconscious for three days, and when I regained consciousness, the first thing I did was put in my resignation.

So sorry about that experience. Did you get a better job after you quit?

I got a customer care representative offer about a week after that experience. It felt like a big downgrade because I was the head of marketing in a company when I lived in Nigeria. I was about to sign the offer when I got led by the Holy Spirit to check the company review. Thank God I did because it was about two stars out of ten. So, I just emailed HR to inform them that I won’t be moving forward with the role.  I started applying again and eventually got a job by recommendation. The job would make me move to Kent, much closer to my wife’s location.

I took the job, and I’ve been working there ever since. One of the reasons why I’m still there is because I have empathetic employers. My wife had a complicated pregnancy, and we used to be in and out of the hospital.

At some point, the NHS stopped paying her because she had been sick for more than 60 days in nine months. But my employers were very understanding. I had to be in the hospital as much as my wife; we didn’t have anybody else to help, but my employer never complained about my absence. All they asked me to do was to take my laptop to the hospital, join a few meetings in the morning, get some tasks done, and that’s all. Then, they allowed me to take another one or two days off, and my income was never deducted based on all of this.  They are great people.

Love that for you. Do you have any tips for couples that want to japa through the spousal support visa?

This is more of an advice than a tip. Be open to not being physically together for a while. Go where the money is, even if it means maintaining a long-distance relationship. Other couples might be lucky enough to get a well-paying job in the exact location, but they should keep an open mind.

Another thing you should do is work hard. You should both be working if you’re coming into the country as a couple. Nobody should sit around waiting for a dream job when other options exist to make money. But you should also make life easier for anybody with the sponsorship. For instance, I do the hospital runs for our baby while my wife focuses on not slacking at work because my job is more flexible.

What happens if she slacks at work?

If her employer isn’t satisfied with her performance, they can choose not to renew her visa. God forbid, but if that happens, she can apply for another job that comes with sponsorship before the visa expires. In the worst-case scenario that she doesn’t get a job, the UK government will give her about 60 or 80 days before declaring her an illegal immigrant.

Interesting. What’s one thing you love most about living in the UK?

It’s the constant access to power supply. As little as it may seem, that’s my favourite thing.

How happy are you with your life in the UK?

Oh, very happy. Things have fallen into place in the last three years. I love my job and my church.

I have a strong community here–We watch each other’s kids, celebrate, and help each other in many ways. Since my wife gave birth, we’ve not had her mom or mine come for omugwo, but the mothers in our church haven’t given us a reason to feel their absence. My wife gave birth to our baby through cesarean section, but these women were so helpful during the healing process. They would bring both of us food and help with the baby. That’s to give you an idea of the kind of community we have.

 Want to to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here. 

In 2024, we promised to find the perfect way for you to japa, and thanks to the Zikoko subjects who are not fans of gatekeeping life-changing information, we found the best japa routes for you. From free schools to high-paying international jobs, there’s something for everyone in this end-of-the-year version of 1,000 Ways to Japa. 

P.S. I’m Margaret (the cool kids call me Mikun), and I get the best tips from these amazing people. I will share some inside gist from my conversations with each of these subjects while I rank their japa routes from “Ate” to “Meh”

Attend a free school in Switzerland (Ate down 1000/10)

The best things in life are free, even if those things take you away from your 6-figure business in Nigeria. For the second edition of 1k Ways to Japa, I spoke to this businessman who left his thriving business to study in Switzerland. At first, I thought he was crazy because if my hand touched what he earned in Nigeria monthly, best believe I would be enjoying a capitalism-free life in Ogbomosho.  But when he explained that his school is technically free and he gets the chance to restart his life with his savings in a stable country like Switzerland, I rated his move like mad. If you’re looking for the most affordable way to say goodbye to this country, he shared all the details in this article. 

Start a business in Rwanda (Ate – 9.5/10)

Visiting Rwanda is one of the highlights of my  2024, so when I found Daniels, the subject of this story, I knew I had to book an interview.  Before you go, “Why would I leave Nigeria for Rwanda?” Think again because it’s a highly functional country with impressive systems and amazing people.

The subject of this edition of 1k Ways to Japa got so tired of being profiled by police in Nigeria that he moved to Rwanda. It was supposed to be a temporary move, but he fell in love with Kigali, and the move became permanent. Moving to Rwanda is easy; you get a 30-day free visa and peace of mind. Read more about this japa route in this Daniels’ story.

Get a funded study opportunity in the US (Ateeee – 10/10)

When I think about scholarship opportunities, the US is always the last country on my mind. I think that’s mostly because I never really hear about those opportunities. Thanks to Tunde, the subject of this 1k Ways to Japa story, I now know that there’s something called “assistantship programs” that can help you japa to America in 2025. Read more about Tunde’s japa story here.

Apply for a UK Global Talent Visa ( Ate 8/10)

I used to think I knew everything about this visa, but I didn’t know anything. Micheal, the subject of this story, took me to the school of immigration and walked me through the process of getting this visa. If you work in tech and have at least two years of working experience, this is probably the perfect opportunity for you. It’s one of the most-read japa stories of 2024, and you’ll understand why when you read it here.

Move to Canada with a work permit (Ate 7/10)

It took weeks to get Isreal, the subject of this edition, to tell his japa story, but it was worth it. Israel is a pro when it comes to getting jobs from your favourite international companies, so I knew I had to pick his brain. If you’re trying to make it out of the trenches by moving to Canada with a work permit, Israel’s story is one you need to read.

It’s been a great year for 1,000 Ways to Japa. We’ve told interesting stories, found affordable japa routes and learnt lessons that people would typically gatekeep from our amazing subjects. We’re curious to see how much more we can achieve next year. Be the first to know when a new edition drops next year.

 Want to to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here. 

Shalom (23) is not a stranger to chasing big dreams. At 19, she said goodbye to her parents and moved to Lagos alone. At 23, she’s getting paid to study for free in a prestigious London school. She talks about how other Nigerian students can land the same scholarship in this week’s episode of 1,000 Ways to Japa.

When did you leave Nigeria, and where did you move to?

I’m currently schooling in London. I left Nigeria about three months ago.

How did you end up in London?

I applied for the Chevening scholarship last year and got in. It still surprises me because I could not have imagined that I would get a fully funded scholarship with the potential to change my life in every way.

Why was it such a surprise?

First of all, it’s important to know that Chevening is very competitive. Like a 0.3% chance of landing the scholarship competitive. I couldn’t believe that I’d be among that 0.3%; When you’re young, there’s a chance that you’d want to underestimate yourself— I felt like I hadn’t done enough in the advocacy space, but I applied anyway, and here we are today.

0.3% is crazy! Tell me a bit about life in London

Funny how I made a tweet one time that since I had experienced what it felt like to live in Lagos, I’d love to experience living alone in London next, and that’s what has happened, so this is literally a dream come true for me.

London and Lagos have the same energy, though London can be a bit more fast-paced than Lagos in a way. It shares a lot of similarities with Lagos, actually; both cities are where dreams come true, and they are both super expensive. But Chevening gives me an extra allowance for staying in London.

I moved from Abeokuta to Lagos to chase big dreams, and I’m here in London doing the same thing. Since I moved, I’ve made some African and British friends, and my Nigerian church has a beautiful branch in London. It feels like Lagos, but the Lagos that works.

You mentioned moving from Abeokuta to Lagos to chase big dreams. Tell me more.

Respectfully, I’ve always felt like Abeokuta was too small for my dreams. There are so many old people there, and the young ones look satisfied with life’s basics. You see superstars like Kizz Daniel and Fireboy? They looked too hungry for Abeokuta, so they had to move to Lagos—I was 19 when I moved, I just knew the world was waiting for me.

The only friend I had in Lagos lived in Iyana Ipaja, and the job I got was in Victoria Island. I was spending at least 6 hours in traffic daily, but I was happy. My mom begged me to come back home, but I told her that I wouldn’t leave Lagos until it gave me what I wanted. Now, I can say Lagos owes me nothing—It gave me quality friends, life-changing experiences and a very overpriced apartment that felt like home.

So you manifested the life of your dream? 

I’m a Christian, I pray my dreams into existence. Plus, these are not my dreams; This is God’s way of preparing me for what He wants to do in my life. I’ve seen visions of all these things; they only catch me by surprise when I lose my faith. 

Love that. So back to the Chevening scholarship from before. What is it, and who is it for?

The Chevening scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship offered by the UK Government. Every year, young people from over 160 countries are selected by Chevening to come and study any course, in any UK university of their choice. When you’re done studying, you have to go back to your country and apply what you have learned there for at least two years before you can return to the UK.

You’re not restricted from travelling down to the UK when you have events, engagements, workshops or anything else; they just don’t expect you not to go back to help your country after getting access to world-class education from the UK government.  

That’s crazy. What makes someone a potential Chevening scholar?

The whole point of the Chevening scholarship is that the UK government is trying to bring together young leaders and potential leaders who are trying to drive change in their countries. So, a perfect candidate for Chevening is someone who’s trying to drive change, has leadership skills and is working on innovative ideas, either in the non-profit or corporate sector. The scholarship gives you access to a large alumni network and an opportunity to study in the UK without worrying about money. 

Because your tuition is covered, right?

Oh, it’s not just your tuition. I don’t think I fully appreciated Chevening until I moved here and met many international students who are funding their studies themselves. I would not even advise anyone to go through that stress. If your family is not very wealthy, please don’t leave your life in Nigeria to come down here. Try to get a fully-funded scholarship like Chevening. It makes your life easy.

When you get the Chevening scholarship, your visa is taken care of and they pay for everything—think health charges and even flights. If you want your flight booked down to the city you’re going to, you just have to tell them what city it is, and they’ll book it. Everything is taken care of. Your own is just to board the plane and start your new life. 

They cover your tuition and also give you a stipend for your accommodation and your living expenses. Even after you’ve paid for these things, you’ll still have about £500 left. Your visa also allows you to work 20 hours if you plan to work and study simultaneously. 

The benefits sound dreamy. What?

And there’s more. Because the Chevening scholarship is well recognised, it’s easier to get internship placements and jobs wherever you go as a  Chevening scholar. It just opens many doors that ordinarily will be difficult to assess as an international student. Also, if you’re the kind of person who likes to explore, travel for conferences or experience different cultures,  you can travel with the money you manage to save from your Chevening allowance. But you only get the grace to be away for  30 days during your study in the UK experience. 

What kind of job are you allowed to do?

As a Chevening scholar, you can work in any industry, but scholars should be strategic with their work choices. You’re already getting a world-class education that is completely funded. You don’t want to spend your time trying to work for just money; you want to work for experience, and you want to work with brands that can add value to your portfolio.

How would you advise Nigerians who are interested in the Chevening scholarship to start their application?

Applications for the 2025/2026 session have closed,  The next thing is to note that you don’t apply for Chevening because you want to leave Nigeria. If you are desperate to relocate,  it will show in your essay.

Chevening is about giving back to your community, so figure out what problem pisses you off and why you want to solve it badly.  Once you figure out what you’re passionate about, the next thing is to tell your story.

You can do your research in one day by reading more and watching many videos about Chevening on YouTube. Then tell Chevening what they need to know about the work you’re doing in Nigeria.  Write like you want the person reading your essay to remember your story.

LOL. I’m stealing that line. 

Please, feel free to. The next thing applicants should do is go to YouTube. There are several videos by past scholars explaining what the Chevening scholarship is about. Those videos can help you save time. They also have a breakdown of how to write the essays on the Chevening website. Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) on the website too. Once you’ve done all of that, pick your course.

Any personal advice on how to pick the perfect course?

Now, if you are like me and your undergraduate degree is different from what you want to study, narrow it down to one field that has the biggest impact on your work.  You don’t want to come off as someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. You get to select three courses, but it helps ensure they are related. Don’t say you want to study public policy in school one and economics in school two. So when you have picked the course, look for schools that offer that course and are eligible to be funded by Chevening. You’ll see a course finder on the Chevening website.

Ah ahn, fancy!

Yeah, they make the application easier. The essays are the most important parts of your application, so you want to ensure they flow. When writing your leadership essay, pick at least three strong leadership experiences that display who you are. I always tell people I work with to start with the problem statement; Do some research in your field, figure out the problem you’re trying to solve and back it up with data to show how much of a serious problem it is.   Pick the best examples of how you’ve tried to solve this problem and show the impact. Please, brag. Your Chevening application isn’t where you should try to be humble. Talk about numbers and your impact. Talk about the projects you’ve worked on or opportunities you’ve been selected for.  

So basically, blow your own trumpet?  

Exactly. For your networking essay, Chevening wants to know that you’re friendly and can leverage unprofessional relationships to create meaningful impact. It’s wiser to pick those three examples of how you created impact in your leadership essay and show how relationship helps you do those things. Remember that the flow of your story is important. You also want to show how you’ll network with members of the Chevening network and use that access to create a bigger impact.

That makes a lot of sense. 

Yeah. Then you can move on to your study plan, where you demonstrate why you want to get your master’s education in the UK.  Chevening wants to know why the UK is the country you’re interested in, that’s why your research should be really heavy. Go down to the website of your three preferred schools.  You don’t need to research the entire school; just focus on your course, faculty, and lecturers, what they are doing and how it aligns with your interest. Look at the course modules in depth and pick one or two courses in the module that are directly related to what you are currently doing and how what you’ll learn will help you do better. Also, feel free to talk about the city your school is in and what you’re looking forward to experiencing there. 

What about the fourth essay?

The fourth and last essay is your career plan essay. Here, you want to show them that you have a strong sense of why you’re getting this degree and what the future of your work looks like. Show your big picture— how your life after Chevening will impact generations, but keep it realistic and well thought out. 

To keep things as realistic as possible, you need to show them what you plan to do when you return to Nigeria. you also need to demonstrate mid-term goals and long-term goals. You can also find out what the UK government is doing in your country related to your field. The UK government has projects they do in Nigeria every year; Build that connection between what they are doing in your field, find an opportunity for collaboration and link it. Also, if your career plan is not related to your study plan, that’s a problem because you’re insinuating that the degree won’t impact your career in any way.

You also need academic and professional reference letters. You can apply without the letter, but you must find two people who can vouch for you and submit their details.

On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you, you know, with your life right now?

I’d say 9.5. I’m happy. I’m getting a master’s degree I could never have afforded on my own and worshipping at my local church.

 Want to to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here. 

Jimi (24) started guiding his relocation plans the moment his visa was approved. From failing to say goodbye to friends to reducing his movement because of “village people,” he didn’t take any chances. He shares how he’s gotten questions about his sexuality from a relative since he moved to the UK and how he plans to stay in the country permanently.

Where do you live and when did you leave Nigeria?

So I live in Cardiff, Wales, and I moved out of Nigeria in  2023.

Was there a particular reason why you wanted to japa?

Relocation has always been in the plan for me. My parents have always had it in mind that I’d move for my master’s after NYSC. I found out some years back that they  had been saving up for it since I was young. It was a huge sacrifice, and I’m really grateful for that. 

So was relocation something you wanted or was it a decision influenced by your parents?

I’ve always been indifferent about relocation, but I wouldn’t say my parents made that decision for me–I wanted to be in a place where I’d be able to succeed without feeling like the system was working against me, so when the opportunity came, I was like, “Why not?” Plus, it wasn’t like my life in Nigeria was anything spectacular. It was regular– I worked in an advertising agency and went out with friends from work every Friday. That pretty much sums up everything I was up to in Nigeria.

 Let’s talk about the UK. How did that happen?

I left Nigeria through a student visa. So unlike several other people who moved through this route, I only applied to one school. I think one of the reasons why I chose that school was because I had a friend there and he was happy to hold my hands through the admission process. That’s very important because you need someone knowledgeable about admission-related stuff to walk you through the process. That’s how I got the admission and my visa.

When my visa got approved, my parents kinda sat me down and told me that I was no longer allowed to leave the house until it was time to leave the UK.

Why?

You know African parents and how they believe in village people. It was a struggle because even the few times that I tried to visit some friends, my dad would call me and ask for all the details.

My mom didn’t care as much, but I still had to sit at home. I don’t know if it was because my dad was projecting his fears, but I became extra careful myself. For instance, if I were on a bus, I’d pray for God to help me back in one piece. I didn’t want my parent’s fears to come true.

Did you get to say goodbye to your friends?

I said a few goodbyes, but you’d probably meet people who would tell you that I forgot to tell them about my relocation.

I left Nigeria without telling some people and that’s mostly because my parents were serious about me not sharing the news that they didn’t even tell some family members I was relocating until much later.

I didn’t see the need to drag it with them because they are my sponsors. When some people found out that I had relocated, they were upset;I’ve done my part by apologising, but I can’t exactly tell people how to react to my apology. Some have accepted the apology, others are still upset.

You seem to really hold your parents in high regard. 

As I mentioned earlier, they were my sponsors. It wasn’t exactly like I had any choice. But now that I’m figuring out my life in the UK, I can confidently make bold decisions and stand by them.

Before my graduation in November, I locked my hair and pierced my ears. It was a spontaneous decision, but it’s something I’ve kinda always wanted to do. My parents were sort of disappointed when they saw me at my graduation–My dad even asked me to wear my graduation cap in all the pictures we were taking together because he didn’t want his friends in Nigeria to see my dreads.

My dad’s reaction wasn’t even the worst – a relative saw my new look and told my parents I was gay. I couldn’t even understand how he arrived at that conclusion, but I told my parents that they were stuck with the new look either way. I think they calmed down the next day after they watched me get baptised. 

That’s interesting. Can you tell me more about that event?

I’ve always been a Christian, but I wasn’t born-again. Contrary to what my new look suggested, my relationship with God got better after I  moved to the UK. The baptism was the day after my graduation, and I really wanted my parents to be there. They showed up and were proud of me. We haven’t really talked about the new look since then.

Love that. I know you mentioned that your parents are your primary sponsors but did you explore other funding options?

The school gave me a reasonable discount, but most of my funding came from my parents. Shout out to them for real because the exchange rate was already all over the place when they cleared my tuition. 

Seeing how much they sacrificed to pull that off made me double up on studying. For the longest time, they were not doing what other people their age were doing. For instance, my dad delayed his plan of getting a nicer car for a while, and my mom made several sacrifices too.

Shoutout to your parents for real

The craziest part is that I can’t even say my parents were rich or had millions to spare. They were just financially responsible and cared about giving my siblings and me a soft landing. Being here without a scholarship or alternative funding would have been a nightmare without their help.

Earlier, you mentioned that you only applied to one university. What made you so confident that you were going to get in?

I did a lot of research before I chose that university. And as I mentioned earlier, I had a friend in the school who guided me through the application process. 

Success can be replicated, so I always advise people to seek guidance from people who have gone through the same process. It also helped that I had faith and was confident that God was involved.

Remember how I said my parents didn’t tell some family members about my relocation until much later? My uncle was one of those relatives. One day, they called and decided to inform him that I was moving to the UK since he was there too. I wasn’t close to the uncle in question, but the craziest thing happened; It turns out the uncle was living very close to the school, so he offered to take me in. In my head, I was just like “What are the odds?” I just felt like that was God helping me out. I got a super soft landing – I didn’t have to worry about food or shelter. 

Love that for you. What’s your advice for people who are planning to apply to graduate schools in the UK?

It might sound cliche, but your personal statement is super important. You should know how to tell your story better than anyone else. Another advice is to always ask questions. Keep sending emails to the school like you’re sending WhatsApp messages. You’re better off asking too many questions than making mistakes because you didn’t ask at all. You should also be intentional about your research because there are many schools that offer discounted school fees for first-class or second-class upper students. 

Are you planning to stay in the UK?

Of course, I’m applying for a postgraduate work visa. My student visa is going to expire next month so I’m getting ready to apply for the other one. It’s almost 3000 pounds now. 

I always advise new graduate students who plan to stay in the UK to start saving for this visa early. Aside from the money, you must also meet some criteria, such as having good grades and working for a maximum of 20 hours weekly. Some people don’t play by the 20-hour weekly rule, but I like to respect myself.  

The application process is quite easy. You can complete the whole thing on your phone in 30 minutes. Your chances of getting the visa are also really high.

I hope it works out. Can you share what life in Cardiff looks like?

Cardiff is small. You can walk to almost every place you need to be.  I’ve had time to fall in love with the city but it was rough at the beginning. I was the only black guy in my class when I was doing my master’s. I had to start hanging out with friends from other races. There was one time my white friends asked me to come to a party with them, and I thought it was a good opportunity to socialise until I realised what kind of party it was.

What kind of party?

It was a techno party—just noise and headaches. I really blamed myself for going in the first place. After that incident, I found a Christian community, and everything became better. I’ve made friends with Nigerians and other nationalities since then.

So no more techno parties?

God forbid!

LMAO. On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you with your life in the UK?

I’ll say 8.5. Things are getting better. I can now afford to satisfy my cravings and tick stuff off my bucket list.

 Want to to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here. 

Ruth (26) woke up one morning with no plans to relocate and ended the day with a spiritual revelation that made it clear that she had to move to the UK. She talks about getting a university admission in just ten days, receiving double the funding she was initially offered and how others can do the same. 

When did you relocate and where do you live now?

 I live in Bristol, United Kingdom. I left Nigeria in 2022.

How did that happen?

I never knew I would leave Nigeria until I had a spiritual encounter. If you ask my friends, they always describe me as a patriotic person who wanted to stay back.

I was a teacher in Nigeria focused on advocating for inclusive education, but in March 2022, I was praying for a new job, and I  had a revelation that made me know I had to leave the country. I heard God tell me that faith without work is dead. At that moment, I felt a force spring me from the bed, and instead of applying for jobs, I knew in my spirit that I had to start checking for schools that offer scholarships abroad. 

What happened after your revelation?

Everything happened so quickly. After that revelation, I started my research, and the two schools that popped up on my Google page were the University of Bristol and the University of East Anglia. I was more interested in the University of Bristol because it offered the course I wanted. I immediately opened an account with the two schools and looked through the application process.

I’ve always had my transcripts and every other important document with me, so I uploaded them the same day. After uploading those documents, I contacted two people who could write my reference letters. Those two people agreed to be my referees, so I was able to submit their email addresses that night, too. Then I started writing my statement of purpose. The funniest part is that I had no idea I would make such life-changing decisions when I woke up that morning. 

Wait, did you do all these in one day?

Everything happened the same day. I only applied to those two schools, and they both gave me unconditional offers. The only thing I couldn’t do that day was send in my reference letter, but I started my personal statement, which is the most important part of the application. One of the schools required a 500-word count, and the other school wanted 300 words.

But don’t get me wrong. I didn’t submit my application that day; it took about ten more days. And the craziest part? The unconditional offer at the University of Bristol came ten days later. 

How did that happen?

I was shocked when the offer came in. The University of Bristol had a webinar for prospective students, and people kept asking the moderator when they could expect to hear back from the school. The moderator said admission takes six to eight weeks, and mine came in ten days.

That’s very interesting. What do you think you did differently?

I wouldn’t say  I did anything differently. I don’t want to take credit, because God wrote the whole story.

But one thing I am grateful for is my experience in community advocacy. I mentioned that I was involved in advocacy activities before I left Nigeria and  I poured my heart into it so that’s what my essay was mostly about– I started with the problem I was trying to solve, focused on how Nigerian children don’t have access to quality education,  even though we have regulations and policies that are supposed to give children access to quality education, then tied the problem back to why I was interested in studying my chosen course and the skills I had picked up from advocating for inclusive education. I also talked about what I’ve done in the advocacy scene in Nigeria and what I plan on doing in the future.

I’d love to hear more about that, but I’m curious to know how your family and friends received the news

Everybody was excited. I think this is the part where I should add that I started my education at the University of Bristol with a partial scholarship called the Think Big scholarship (applications are open until April 2025). I think we were all so excited that we missed the part where it was clearly written that I was supposed to pay £2000 for my deposit.

The scholarship application differed from the school application; I was supposed to secure my space with £2000. In my head, I was like, “Where is this coming from?” I was even crying because I wouldn’t have applied if I had known there was a compulsory deposit payment, but God came through. I paid my deposit and got the scholarship in July 2022.

It’s not going to be the case for everybody else because there’s a part of the application process where you’re asked if you want a full or partial scholarship. I only chose a partial scholarship because I assumed other people must have filled the full scholarship space since my application came in late. I didn’t have enough faith then, but now, I know better. 

I’m just grateful I chose this path because it has strengthened my walk with God. It would have been good if I had the full scholarship, but then I wouldn’t have known God in the capacity I know him now. 

I’m glad you’ve made peace with that decision. How would you advise people to apply for this scholarship?

My approach to my scholarship application differed from that of a normal school application. So, for my application, I attached links to the work that I had already done. 

I had to write three essays. The first one was about why I was interested in the scholarship the second was about the work I had done in my community, and the third was about what I would do as a Bristol ambassador.

My selling point was question number one – What have you done? I didn’t bother talking too much. I just said I’ve had the opportunity to do ABC, here are links to show the work I have done– I put about 10 links in that second question, and that helped me start off strong. 

So, my advice to anybody would be to make sure they have solid experience, even if it’s volunteer experience. These applications are usually not about your academic qualifications. I’ve seen people who have third-class degrees get fully funded scholarships. You want to show what you bring to the table, so your application has to say, “I am your best candidate, and you can’t afford to miss me”. 

Don’t be cocky but be confident about what sets you apart. If you have a digital track record of doing those things that make you the ideal applicant, insert your links. Sell yourself because the person on the other side of the screen does not know you, so they would judge whatever version of yourself you present to them.

Ensure you answer the school’s questions without trying to force your personal experience into it. For example, if they ask why you want to be in their school, don’t dwell much on the work you have done. I also always advise people to find a link between the first and last questions. You don’t want to talk about something like climate change in question one and talk about the mortality rate in question two. Let there be a connection,  even if you are a multi-talented person.

Thank you. How has life been since you moved to the UK?

I’m grateful to God because He’s been showing up for me. At first, the school offered me a £5000 scholarship, but then I went to God in prayer and told him that I needed more than that amount. Two days after the first offer, I received another email informing me that the school had gotten extra funding and was looking for someone to give. That’s how I got an extra £5000, which makes it £10,000 in total. 

But life here has been tough because my family is in Nigeria. Plus if you’re self-funding or studying with a partial scholarship, you’ll always have bills to pay. 

Is there anything about the UK that caught you off guard? 

I’ve never seen so many pets in my life.  Anytime I’m walking home, there’s a high chance that I’ll see someone walking their dog. I’m scared of dogs so that’s one thing I’m still getting used to.

Sorry. How happy are you with your life post-japa? 

I would say 10 because I’m where I’m supposed to be. Things are still coming together, but it’s looking good.

 Want to to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here. 

Israel (26), the subject of this week’s 1000 Ways to Japa, knew he would leave Nigeria since junior secondary school. When he finally had the chance to move in 2021, Nigeria happened. He shares how he got multiple offers from foreign companies like Amazon and Yelp, and how he declined those offers to relocate to Canada. 

Where do you live now and when did you leave Nigeria?

So I currently live in Vancouver, Canada. I left Nigeria in June 2023. 

Why did you decide to japa?

Two reasons– I wanted to live a better life, and as a software engineer,  I   wanted to go where all the major tech actions were happening. Also, I’ve always known that I’d leave the country since junior secondary school because I   I wanted to work at Microsoft and they didn’t have an office in Nigeria at the time so that’s where the relocation dream came from. 

So did you get the job at Microsoft?

So that didn’t really happen. In my third year of university, I was determined to leave Nigeria, so I came up with multiple plans. The first one was to get a job at a foreign tech company (not only Microsoft) that could sponsor my relocation. My backup plan was to leave through the study route, while my third plan was to continue doing great work in Nigeria and apply for a skilled worker visa. Thankfully, my first plan worked, and I got a job with a tech company here in Vancouver. That’s how I ended up in Canada. 

Congratulations. How did that happen?

I actually got three job offers from three tech companies. I got one offer from Yelp in the UK. I got another offer from Amazon, also in the UK, and then, got one with Asana in Canada, which is currently where I am now. 

You ditched Amazon for Asana? No shade but why?

It was mostly because I preferred Canada to the UK and both jobs were offering similar pay. Although Yelp was for a more senior level

Fairs. You seem to know a lot about getting a foreign job. How would you advise other Nigerians to get started?

The first thing I’d say is that the process takes a lot of intentionality. Since I decided to work in big tech, I’ve been working towards that goal–I joined international communities with the intention of connecting with people outside the country. I started doing that in secondary school, and I continued until I got into uni. By the time I got to my second year of university, I was already applying for international roles with tech companies which is funny because I was still building my tech skills. But I knew the worst that would happen was that I’d get rejected and move on. 

So I’d say my first advice is to start applying for international roles as soon as you can. Don’t wait to become the best version of yourself. Start building a track record online so that your work can be traced back to you.  

You should also prepare to get some rejections before your big break. I got rejected everywhere I applied to that year, but in my 300 level, I got an internship interview with Google. When I tell you that was the highlight of my life, I’m not even joking. I was like “Who am I?” They served me a rejection when I got to the final round of the interview though but even getting rejected by Google as a student gave me hope that I could actually make it in life. It’s been a few years now, and I’ve recently gone back to check out the resume I used to get to the final stage of the interview. I wouldn’t have given myself the internship if I was Google.

LMAO. Love the self-awareness

It’s good to tell yourself the truth. So I had been applying for jobs forever, but things changed in 2021 because the job market just seemed to be at its peak– I had recruiters reaching out to me almost every day.  The Amazon job  I mentioned earlier was one of the jobs I got through a recruiter who reached out to me.

I ended up interviewing for so many roles. I interviewed at Google again and at other tech companies. I was doing all these while doing my final-year projects, and I luckily got a job with those companies. 

Asana was the first company to offer me a job, sometime around December 2021. I was so excited because I thought my big break had finally come, and I was going to move out of the country.

Asana has companies that help employees process their relocation so everything was going well until ASUU went on another strike. I was already done with my final exams, but my results were not out yet. At this point, I had signed the offer letter, and they would start my immigration process, but they needed my certificate to give me a work permit. Because my final results were not out, I couldn’t submit that, So it felt like my job offer was in jeopardy, which was a very terrible thing.

The strike lasted for almost a whole year so I couldn’t send my documents. But they kept waiting for me and sending messages to tell me that my job offer was still available. I was practically begging them not to take my job offer at some point because the strike was lasting longer than it should. It felt like I had gotten my big break but Nigeria was still happening to me. They waited for a whole year before they told me that they would have to take back the offer if I didn’t send a transcript or certificate.

I returned to my backup plan and started interviewing for foreign jobs again. That was actually when the Amazon offer came through, but luckily, the strike was called off, and I got my transcript just before the deadline that Asana gave me. The relocation process started again, and  I moved in 2023. Even though I didn’t lose the offer, I lost a lot of money– they took back my sign-on bonus of about 34,000 Canadian dollars because I waited too long. 

Sorry about that. How did you hear about these job openings from Nigeria?

I mostly just searched, but I was also part of communities like the Microsoft student community where people sometimes send job openings to each other. 

Another way I advise people to try is to keep up with some products they use. For example,  I’m a software engineer, so I’m familiar with the Asana software. I found out about them from an agency I used to work with. I liked the product, so I went to Google and searched for the company’s career site, checked to see if they had any job that I was qualified for, and applied from there. 

You can also subscribe to job alerts on LinkedIn. I was getting job alerts almost every day, and they opened my eyes to new opportunities.

Thank you. Is the timeline for landing a foreign job usually long like yours, or is it something that someone can manage to process within a shorter period of time?

To be honest, you can get a job in less than a year. Most interview rounds take one month. Once you make it past that stage, you immediately get an offer. I had some obstacles like ASUU in the way, but it’s not going to be like that for everybody.

The length of the entire process also depends on the country you’re moving to because you still have to process your relocation papers and permits after getting the job offer, and the processes differ for different countries.

That’s good to know. What would you say you like the most about living in Canada?

I think it’s the fact that their systems work, compared to Nigeria, where everybody just does their thing and doesn’t follow laws. Plus, Canada just offers you a better life–things work the way they are supposed to, and it’s a healthy place to live.

On a scale of one to 10, how happy are you in Canada?

I’m grateful for moving to Canada, and for the kind of job that I have and how much I make.

I’ll say my happiness is about 10 out of 10. I’m living my dream life, but I’ll also say maybe 9.5 because things can still get much better. 

Would you like to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here.

Tunde (25) spent his university days preparing for a fully funded UK scholarship, only to get a rejection letter. But that rejection was the redirection he needed to become a teaching assistant at a US university where his fees are covered. He talks about experiencing normalcy for the first time and breaking free from Nigeria’s grid problems.

Where do you currently live, and when did you leave Nigeria?

I live in the United States, and I’m a Masters Student at North Carolina State University. I left Nigeria in August 2024.

Is there a particular reason why you chose to travel through the student visa route?

At first, my dream was to become a Chevening scholar (Chevening is a fully-funded scholarship that lets you study in the UK), but I’ve always wanted to study abroad.  You know, those ideas you get from reading fancy stories as a child, right?  That’s what inspired that goal. Also, one of my lecturers at Lagos State University was a Chevening scholar; this really made me feel like I had a shot at it, so before I graduated, I was already intentional about preparing for the scholarship. To ensure I got it, I worked hard, topped my class, finished with a first-class, and remained in contact with my lecturers.

So did you get the Chevening scholarship? 

Thank you for that question. I was served a very nice rejection letter. Misinformation is crazy because some people told me getting a scholarship in the US was impossible, and that’s why I was hellbent on Chevening. 

America is a capitalist society because there’s no free money–It’s true that finding scholarships like Chevening is not common here. What you’ll commonly find are assistantship openings, but I didn’t even know that till I heard about it for the first time in 2022. I spent five years in university, and I never heard about the opportunity.

Interesting

Even after I heard about it, my mind was still focused on Chevening, but when I went to the NYSC orientation camp, I met a guy who seemed to know a lot about moving to the US. He encouraged me to apply to some of its schools. In 2022, I applied to US  schools and the Chevening scholarship as well. To be fair, I knew Chevening was going to reject my application.

How did you know?

I applied on the day of the deadline. Chevening also provides a scoring guide to predict how the review committee will judge your application, so I told myself the truth and moved on.

I knew that my best chance of studying abroad was to target more schools in the US. For the schools I applied to, I got two partially funded admissions, two non-funded admissions, and one rejection. Thankfully, I was wise enough not to pay a tuition deposit to either of the schools that offered me partial scholarships.

The partial scholarship was a conditional offer, so one of my siblings talked sense into my head, and I decided not to proceed with the deposit payment. The funniest thing is that if I had applied for a visa at that point in my life,  I would have been given an anointed rejection. I let go of that admission and decided to re-strategise. In 2023, I wrote my IELTS, identified more schools and paid application fees for them. It was a perfect move because three of the schools I applied to got back to me with fully funded offers, and I chose North Carolina.

Congratulations. What makes this one different from the Chevening Scholarship?

European scholarships like Chevening don’t usually require you to teach. The scholarship I got is actually a job opportunity that comes with benefits. That’s what an assistantship is—I am a teaching assistant to a professor, and I also go to class. When I get to my second year, I will become an instructor myself. This means I’ll be teaching students who will pay me for my service and cover my school fees, too.

In Europe, you are rarely required to teach. European scholarships usually pay for flights, but in the US, you are most likely going to pay for your flights. Chevening also covers your accommodation in the UK, so it’s a nice opportunity for Nigerians who make it through the competitive application process.

What happens after you finish your assistantship program?

So the F1 visa, which I’m currently on, can expire, but if I choose to continue studying,  I can always renew it.  If you’re studying stem-designated programs and your F1 visa expires, you can get an Optical Practical Training visa (OPT) for up to three years. If it is a non-STEM course you’re studying, you get one year. You’re supposed to return home if you don’t get a job after that one year of practical training, but if you get a job, you can stay in the US. You can even apply for what they call the EB-2 National Interest Waiver to show that you’re an extraordinary individual who can contribute to the growth of the United States. If it works out, you get a green card.

How can interested Nigerians find an assistantship scholarship like yours?

Research is the first thing you need to do. There are many schools that offer this opportunity, but you won’t know if you don’t do your research. If you’re still a student and haven’t gotten to your final year yet, I’ll advise that you search for schools that interest you, check out what programs they are funding and do your final project along that line.

If I had that information as an undergrad, I could have left Nigeria sooner.  For those who have already graduated, you need to do your research, find schools with fully-funded programs related to what you studied and select the ones you want.

Some schools will require you to take English proficiency tests, especially if you want to be a teaching assistant. You can apply for a waiver, and if its approved, good for you. You should also be intentional about the school’s requirements. For example, if they require you to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), you should take the exams. When that’s sorted, write your statement of purpose; some schools may still need you to write a personal statement, It just depends on the school you’re applying to.  Get your transcript and pray that your Nigerian school will not be unfortunate–It’s important to note that you’ll need those lecturers that you don’t like.

For what?

It’s best to stay in touch with one or two lecturers because you need their recommendation; it carries weight. You should also keep your final year project because you’ll need it. Sometimes, these schools want to be able to gauge that you can do academic writing. There are also lots of scholarship influencers on Twitter,  follow the right set of people, and you will get access to more information.

Can you give me more specific details on how to get the scholarship itself?

For my school, I didn’t have to apply separately for the assistantship; all I did was show interest in financial aid during my application. However, one of the other schools I applied to required me to write a separate essay telling them about my teaching philosophy. It depends on the school you apply to. This is why I mentioned earlier that research is important. 

The application process is straightforward as I described earlier, but you’ll decide where you apply to based on your interest and the school’s requirements. However, I advise people wanting to do their PhD should consider research assistant openings. For this opening, you’ll need to reach out to professors who have grants or professors who are working on research projects that align with your interests. If your research interests them, and they think it’s innovative enough, they can bring you to the US to work as a research assistant in their lab.  There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to getting these opportunities; Just identify your school and determine how they fund. 

Thanks for the expo. How is your life now compared to when you were in Nigeria? 

God, my life is so different but to be fair, I wasn’t so impressed when I first got here. 

Maybe I was expecting to walk down streets of gold or something, but I realised that it’s just a normal country. The US offers the kind of normalcy that you’ve been missing all your life. Do you know how much 24 hours of light can change your life?

Screams in the national grid. Don’t insult me, please.

I can’t help it. The grid is collapsing every two market days. You’ll experience some things and just start praying that others will experience them too. The only disadvantage, which isn’t so bad, is that the city bus is scheduled, and you can’t just board a bus at will as you would in Nigeria. This affects my mobility. 

My school has a shuttle, and they also partner with the city bus, so I don’t have to pay for transportation but if I miss the city bus, there’s no okada I can just hop on. I can either take Uber or Lyft. That’s why you’ll see PhD students whose program runs for up to five years buying cars. If you’ve spent up to six months here, and your payroll seems reasonable enough to them, you can get enough credit to buy a car and spread the payment across five years. 

Even the students in the classroom I teach in as a teaching assistant have cars. Life is not hard here, but since I came, I’ve realised that the American healthcare system is not the best–In Nigeria, you can walk into any hospital if you’re not feeling well, but here, you can’t easily do that. You have to book appointments. 

Sounds rough.

Yeah but I can work with it because the advantages are great. I’ve been adding weight since I got to this country. In Nigeria, I felt like I wasn’t adding weight, no matter how much I ate. But since I got here, it’s just been easy to add weight.

I love that for you.

I think it’s mostly because I’m not spending much on food. Food is relatively affordable here. It’s not very cheap, but compared to what people are spending in Nigeria, it’s reasonable.

That’s interesting. Any plans to come back to Nigeria?

I’m taking it one day at a time. When the future comes, we’ll find out.

On a scale of one to 10, how happy are you? 

I’m genuinely happy. I’ll say seven. I think it would be higher in the future.

Want to share your Japa story? Please reach out to me here. 

Daniels James, the subject of this week’s 1,000 Ways to Japa, had plans to move to Dubai, but the universe redirected his steps to Rwanda. He tells us how a journey that was only supposed to last for a few months is starting to feel more permanent.

When did you move out of Nigeria, and where do you currently live?

I moved out of Nigeria in 2022, and I’m currently in Rwanda.

Why did you leave Nigeria for Rwanda?

So I was initially supposed to move to Dubai. That was my plan, majorly because I’m into marketing and tech in general–I felt like it was the best and easiest place for me to migrate to, but the day I started processing the visa was the same day they placed that ban on Nigerians. A friend of mine suggested moving to Rwanda, and I remember doing research about the country a few months before the Dubai ban, so I was like, okay, fine. I did a little bit of research on how to move, and I found out that it was quite easy. I made plans to stay there for a few months until the Dubai ban is lifted. The “few months”  is now over two years.

LOL. Why did a few months become two years?

So the reason is that I feel like, if you stay in Rwanda,  you’ll get really comfortable; that was what happened to me. Rwanda is a very chill place, so I naturally love it because I’m not someone who likes noise, even when I was in Nigeria. I’ve actually never been to Lagos; it’s too crowded and noisy for me. I would rather stay in Abuja than go to a place like Lagos. Rwanda gives me the Abuja vibe because it’s very chill, you hardly hear noises, and everything is peaceful. It’s also neat, and you don’t have all these police issues.

I’ve heard of other African countries where Nigerians get profiled on the street, but as far as you mind your business here, you’ll be safe. Plus, at that time. we didn’t have unlimited internet in Nigeria. Rwanda has 24/7 electricity and great internet access, so I felt like it was better to stay in Rwanda than remain in Nigeria.  I believe that one of the reasons I have stayed here this long is because I got a little bit too comfortable in the country.

What did your life look like in Nigeria before you moved to Rwanda?

I lived in Abuja, but I’m originally from Benue, state. My place in Abuja was a serviced apartment–there was steady electricity for the most part, but since it’s Nigeria, there were bound to be a few hiccups. Plus, I was spending so much on data subscriptions. It wasn’t a bad life, but I wanted more. 

In Nigeria, I walked around with a constant fear of police officers. I knew I could be easily profiled either because of my dreads or my iPhone.  But I think the moment I really decided to leave Nigeria was when some police officers in  Abuja extorted me. They returned my money the following day, but the experience left me with a fear that I’ll always need to watch my back so that I  don’t get profiled by them. That’s not a good way to live, so I knew I had to leave the country.

Is life in Rwanda any different?

So in Rwanda, things are more expensive, but that’s something that comes with leaving Nigeria.  Rent is way more expensive here, and they charge monthly for it. If you’re looking for an apartment here, you should budget $500 and above for a furnished one; It’s expensive, but I think it’s worth it, considering the level of peace that comes with living in Rwanda.

 One time, I met with some of my Nigerian friends met up for coffee and I left the cafe at around 1 am.  I was holding my MacBook in my hand because I didn’t go to the cafe with a bag; I saw police officers on the way home, but nobody stopped me and was not scared of getting robbed that day, the same way I’ve never had to worry about being robbed since I came to Rwanda. The chances are not zero, but they are low. I mostly step out by 4:00 am to go to the gym. You’ll see police officers and soldiers patrolling on foot around that time, but you don’t have to worry about anybody talking to you. So yes, the peace of mind that comes with living in Rwanda is worth everything. 

The internet subscription is cheaper too. I spent almost ₦200,000 monthly on internet subscriptions when I was in Nigeria, but here, I spend around an equivalent of ₦30,000 monthly on an unlimited internet plan. I also never have to worry about the national grid collapsing because here, you will always have light as long as you have the unit in your prepaid meter. I’ll say there are a few times that they’ve taken it for about 30 minutes or one hour, especially when there’s a heavy storm but that only happens, like once in six months or something.

Do you think things are very expensive because you’re staying in the country’s capital?

So that’s something I’ve been looking at. I think things will be cheaper outside the capital, but what you want to put at the back of your mind is that Kigali is the heart of Rwanda. The country is small – It’s smaller than  Benue which is probably 10,000 kilometres bigger than the whole of Rwanda. So if you’re looking at going to live outside Kigali, you’ll most likely still need to travel down to the capital to get certain things. That’s why I’d rather live in the city and, if anything at all, probably just visit other provinces for vacation.

What are some of the biggest culture shocks you’ve experienced?

So when I was coming to Rwanda, I was told that the citizens don’t speak English as their primary language, but I didn’t realise it would be that bad. The younger generation can actually speak and understand you, but the majority of the elderly people or motorcyclists that you’re going to come in contact with are going to be non-English speakers.

Another thing I didn’t anticipate was the level of patience you’d need to live in Kigali. Their service can be really slow. For example, you can order food in a restaurant and not get it for an hour. If you interact with Rwandans, they’ll tell you that they don’t like to rush; even the Americans that I’ve met in this country complain about that. For the language part, it will be helpful to pick up a few French lessons before moving to the country.

Duolingo to the rescue. Can you explain what the visa application and relocation process looks like?

I’ll tell you how I figured out the entire process based on my experience.  Rwanda doesn’t offer any digital nomad visas for remote workers like me, so I applied for a business visa to build my social media marketing agency in Rwanda.  At the time,  I had already established an agency in the US, but I wanted to create a separate one that would cater to people who need social media services here in Africa. That’s why I got a business visa. But for anyone who wants to move here, the first thing you should know is that Rwanda offers a 30-day free visa when you’re a first-time visitor in the country. So what you’re going to need is proof of accommodation that’s booked ahead,  your flight ticket and a yellow fever card. Your flight ticket should always be a return ticket, and you have to get the yellow fever card like 10 days before your flight.  I usually advise people to do it months before the flight, but usually, it’s supposed to be 10 days before your flight. Those are basically the things that you need.

That’s it? 

Now this is unofficial, but I’ve heard some people say that it’s better to have cash at hand when you’re coming into the country for the first time, so another thing that I always like to advise people is to hold some cash. I usually recommend that people have at least $500 to $1000 in their hands, just in case they ask you at the immigration front desk; I have never experienced it, but if it comes up at all, you’ll be able to show that you have enough cash to take care of yourself within the 30-day period of your free stay.

Once your 30-day visa is about to expire, you can then apply for a more permanent visa. Some people use the student visa but I got a business visa. It’s easier to apply for either of these visas when you’ve already entered the country using the 30-day free visa. All you need to do is go to the immigration office and apply for a new one. If you want to get a business visa, I recommend applying for a business inquiry visa; It’s about $60. With that, you’ll get a one-month stay in Rwanda to set up your business; then you can apply for a proper business visa. You don’t even have to go to the counter to do that. They have a website called irembo.gov.rw. You’ll find more details about other visa types there. You can also apply and submit your visa application on that website. 

Can you give me a range of how much it will cost to move from Nigeria to Rwanda?

When I left Nigeria in 2022, I got the return tickets for about ₦285,000, and with miscellaneous, it added up to about ₦380,000  for a return ticket. But I just came back from Nigeria two weeks ago and I got my ticket for 1.8 million naira. That’s to tell you that flights have become super expensive. So if you want to move to Rwanda, you must budget at least ₦1.6 to ₦1.8 million for flight alone. When it comes to rent, you have to be looking at anywhere between $500 to $700 if you’re looking for a good single bedroom. I also recommend eating what you cook when you move here because it’s cheaper. If you want to buy food daily here, you will run out of cash–Their food is very expensive, especially if you’re Nigerian and want to stick to Nigerian dishes. In a month, $200 should feed you. So in total, you need roughly about $3,000 to move to Rwanda. I highly recommend this move for every remote worker that earns in dollars.

Thank you. On a scale of 1-10. How happy are you in Rwanda?

 I’m very happy. This feels like the perfect way to live, so on a scale of 1-10, I’ll say my happiness level is 10.

Since secondary school, this 25-year-old marketing bro has wondered what life in a functional country feels like. Now, he’s living his dreams through the UK Global Talent visa and thinks other Nigerians should jump on the opportunity too. 

Where do you live, and when did you move out of Nigeria?

I live in Kent, UK, and I moved here in August 2024 through a global talent visa.

Sounds fancy. What’s a global talent visa?

The global talent visa is for people with at least two years of experience in their field, particularly tech, arts, or academia. I work as a marketing professional in the digital technology sector, so I applied for the visa through Tech Nation. 

We’ll come back to that. When did you decide to leave Nigeria, and why?

I don’t know if there’s a specific date for that. The reality that comes with being a Nigerian is that you always want to leave. It’s always been on my mind, but it became a conscious decision when I finished secondary school. I don’t know if it’s still functional now, but a couple of my seniors in secondary school then had travelled to Russia through the Federal Government Scholarship Board. They painted a picture of a different life for me, so I decided that it would be nice to relate.

Do you feel like you can relate now?

I didn’t hold the UK to any unrealistic standard before I moved, and that’s because when you’re coming from a very difficult place, your expectation is, “I just hope this other country is better.” Thankfully, there’s more peace and stability here. 

Is there anything about the UK that caught you off-guard?  

I think the first thing would be the value of money, the fact that money actually has value in the UK. It’s surprising that you can buy something for like  £9 or £5 here when you can’t even find ₦5 in Nigeria anymore. The fact that transportation is also affordable is shocking – I hear it’s cheaper in other parts of Europe anyway.  When I was about to move to the UK, I remember complaining to a friend about how I would deal with transportation costs in my first few days– I was travelling from London to Oxford for a job interview and then to Kent, so I assumed I would spend a lot. She told me not to worry because I would not need up to £100 to cover all the train and bus rides.  The value of the currency itself gives you peace of mind. You’re not consciously looking for some dollar-to-naira conversion app to fix non-existent problems. 

 This is also my first time experiencing what a functioning government looks like. The fact that you send an email to your council – like local government – and they actually get back to you surprises me. Things just function the way they’re supposed to, and even though you’ve not experienced it before, you feel like this is what a proper life should look like. 

LMAO. Why are you even sending emails to your Local government?

You won’t see the need because you don’t even think your local government should be emailed in Nigeria. So, there was a day that I went to the library, and it was closed, I saw a sign with a number and email to contact for more information. I sent an email, and I got a response in two hours, explaining why the library was closed and sending me a schedule of their weekly and monthly opening days. These little things don’t usually work in Nigeria;the email would probably sit in a forgotten inbox, or the number would be unreachable. When you’re in a country where things work, trust me,  you’ll definitely have things to tell your local government. 

Sounds like life in the UK is great. Made new friends yet?

 I’m an introvert, but I guess I’m lucky to have friends who relocated to the UK before me, so friendship hasn’t been a problem. 

Good for you. Let’s talk more about relocation. How would you advise japa aspirants to prepare for the global talent visa?

There’s a short version and a long version, which one do you want?

Both, but let’s start with the short version.

If you’re interested in the visa, start by putting together documents that show your experience—what you’ve done, the impact of your work, how recognised you are, and how your work stands out in your field. Submit these to Tech Nation; If they endorse you, you can go ahead to apply for the Global Talent visa. After that, you wait for the UK’s decision—usually a “yes” from what I’ve read. Once approved, you’re set to travel.

 The Tech Nation website has everything you need to know about the Global Talent Visa, including clear, easy-to-understand guidelines.

So what’s the long version?

First, get at least two years of experience in tech in a product-led company, not an agency. There are two categories for this visa: “Exceptional Promise” and “Exceptional Talent.” Exceptional promise recipients are people who have less than five years of experience, while exceptional talent recipients are those who have five years or more. 

If you’re a product designer, for example, focus on building a strong portfolio, staying active in your field, and contributing to tech communities through something like volunteering. This kind of involvement will help prepare you for the visa. You can also check the UK government website to see exactly how they define global talent, but I’d tell you that the summary of what they want is a track record of impressive, verifiable work.

How do you actually apply for this visa? 

To apply, put together a solid CV and a Personal Statement that covers who you are, what you do, why you want to move to the UK, and your plans once you’re there. You’ll also need to submit up to 10 documents (pieces of evidence) showing your impact. This means you have to show off any innovative work you’ve done and any leadership roles you’ve held. This could include records of speaking engagements or any other proof of leadership. 

Throughout the application process, just work with the consciousness that you’re trying to convince people who don’t know you that you’re a recognised talent in your country with the potential to become even better. Also, show how your skills could benefit the UK because that’s the whole point of getting the visa. 

How much did you pay for the visa?

The visa is not the first thing anyone who wants to get the Global Talent visa should be worried about. The endorsement comes first, but when you’re in the planning stage, your initial budget should be around £716 (about ₦1.5 million) for both the endorsement and visa.

 Here’s how it works: you’ll first pay £524 for the endorsement application. If you’re approved, you can then apply for the visa, which costs £192. That’s where your first  £716 budget is going. After you’ve sorted out payments for your endorsement and visa, you’ll have to pay a healthcare surcharge which costs  £1,035 per year. So, it starts with the endorsement application and the visa fee, and if successful, the healthcare charge comes in.

What else do people need to know about this visa?

Alright, so here’s how it goes: if you’re classified as an “exceptional talent” (this means you have five or more years of experience), you get a two-year visa in the UK. After those two years, you can apply to remain in the UK for another year, summing it up to three. At the end of those three years, you will be eligible to get your permanent residence.

On the other hand, if you’re an “exceptional promise” (this means you have less than five years in your career), you’ll get a five-year visa. You can move in and out of the UK freely as long as you stay for at least six months each year. At the end of your five years, you’ll apply to remain in the UK for another year, and after spending six years in the UK, you should be ready to apply for your British citizenship. So, the difference between the two categories is really in how quickly you can become a  British citizen—exceptional promise candidates have a longer wait time.

Another thing people need to know is that while the endorsement fee and the healthcare surcharge (£1,035) are both part of an initial cost, the healthcare surcharge can be paid upfront or gradually. So, let’s say you qualify for a five-year visa as an exceptional promise; you could choose to pay for only one year upfront, get your visa, and leave Nigeria, then make your payment once every year once you get to the UK and find a good job. If you prefer, you could still clear the payment at once to avoid the stress of renewals.

What happens to your money if you don’t get the endorsement?

Nothing happens. The money goes. You still have to pay if you’re applying again.

 Oh wow

Your application for endorsement can be rejected, but if that happens, they will explain why they’ve rejected you. If you think they are wrong, you can appeal that rejection and tell them why you think their decision is wrong. They can revoke the rejection and endorse you if you have solid points or maintain the rejection and give you feedback that can be useful for your next application. 

But they won’t return your money? 

Nobody is returning your money. It’s just like paying to apply to a school and expecting a refund because they rejected you. That’s why it’s important to make sure you meet the requirements and your application is as solid as possible.

So how long does it typically take to get a global talent visa?

Honestly, if you’re looking to apply for the Global Talent visa, I’d say the whole process—gathering documents and everything—will likely take three to six months.

On a scale of 1-10, how much would you recommend the global talent visa to young professionals? 

If you’re a Nigerian working in tech, I would recommend it 100%. The reasons are self-evident, really. The country doesn’t seem to be getting any better, and as a tech professional, being in a stable country where you don’t have to miss out on opportunities because you’re living in Nigeria is definitely something to embrace.

Enjoyed reading this? Click here to be the first to know when a new episode of 1,000 Ways to Japa drops. If you want to share your story, please reach out to me here. 

Nobody knows how to japa with a student visa quite like this 31-year-old businessman and the subject of this week’s #1000WaysToJapa. He applied to 11 universities in seven different countries before finally deciding to pursue his master’s degree at a tuition-free university in Switzerland. 

So when did you move out of Nigeria and where do you currently live?

I live in Switzerland, Geneva where I’m getting a Masters degree in Economics. I  moved here in September 2024. 

Interesting choice. Why Switzerland? 

I wanted to get a good education and Switzerland offered me a chance to get my Masters degree for free. 

We’ll come back to the free part. What did your life look like before you left Nigeria? 

My life in Nigeria was good- I was running a water production business that made me six figures in profit every month but I wanted more. I wanted to get an international career and position myself for global opportunities. 

Sorry, what? Six figures?

In a good month, I would make between ₦5,000,000 to ₦7,000,000 in profit. I was running my business in a student area, so we made lots of sales whenever school was in session. But it wasn’t always great, mostly because water is a seasonal business.

The cost of running a business in Nigeria is high- we had to buy the vehicles for dispatch, fuel them, and spend a lot on maintenance every month. The factory ran on diesel because there was no electricity where it was located; If I calculate how much the factory spent on diesel in one month alone, it was over ₦1,000,000.   It looks like I earned well in Nigeria but after taking care of necessary and unforeseen expenses, you’d realise that ₦7,000,000 isn’t a lot of money. That’s just one of the many challenges of doing business in Nigeria.

But you still earned enough money to live fairly well in Nigeria. Why did you leave that life to become a student in Switzerland?

I actually had the opportunity to move there with a work visa but a Masters degree is what I wanted – money isn’t everything. I’m more concerned about the impact this degree will help me make globally.

Fair enough, so when did you know you wanted to leave the country?

I started planning to move in August 2023 but I found out that it was too late to apply for the 2023/2024 session. Instead of wasting time, I started preparing to apply for the 2024/2025 session.  At the time, I wanted a scholarship but it didn’t work. In January 2024, most universities in Switzerland started accepting applications so I submitted mine.

What did your application process look like? 

I was determined to move out this year so applied to schools in different countries in order not to limit my options. The only downside to that was the application fees I had to pay but it was a necessary damage. I applied to three schools in the US, three in Canada, and one each in Australia, Denmark, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Ireland.

I was rejected by two of the Canadian universities. I was also rejected by two universities I applied to in the US and was accepted by one. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go because my visa application was denied. I also got an admission in Ireland,  applied for the visa and got it on the first trial. My Denmark application wasn’t successful too, so I didn’t move further with the visa. That’s how my options were cut down to Ireland and Switzerland. I chose Switzerland. 

You’re a japa expert now. If you knew someone who wanted to japa with a student visa, what would say to them?

First of all, not everybody would have enough money to apply to as many schools as I did. I only considered it a good financial decision because the degree I wanted was competitive everywhere in the world. If you’re looking for programs that will give you a high chance of getting admitted on the first trial, you can apply for diploma programs at any university. Studying any course in expensive schools where tuition is paid installmentally is also another guaranteed option for Nigerian students. 

But if you’re interested in schools that offer ridiculously affordable tuition and are still among the top 100 in the world, you need to be ready for a bit of competition.  I’d say the best thing you can do for yourself is to apply to as many as possible, because just two or three options may not be good enough to get you out of Nigeria. 

Did you apply through an agent?

I don’t think anybody should waste their money employing any agent. If you have basic research skills, there are guidelines on YouTube and Google to help you. Just read a lot of stuff and watch a lot of videos.

 You’d even find that you have a better chance of securing admission and getting your visa on the first trial when you do it yourself because that way, your school can easily communicate directly with you and you can also get feedback from the admission committee without much delay. These schools themselves don’t even want the chain of communication to be unnecessarily long. If you’re applying to schools in Australia though, you should get an agent.  You have a better shot with an agent. I know this because I tried applying myself and it didn’t go well– I couldn’t communicate directly with the school, and the whole process was frustrating.

LMAO, sorry 

Again, necessary damage. But for a typical application process to Switzerland or several other countries, you should try to find out what kind of candidates they are looking for – It’s usually on the school’s website.  If you meet their requirements, you’d most likely still need to take the IELTS. Countries like the US and Canada don’t necessarily need IELTS from Nigerians, because they recognize us as English speakers. They don’t even need you to get a document from your school stating that your degree was taught in English, at least for the schools I applied to. Some lenient European schools also let you apply with a statement from your school stating that your degree was taught in English.  

Most of these international schools also need academic reference letters so the moment I knew I was travelling, I had some lecturers on stand-by to write references for me. Another thing I was intentional about was my Statement Of Purpose (SOP). ChatGPT is your friend for everything else but not your statement of purpose. 

LOL. Why not?

These schools use software to detect AI and that can ruin your admission chances.  Even if you’re not using ChatGPT, eliminate any form of vagueness from your SOP because the person reviewing your application wants to get a strong sense of who you are and why they should pick you. For example, I didn’t say I aspired to become an economic relations manager in my SOP, I told the story of why I chose the course instead– the admission committee will see generic stuff in every other application, so you want them to find something different in yours. 

You can use AI to get the general format of writing a statement of purpose but anything else is a bad idea.

Thank you. Now, let’s go back to the “free” part. What does that mean?

 I’m in an institution where students don’t pay school fees. We only pay a semester contribution of 500 francs which is about ₦950,000. So it’s almost free for everybody. Also, you’re only required to pay it during your first semester. For the second semester, you can write to them and say “Hey, I don’t think I can pay this, the contribution be waived for me?” And they’ll waive it for you. 

They have nothing to lose because the school is a public institution, and it’s publicly funded. This is one of the things I was looking out for when I wanted to choose an institution– my school is ranked high in the top 100 universities in the world list, it’s cheap, and it offers quality degrees. 

Sounds like a steal

It is, I can’t lie. 

Do you mind sharing the name of the university?

University of Geneva. But every other public university in Switzerland offers the same opportunity.

You seem to know quite a lot about admission rejections. Are there things you did to improve your admission chances in Switzerland?

Rejections are normal. You should know that not everybody who meets the cut will be admitted. Now that I’m here though, I’ve noticed that Switzerland universities try to make their institutions as diverse as possible. They want to get representatives from every region. I think everybody who intends to study abroad should make sure their institution is as culturally diverse as possible because it could be an advantage.

In my university, Swiss people have a smaller chance of gaining admission compared to a Nigerian and it’s not because they didn’t meet the criteria, but because these schools have their quota for Swiss students. Let’s say they just want three students from Switzerland and as many as 20 applied, they’ll pick their three and move on even if the remaining 17 did exceptionally well, and had good references. They’d rather pick from Africa or  Asia or anywhere else. 

Now that you’re in Switzerland, is it everything you expected?

Yes, I watched a lot of videos on YouTube about Switzerland and I followed a lot of Swiss people It’s everything I expected but in Geneva where I stay, you won’t find a lot of Nigerians. 

There are more Nigerians in other cities but I love Geneva regardless.  The people are friendly and they make you feel important. I’ve never felt so important in my life. They don’t look down on anybody. If you are lost, you can stop anyone and be assured that they will abandon whatever they are doing to help you find your way. That’s something you probably wouldn’t experience in Nigeria. I’ve also never experienced racism here and there are more English speakers here than most people realize.

Sounds like a chill place. Do you ever get lonely without Nigerian friends?

Loneliness was something I was worried about before I left Nigeria. In fact, at some point, I told my friends in Nigeria that they would have to get used to me constantly texting and calling them but since I moved here, it’s been the opposite of what I anticipated. This is mostly because I live in a shared apartment. 

Interesting. What’s that like?

I have my bedroom. I have a sink in the room where I can brush my teeth and take water to drink. Yeah, we drink tap water in Switzerland.

We are seven in the house but we share one kitchen and two toilets. Living with seven people is one thing that has helped me because they are all willing to connect- If I go out of my room now and sit in the kitchen, there’s no way I won’t start a conversation with at least one person. It also helps that we are all from diverse backgrounds– We’ve got two Swiss guys, two Chinese, one Canadian, and one French guy.

These days, they are the only ones I talk to because I don’t have time to communicate with people back home. It’s either I’m in class, swamped with assignments, or I’m out socializing.  I’m having a wonderful time and I don’t think I’ll be feeling lonely anytime soon.

Are you satisfied with your decision to move away from home?

I have zero regrets. Initially, the US was my top choice. Canada and Australia at some point too but now that I’m in Switzerland, I’m glad I didn’t get the American visa. I feel like I’m in the best place I can be right now- I’ve made a lot of connections since and I’ve attended a lot of conferences that I wouldn’t even be considered for if I were still in Nigeria. I’ve attended United Nations conferences, I’ve shaken hands with delegates from the World Health Organisation. Most of the time when I walk up to world delegates at these conferences, they are willing to connect because they assume you are someone from a very important organisation. This is the kind of life I wanted to live. 

Wow, you make Switzerland sound flawless

The only thing I probably don’t like is how cold the weather is. Going outside is always a challenge. People act like they’ve won the lottery when there’s sunshine. A Swiss girl once told me that people take antidepressant pills in Denmark when it’s cold. She said it was only a matter of time before I started feeling depressed too. 

On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you with your life post-japa?

A solid 8, I love my life here.

In next week’s episode, you’ll meet a tech bro who woke up with a sudden urge to live a normal life and decided to move to the UK with a Global Talent Visa. See you by 9 AM (GMT) every Wednesday. Be the first to know when it drops by clicking here. If you want to share your story, please reach out to me here.