Two years ago I almost japa'd to Canada and my boyfriend called me a dreamer

Back in 2023 I was fully locked in on the Canada dream. Had my IELTS done, was saving every kobo from my freelance gigs, watching those 'Day in my life as a Nigerian in Toronto' videos like my life depended on it. I was convinced Lagos was squeezing the life out of me.

My boyfriend at the time, Emeka, he kept saying I was running away. I told him he was just scared of change. Then one night in his Ajah living room, he looked me dead in the eye and said 'You are a dreamer chasing illusions. Canada is not going to fix the thing inside you that is broken.'

E pain me die. I cried for three days. But that sentence stayed with me. I started asking myself if I was running from Nigeria or running from myself. The answer was uncomfortable.

I cancelled my application. Emeka and I broke up anyway. But I stayed. I started that documentary project I had been talking about for years. I started paying my grandmother's house rent from my own money. I started building something real.

Two years later, I am still in Lagos. Still frustrated some days. Still dreaming. But I am not running anymore.