The Real Reason “Japa” Isn’t a Plan – And What To Do Instead`

 

Every group chat has it. That friend who says “I’m done. I’m japa-ing.”

I get it. 133 million Nigerians are in multidimensional poverty. 1 USD = ₦1,600. It feels hopeless.

But here’s the truth The Compass won’t lie about: Japa is not a plan. It’s an escape.

1. The Math Doesn’t Add Up for Most People
UK student visa: ₦8M+ for tuition + proof of funds. Canada Express Entry: You need 1-2 years of skilled work experience + ₦3M+ in your account.

If you don’t have that, agents will sell you dreams and take your last ₦500k.

The Compass Rule: If your japa plan starts with “God will do it,” you don’t have a plan.

2. The Countries You’re Running To Have Problems Too
UK rent: ₦800k/month for a room. Canada: Food banks are at record highs. US: Medical debt bankrupts people.

You’re not escaping hardship. You’re trading Nigerian hardship for foreign hardship. Sometimes it’s worth it. But know what you’re signing up for.

3. What To Do Instead: The “Build Here, Leave Later” Strategy
Japa works best when you’re valuable. So get valuable _here_ first.

Step 1: Skill up for global money. Learn tech, copywriting, video editing, data analysis. Nigerians are earning $2k/month remotely from Lagos. That’s ₦3.2M. You don’t need a visa for that.

Step 2: Document everything. Your work, your results. That’s your real passport.

Step 3: Then decide. Japa with leverage, not desperation. Go as a professional, not a refugee.

The hard truth: Nigeria will not be fixed by the people who leave. It’ll be fixed by people who build enough value to have options.

Your homework: What skill can you learn in 90 days that pays in USD? Google “remote jobs for Nigerians”. Pick one. Start tomorrow.

Am I wrong? Is japa the only way? Defend your point in the comments. The Compass is for real talk.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome to The Compass: Finding Direction for Nigeria's Next Generation

Image
The Compass is officially live. If you're reading this, you're here o n Day One. Thank you. I started The Compass because two things keep me up at night: 1. The noise. Nigeria is loud, but we’re rarely clear on where we’re going. 2. The next generation. Millions of African children, especially deprived ones, are growing up without a map. Too many young people are brilliant but blocked. Blocked by poor policy, by broken systems, by adults who forgot what it means to build for the future. So what is The Compass? This is a space for direction. I’ll write sharp, honest takes on the politics, business, and culture shaping Nigeria, but always through one lens: _How does this affect our children and young people? We’ll talk budgets and elections, yes. But we’ll also talk education, skills, street kids, girl-child rights, and why youth unemployment isn’t just a stat. It’s a crisis of imagination. No clickbait. No recycled press releases. Just clarity on what needs to change, and how we...
Read more

`3 Things Nigerian Youth Are Not Being Told About 2027`

Image
The noise around 2027 has started. Politicians are already moving. But here's what nobody is telling young Nigerians. 1. Your PVC Is Not  Enough Everyone says "get your PVC". True. But 93.4 million Nigerians registered in 2023. Only 24.9 million voted. The problem isn't registration. It's turnout. And it's strategy. If you only vote on presidential day, you've already lost. Governors, senators, and LG chairmen decide your roads, schools, and jobs. They are elected _ before _ 2027. Many in 2026. The Compass Rule : If you don't know your local chairman's name, you're not ready for 2027. 2. "Youth Party" Is a Trap Every election, someone launches a "youth party". It trends for 2 weeks, then dies. Why? Nigerian politics runs on structure, not vibes. INEC has 19,000+ polling units. No youth party has agents in even 10% of them. You don't need a new party. You need to hijack existing ones. Parties are empty vessels. Y...
Read more