A Nigerian man who left for the United Kingdom in 2010 with hopes of earning a degree and building a new life has returned to Nigeria after more than ten years abroad with only ₦650,000 to his name.
The story, shared by X (formerly Twitter) user @chidomerendubuisi, included a video of the man in a white native attire recounting his struggles in London.
He revealed that he traveled to the UK on January 16, 2010, to pursue his studies. However, shortly after his arrival, his school certificate was revoked, leaving him with only 90 days to secure admission into another university or return home.
“It was either I got a new school or went back home, and all I needed was £500. I called everyone, but nobody could raise it. Back then, pounds was about ₦200. My father even told me, ‘If you can’t raise it, come back home.’”
Before leaving Nigeria, he ran a business in Ibadan, selling motorcycle parts. According to him, he pioneered the practice of buying complete motorcycles — Bajaj, Jincheng, or Suzuki — dismantling them, and selling them in parts.
In London, survival was tough. He recalled days when finding a single pack of Indomie noodles felt like a blessing. The only advantage, he said, was that he had entered with a three-year visa, which gave him time to hustle before it expired.
Despite the hardships, he stayed in the UK for 10 years and 9 months, before finally returning home with ₦650,000. Today, he is the Managing Director of EIS Group in Nigeria, proving that success is not tied to living abroad.
The viral post ended with a lesson:
“For those who think success only lives abroad, sometimes your true breakthrough is right here at home. Nigeria has more problems to be solved that can make more money for you. Think again before you japa.”
Some Reactions:
@whitemoneyz: “But EIS Group has existed before 2012. He said he returned in 2020. Is he not the founder?”
@Nas100ft: “Assuming you didn’t travel, you wouldn’t have gotten the skills. Life is a process.”
@Thomy: “He travelled, acquired skills, and returned to use them. I’m also like that. I’ll come back home to utilise mine.”
@Ikenna: “Some who stayed back then didn’t survive; they were killed or kidnapped. Life is unpredictable.”
@Pius: “Sir, I also have a skill that solves problems. I sent you a message but got no reply yet.”
His story has since sparked conversations online about the realities of “japa,” the high expectations many have when migrating abroad, and the often overlooked opportunities within Nigeria.
