Kelvin Bowoto
It is no longer news that Nigerians, particularly young people, are frantically seeking greener pastures, as this has resulted in a significant increase in the number of Nigerian youth traveling to the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, among other places, in what is generally known as ‘Japa’ back home.
According to UK official migration figures, nearly 141,000 Nigerians moved to the UK for the fiscal year ending June 2023.
However, some Nigerians in the UK have revealed that the scenario in the country is not always favorable to all migrants, a case of “different strokes for different folks.”
On X (previously Twitter), they share their various experiences with their first work in the UK, which is a combination of satisfaction and disappointment. Some even questioned if they had made the correct decision to ‘Japa’, while others lamented the current scenario or those who ‘forced’ them to seek greener pastures elsewhere.
A Twitter user with the handle @stifler_Ldn started the conversation by writing, “A friend referred me to an event decoration job in Romford, Naija. I’ve never recovered from the number of chairs and plates I hauled that day.”
A spontaneous reaction was followed by other comments, as follows:
Another Nigerian in the UK, @cute_pecky, wrote, “Pretty Little Thing. My Fitbit watch reports between 70k and 80k steps every day. I had lumbar disc discomfort, and even NHS physiotherapy could not provide a remedy. I quit when I awoke and couldn’t feel my left leg owing to numbness and pain in my spine.”
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Also, @pharuc mentioned that his first work in the UK was at Cygnet Hospital for people with mental health concerns, and that he was once kicked and spat on by a patient there.
He stated, “My first work in the UK was at Cygnet Hospital for Mental Patients. Omo, I was with the patient, and she gave me a mad kick and spat on my face if I didn’t wear a face mask. I asked God, ‘Are you sure I made the right decision to come to this country?'”
According to @nuru_barca, his first job in the “Tesco shelf replenishing, first night they put me in the biscuits section; it was easy; I had help from one of the old guys; second night, they put me in the vegetables and fruits section; I want to die; I cried my eyes out 4 mornings; swore for Buhari; swore for my ex; swore for everybody.”
Also responding, @dimeji_MOA said: “I worked at a warehouse in Castleford on the night shift, and I was overjoyed when I finally landed a job after a one-month job search. The shift lasted from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. I wanted to die after 4 hours, but I made it until 7 a.m., fled home, and vowed never to enter a warehouse again.”
@laby_t worked as a cook, and she landed the job by stepping into the organization, introducing herself, and asking about any open positions.
She added that the manager informed her that the company was in need of a chef and had requested her to visit the next day.
She eventually obtained the position, which she appreciated because she was trained on the job.
Another X user, @scollyus, stated, “Tech mobile advisor for my university, covering the hostels with any IT issues.” It helped me acquire my first serious IT job as a developer. “I loved it.”
Techrectory with Agency Report.
