2 Ways to Japa as a Nigerian
(Exploring Your Japa Options)
In this current climate, 2 out of every 5 Nigerians, living in Nigeria are either in the process of leaving the country or they are thinking of ways to Japa. People are looking for greener pastures outside the shores of this country and this current wave of Japa is led by Genz, millennials, and even the middle class in Nigeria. It feels trendy these days, so you might be having a FOMO (fear of missing out) if you are not in the process of either considering or planning Japa.
Japa is a word that is synonymous with emigration or relocation for Nigerians. It is a Yoruba word that means "to leave", so when you hear Nigerians say Japa, they are referring to migrating out of Nigeria to other countries, but mostly Western countries. It has been popularized on social media, so you will find people from other African and Western countries using the word, Japa.
There is a popular saying in Nigeria that "There is hardly any country on earth that you won't find a Nigerian". Migration is not a new concept to Nigerians. It's a tale as old as time. But since the pandemic in 2020, there has been a wave of Nigerians leaving the country for different reasons.
There was a similar wave of Japa in the 1980s (s) when Nigerians left Enmasse because of the economic turmoil in Nigeria.
The process of Japa can be quite tedious. It involves a lot of processes- like searching for countries with good immigration policies, language barriers, cultural integration, financial capability, and the method of Japa that is best suited for you.
If, like many young Nigerians, you are considering Japa or, as a result of the FOMO, you are racking your brains on what Japa entails, then look no further; we will be looking at 2 ways to Japa in a way that pleases the Lord (legal immigration).
(1) Japa as a professional: countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand are offering permanent residency to international professionals. Healthcare workers are offered several incentives including Permanent residency, all in a bid to lure them to join the workforce in their various countries. Teachers and even professionals in certain vocations like plumbing, welding, construction, etc. are being offered visas to relocate to these Western countries. For those in tech, there are Western countries offering visa sponsorship jobs. You can apply for these jobs from the comfort of your home in Nigeria, and if you are given the job, you can proceed to apply for your visa with the help of the company. In countries like Japan, English teachers are sponsored to move over there, and you don’t need a degree in teaching to be accepted. BSc is the minimum requirement and you need to come from a native-speaking country and Nigeria just happens to be one.
(2) Japa as a student: most of the Japa opportunities by Nigerians to countries like the United Kingdom have been through this route. The primary objective of this type of Japa is to acquire a degree, but most countries offer these students opportunities to work and live in their countries after the completion of their studies. For a country like Canada, after the completion of your studies and the post-study visa opportunity, you can also apply for permanent residency and eventually, apply to become a citizen. Finland offers vocational training to international students and you may be able to find employment. If you are looking to acquire a foreign degree and Japa while at it, there are countries that offer you the opportunity to join their workforce after your studies.
With these few points of mine, I hope I have been able to convince and not confuse you that there are ways to Japa in a way that pleases the Lord.
