❼ The Only Circumstance Under Which I Will (Happily) Move Back Home to Nigeria

Kola
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This is (most of) the truth about why I live in America instead of Nigeria. Interpret it as you wish. Hope you enjoy! xo

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Two Comments I Always Seem to Get About Being Nigerian

I am really happy that I got my introduction out last week. There are so many posts that I’ve wanted to share but I haven’t done so because I didn’t feel comfortable.

I just didn’t know how you would receive them without knowing where I’m coming from and where I’m going with Beta Motivation. It’s such a relief to me that it’s done and dusted!

Today, I want to answer a question that I get all the time.

Every single time I tell people I’m Nigerian, I get two comments. The first is

oh my gosh, you speak really good English

When people say that, I always say thank you because I actually worked hard to be able to speak English with a minimal Nigerian accent. The reason I did that is a completely different topic. I’m not going to address that in this post.

The second comment I get when I say that I’m Nigerian is, why did you leave?

Why did you leave Nigeria to come to the US?

I always answer that question in a politically correct way.

I usually say something along the lines of “ohhh America is the land of opportunity” or “ooohh, you know, it just kind of worked out” but I want to be real for a second today.

Why wouldn’t I leave Nigeria?

I think asking why I left Nigeria to come to the US is the wrong question. The right question would be, why wouldn’t I leave? Why wouldn’t I leave Nigeria?

Why wouldn’t I leave a country that thinks it’s okay to marry off 7 year old girls to 75 year old men? A country that goes as far as making a law that says it’s okay to do something like that?

Why wouldn’t I leave a religious country that has so much perversity going on under the surface?

Why wouldn’t I leave a country that kills people that try to do the right thing? I think back to MKO. I think back to the Ogoni and the 9 people that were killed on November 10th 1995

Why wouldn’t I leave a country that would pay USD500,000 for Kim Kardashian to show up in our country and cannot afford to pay for education for young girls?

Why wouldn’t I leave a country that forces university graduates to work for one year for money that can’t even pay their phone bills in the name of National Service? Shouldn’t national service be voluntary? How dare you force the youth to spend the best years of their lives in a system that doesn’t help them?

Why wouldn’t I leave a country where people spend 8 years trying to get a degree that should only take 3 years?

Why wouldn’t I leave a country where university professors sleep with girls every single day of the school year in exchange for good grades? Meanwhile, the government turns a blind eye and there is no justice for these girls?

Why wouldn’t I leave a country where I don’t feel safe walking down the street in broad daylight? Let alone late at night

Why wouldn’t I leave a country where there is so much kidnapping and killing and corruption day in and day out?

Why wouldn’t I leave a country where our leaders convene every single day of the week to share the money received from oil exports?

Why wouldn’t I leave a country that the US sends millions of dollars to in exchange for oil every single day ($23 billion in 2012 to be exact), but yet, remains one of the poorest countries in the world?

Why wouldn’t I leave a country that has one of the fastest growing populations in the world, but has no plans for the next generation?

Why wouldn’t I leave a country that has so many people getting married and having kids and there is little to no sex education in schools? Because hey, we’re holy and sex is a bad word?

Why wouldn’t I leave such a country to come to the US?

Nigerians don’t Help Nigeria By Leaving – aka Brain Drain

For those of you that would say: “well, you’re not helping by leaving”. Here’s what I want to ask you.

There are 150 million people in Nigeria.

Let’s assume that half of those people are brain damaged. That leaves 75 million human beings with perfectly functional brains living in the system.

Why aren’t those people making change happen?

Why would I be the hero? Why would my presence in Nigeria make a difference? Why do I have to be person number 75,000,001 in order for change to happen?

Nigeria doesn’t have a people problem.

We have good people in Nigeria. We have smart people in Nigeria. We have world changers in Nigeria.

Nigeria doesn’t have a people problem. We have a system problem. Specifically, a justice system problem. Until there is a justice system in Nigeria, every effort we’re making is in vain.

Until there is some kind of system that brings justice to those that need justice, there is no progress for Nigeria.

You can go out there and rally and demonstrate and do all sorts of things but guess what? There is no justice system to make sure that if you die for standing up for what you believe in, at least somebody would be held accountable for your death.

And for those that are going to ask how leaving is going to help, all I have to say is this.

I have no interest or desire in instituting such a system in Nigeria. My desire, the only thing that I care about more than anything else in this world is simple—it is to care for orphans. I will put my heart and soul into doing that.

Unfortunately, I can’t really help orphans (the way I want to) if I’m physically in Nigeria.

Until a justice system that works is instituted in Nigeria, I plan to stay exactly where I am, supporting Starbucks every single day, and repping naija from afar.

Maybe You Shouldn’t Even Bother Reading This Part

The funny thing about this post is that if I were American and this post were about America, Americans would get angry. Americans would have an opinion. Americans will share this post. Americans would start a conversation. Americans would DO something.

But Nigerians?

I know many of you would read this and you’re going to go “hmmmnn *sigh* na wah oh. God will help that country sha”

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54 thoughts on “❼ The Only Circumstance Under Which I Will (Happily) Move Back Home to Nigeria”

  2. This totally resonated with me. Too funny at the end though, I was also thinking “Nawa o”.

    Keep the videos coming.

  4. GOD will hear our prayers and there will be changes IJMN . Amen

  8. Good or bad, I am a Nigerian, and we are not even missing you. Besides we have millions of young girls like you who are way better n contributing greatly to making nigeria a better country, and one day we’ll get there

  9. Some statements you’ve made are exaggerated. And many young people have benefited from the corruption in Nigeria. System failure isn’t down to the people but government. It is their duty to create a system. Are you talking about Nigeria and Nigerians or about the government of Nigeria?

  10. Hey Kola, you have just hit the nail on the head. What’s your facebook name?

  11. Running away isn’t a solution to naija problems,so u can be part of the change.Even America u take to be the best system has her own issues which u an outsider doesn’t see.the video is good but will be better if u re part of it.Omo naija make itself available.

  12. I don’t even understand this geographical entity called Nigeria. When I wake every day, it becomes clearer to me that this country has no plans for her teeming youth population; what should have been a blessing is becoming a curse. Nawa oooo. However, I believe that things will get well some day. That’s why I do my best to work on the orientations of few Nigerians I can reach. Anyway, thanks for sharing this. It will spur us to make more effort and get things right. It will be well someday, though it may take decades.

  13. Why is it people that are getting 4 points mark given admission while people that got 137 points never get any admission….

  14. Kola I love What you did. God bless you beloved beacuse I love people that spake the truth with out giving any dam. The country called nigeria is a zoorepulic. So is an evil empire and the president is a child rapist, you can go and check it

    1. Lol thank you! I’m glad it has started a meaningful conversation. We have a long way to go

  16. Well said my sister. I think the foundational problem is mistrust. Mistrust between different ethnic regions begets lopsided justice system. Am afraid, fixing this will be like a camel passing through the eye a needle.

  17. why would you want me share this video when you think you are not among the smart Nigerians that can change something?lets wait for Americans to do something.unfortunately you have no other home than Nigeria.

    1. Nothing unfortunate about that – i love Nigeria. I think it takes a lot of courage and real genuine concern to start this type of conversation about where we are as a people and where we need to be.

  18. Absolute rubbish!!! I don’t like this video, and don’t ever post this kind of crap again. It’s not funny.

  19. But the US is safe, Lolss where you can get shot for being a black and everyday shooting in the higher institution dear get a life as you are brainwashed by the US.

    1. Oh brother. I don’t know where to start with statements like these ones that completely ignore the real issues in order to direct the conversation in a path that is completely unproductive and irrelevant. This video is not about America. It’s about Nigeria.

  21. Good observations, but we can’t get it right by resignation.we must be around to do our beat.Think of those who can’t afford to travel to USA,what’s your advise to them?

  23. so who do u expect to make the systems works if everyone have the means to leave the country.. please again check the definition of patriotism before you make videos about your country. if you can’t solve the problem or encourage people living in the country just keep quite and live and rep Nigeria from afar as you said. you are part of the problem in the country .. before government used to send student abroad but refused to bring the knowledge back home to the country how then the country will not be brain dead ….. if martin luther kings and few have left has they have options then will you open your mouth and said you want to be in america ?? please do not add to the problem

    1. Not sure that was the core message of the post but thanks for your contribution to the conversation

    2. Opteal you said “if you can’t solve the problem or encourage people living in the country just keep quite”. Are you denying Kola her democratic right to freedom of speech and in the process exacerbate the problems Nigeria has faced for the last 60 years?

  24. I worry at the zero level of patrotism and low level of emotional intelligence most of our brothers and sisters in diaspora display about Nigeria.

    No one will ever try to put our developing country on the same level with the Yankees/Jands that have now become their safe haven. Back in the days I will like to believe Americans or Europeans (the people and not just the government) also paid a price for the greatness we now chronically famz with.

    You have made your choice to rep from abroad but do not make the work more difficult for those of us who are committed to build and repair from either home or abroad. There must sure be a few good things about this black Country of your BIRTH, even if its just one please use your platform to promote that.

    It sure hurts and bites presently but trust me, with everyones commitment we will get there.

  25. Thank you for making generalizations that necessarily doesn’t apply to everything. Keep up the good work!

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