Japa or Stay: My Honest Take After 18 Years in London

See ehn, I have been in London since 2008. I came as a nurse, worked night shifts, shared a flat in Woolwich, and now I have a semi-detached in Peckham. My children are more British than Nigerian and it honestly breaks my heart small every day. But I still send money home to Ibadan every month and I visit twice a year. So when people ask me if japa is worth it, I tell them the truth: it is not the paradise we think it is.

Back home, you have family around you, the food is better, and you can laugh loud without people looking at you like you are mad. Here, you have peace and order but you also have loneliness. I have seen too many young Nigerians come here with big dreams and end up doing jobs that make them cry every night. The rent is crazy, the weather is depressing, and the racism is real even if it is subtle. I tell you, e no easy.

But I am not saying stay is easy either. The economy is tough and sometimes you need to leave to survive. My advice is simple: if you have a good job and a support system in Nigeria, think twice before jumping. If you have nothing, then japa might be your only option. Just know that the grass is not always greener. God is faithful but He also expects you to use your brain. So, who here has actually thought about japa and what is stopping you?