VENTURES AFRICA – Recently New York Times published an article about the increase of U.S. immigrants going back to their native countries to start up their own businesses. It is safe to say over the past decade the countries grouped in the BRICS have been fortunate to receive a brain-gain, as many of their best and brightest have seen their own countries as land of opportunities.
On one of my social media networks I spotted a comment that said “By the time Africans get featured in an article like this the gold rush will be over.” Of course you can easily interpret this statement in several ways but it spoke volumes about how Africans tend to always be last in everything.
As a Nigerian in the Diaspora I would love to go back after I finish my education to pursue my own dreams but realistically we are faced with obstacles that cause many diasporans to become reluctant to return back to Africa to start up a business. Here are my reasons why…
The Political Climate
The political climate in Nigeria is one of the number top reasons why the Nigerian Diaspora refuse to go back to Nigeria. Despite a democratic society, the political system is still full of corruption and lack of transparency.
If we compare our political history to a developing country such as Malaysia you will see some similarity as both countries received independence two years apart from each other from British rule. Even in the 1960’s Nigeria was ahead of Malaysia economically wise and had vast more natural resources. If we compare both countries as of today, Malaysia has been able to pull ahead in terms of development. In Malaysia, a person can literally start a business in less of week versus Nigeria which is 30 plus days. Interestingly enough there is an increasing Nigerian base in Malaysia. In other countries hard work can actually turn into a successful business like Chris Aire who has created a jewelry empire or Kase Lawal a well known business man in the oil sector. In Nigeria there are many businesses thriving based off their own work, but as well just as many growing because of ties these companies have with the government.
Lack of infrastructure
It is 2012 and Nigeria still does not have a stable power for companies to run businesses. Many companies in Nigeria use over 10% of their income to run power from day to Night. In other countries running power for the company is the least of one’s concern and normally amount to 1% to 2 %. Besides the power, roads are an eyesore and connectivity is still a problem among businesses. These issues have stifled Nigerians for decades who dream of building a business. Many Nigerians in the Diaspora have great ideas but are held back simply because Nigeria lacks the infrastructure to turn their idea into a viable business.
Out of touch with Nigeria
Let’s face it some people in the diaspora are just simply out of touch. They have no clue what is taking place in Nigeria and some do not even want to know. Other countries do a great job of connecting their people in the diapora to their home countries. In India a person from the Diaspora sits on parliament. Chinese have groups in the Diaspora that actually have influence in Chinese affairs. If we look in Liberia they allow they citizens in the Diaspora to vote in government elections. Yes, we can say we have “people” in the government who are suppose to handle Diaspora affairs, but what can we say they have done. We have groups in the Diaspora who are there to help Nigerian entrepreneurs invest back into Nigeria, but instead it becomes a power struggle of who will lead the group. In this area the Diaspora affairs must improve in order to create a better bridge between those in and out of Nigeria.
The comfort of being overseas
Time and time again I meet Nigerians who continue to say I want to back to Nigeria one day and it never becomes a reality. I remember jumping in a taxi cab on my way to a meeting and coincidentally the taxi driver was a Nigerian. He was telling me his journey from Nigeria and how he wishes to go back but he is just use to his routine in the US. Many people aspire to be entrepreneurs but some rather deal with the comfort of 9 to 5 rather than going back to Nigeria to deal with the headache. Nigerians who have left to go back to Nigeria get there to discover a pile of empty promises. People who said they will connect them with so and so end up being dead ends. Staying in the Diaspora may not be the ideal route, but to many Nigerians it is considered the safe route.
Despite all of these roadblocks to go back to Nigeria I am still moved by the vast opportunities to try my luck and move back to Nigeria. There are many Nigerians who have gone back and have made a successful name for themselves. Nigeria is growing by leaps and bounds ripe for development. It will be difficult to assimilate back into the country, but anything great is not easy to obtain. The challenges of Nigeria should not discourage people in the Diasporas; it should in fact encourage us to transfer our skills to build up Nigeria. As a wise man once told me, “Nigerians are walking on money; the opportunities are far too great to not see them”. I call on Nigerians in the Diaspora to migrate back to Nigeria to take advantage of these opportunities. Do not wait for the gold rush to be over tap into Nigeria’s potential.
Are you a Nigerian in the Diaspora? Are you willing and ready to return home? Or are you a newly returnee? How is your experience? Leave your comments below!
Image via nigeriansabroadlive
The Author
CJ Lagos said on April 25, 2013 [1:06 am]:
You know, I think this article hightlights a lot thinking in the average Nigerian in diaspora. I have lived in the U.S for almost 25 years of my life. I have been reading and paying attention to what has been happening in Nigeria. You see some of us have tried in the past to do business in Nigeria, unfortunately those businesses have been with family members, and many of us have been “419ed” by them. I can speak from personal experience. This experience really drives home the point that most people in Nigeria can’t seem to see beyond what they can get “now”, instead of looking at how they would benefit once the business succeeds in the long run, they would rather lie, cheat and run the business down, collect whatever they can at that moment, and beg you to send some more “dollars” to another business with them. I’m sure many Nigerians who read this, knows what I am talking about. This experience and all the ones you listed in your article makes most of us who have good intentions to come home and set up businesses very reluctant to make that venture, at least for now. I would like to ask one question to the people in this fora, who or what group would you trust upon coming to Nigeria to do business with? We all know about the 419 problems plaguing the country. Please don’t pretend you are not concerned about that.
Ezijumwi said on April 16, 2013 [10:10 am]:
Very nice piece though a lot more research needs to be done to establish the fact. I believe this lineof thinking is very traditional, if you could get at least online poll on the why’s? you might be surprised of the answers.
arunaibraheem@yahoo.co.ukk said on March 30, 2013 [10:29 pm]:
It is not the easiest of challenges. Inspite of government efforts basic infrastracture such as averagely good roads, constant supply of diesel, to run your generator in the absence of regular supply of power,basic petrol to run your car are severe constraints. Try setting out an outfit, raise your capital, recruit, your professionals and train them then meet your bank manager who had given you a verbal promise after several weeks of discussions, inspite of the double digit interest rate you would be charged and you could still be turned down for an overdraft to supplement your working capital requirement. The lending rate in Nigeria unfortunately is at the moment one of the highest in the world, because government lending crowds out the medium and small scale enterprises.
Tunde Benson said on February 22, 2013 [2:14 pm]:
Both the writer and al those in support are a bunch of low confidence, short sighted people with no back bone or creative drive. I was born in the UK and lived there until i was 34. I now have two successful business in Nigeria and faced all those obstacle head on All the problems in Nigeria serve as an opportunity for you to fix them not run. Keep running and leave the wealth for hard working ambition people to help sort our country. THIS IS WHY AFRICAN’S ALWAYS MISS OUT, LAZY THINKING and not belief
Oluyomi Ojo said on February 21, 2013 [7:22 am]:
This is an article every Nigerian leader should read, and seriously, Chika’s expression of what Nigerian business go through to stay in business is on point, it will interest you to know that the comment is coming from a generator powered PC. We are hope things change someday but not without turning on the right switch in politics and leadership. Cool stuff Chika.
FANIMOKUN GIDI said on February 19, 2013 [9:25 am]:
I guess the author of this article could have done better to get the view of people at home in African …..some of us will never live in abroad even if it was free. The opportunity here in African is unimaginable though not meant for the spoilt children that were sent abroad with African money in most cases stolen money to study and remained their because they considered it as comfort zone. They should please talk to their parents to be responsible and ensure what are lacking in infrastrutures in African should be fixed to enable those of us who will never reside outside Africa to attain our potentials. Africa will rise again.
Onica Nonhlanhla Makwakwa said on February 13, 2013 [11:52 am]:
I left South Africa at age 19, just 6 months before the release of Nelson Mandela. Recently I relocated back after 23 years of living overseas. I must say I was very comfortable but always wanted to be “home.” A few years ago I came across an organization called the Homecoming Revolution, reading stories of other people who had returned and their experiences and tips made the move less intimadating. This is my 6th month of being back and I don’t regret it one bit.
lasco said on June 16, 2012 [1:41 pm]:
Hi Chika, I am from Mali, lived in the US for 10 years, moved to South Africa 3 years ago, and I visited Lagos for the first time last week. I consider myself fairly well traveled and aware of what is happening in several other countries. On Corruption, yes I agree with you, it is impacting greatly on service delivery on the continent, however I don’t think that Indians, Ukrainians or Brazilians would tell you that their governments and business people are less corrupt. On Infrastructure, these power plants, roads, airports, water sanitation system won’t build themselves, if we don’t share our know how, if we don’t get involve in pressuring our governments for delivering these services, well yes we will never have the infrastructure. Out of touch, that is really a personal choice cause today there is so much attention being given to our countries, our continent that one must really decided that he/she won’t bother with it, in which case, yes we won’t chase after you. Finally on the comfort of being abroad, well 2 things, if those in the diaspora who have seen what can be, don’t ask for better service and respect well we will never improve. Fixing Africa, making it attractive starts with us its people, we can’t leave the space to others and just complain that things aren’t improving, you must get involved even if you are abroad, otherwise.
josh said on June 8, 2012 [6:03 pm]:
Hi Chika, landed on this page while serching for stuffs on Africa. I guess you guys can get more hits and reach if you make it easy for people to share this stuffs on linkedin, facebook and twiter.All i can see is links to follow you on this medium noy links to share the story on socila media. Well am also cautios here because i can see google+ but not others may because am doing this from my office! but nice work any ways!
ventures-africa said on June 9, 2012 [2:38 pm]:
Hi! Thanks for stopping by! We actually do have the social media share buttons on our website- hope you can view it from a non-work computer? Please visit again and let us know!
Chris Akor said on June 6, 2012 [5:54 pm]:
Well, the Nigerians in diaspora can remain where they are. No one is begging them to come back home. It appears they are quite comfortable in lands where other people’s ancestors have laboured to develop. We here will labour to also develop our land and before they know it, Nigeria will have no place for them. But it is not true that they aren’t coming back. Daily I receive tens of CVs from Nigerians in the diaspora begging to come back here and work. So I don’t know where this writer got her statistics from.
Sade said on June 4, 2012 [10:12 pm]:
I was raised in the UK and moved to the US to attend uni. I have spent most of my life abroad and, I admit, I have become comfortable in my environment. The horror stories deter me from testing the waters: from lack of infrastructure, to social rules of interaction/behaviour and values. Yes, I have dreams of returning to make a difference, especially in health and education, but I’m afraid the overwhelming obstacles (including pettiness and jealousies so common among Nigerians, sorry to say!)will frustrate my efforts.
Villager X said on June 1, 2012 [11:25 am]:
It dawned on me that almost all my life I had enriched my country of birth and neglected to do likewise for my country of origin. Some of the reasons for neglecting my country of origin have already been covered in the article, however why should I leave it to someone else to contribute to fixing the problems when I can equally contribute. This spurred my return to this country with view of giving something for nothing but perhaps setting the stage for my future generation to get something from my commitment. Without a doubt, they will achieve little from my abandonment.
The more brain-drain is allowed to fester and the longer folks stay away, the more anywhere outside of this place will continue to seem better in so many ways. If you don’t sacrifice some of those creature comforts elsewhere, you may never taste them at home where it really matters.
Olutayo said on May 28, 2012 [7:45 pm]:
Let the multifaceted problems of oppression, corruption and lack of energy(power) be tackled by the people elected/selected(sic) to be in places of authority, you will see how fast Nigerians in diaspora will return to Nigeria.
Michael said on May 15, 2012 [2:22 pm]:
I lived in the UK my entire life only returning to Nigeria for Summer or Christmas holidays. I moved to Nigeria 5 years ago at the age of 27 having worked in the UK financial services sector for a number of years. To be honest by the time Nigeria swings up enough to satisfy the requirements of many Nigerians in the diaspora the fact of the matter is that it will be pretty late to jump on the fast moving proverbial ‘gravy train’ associated with rapid economic development. Nothing in life comes easily so I suggest building a foundation in Nigeria while you still can otherwise some of us may not pick up the phone when the time comes visit iroking.com for Nigerian Music Anytime Anywhere
Tosin O said on May 7, 2012 [12:34 am]:
Poorly researched article lacking objectivity.
Please spend a little more time separating fact from feelings
Chika Uwazie said on May 10, 2012 [6:19 am]:
Hello Tosin, this article was an opinion piece which warrants the ability to give an opinion. Some of my articles are informative pieces and others are opinion. Many people in Diaspora have these same sentiments, and some may not. These were just my thoughts on why so
me may be reluctant to come back home.
Wale said on May 2, 2012 [3:23 pm]:
The indians did it back in the 90s and now they have big global conglomerates such as Infosys. Nigieria however hasn’t created the enabling environment for people to hop and leave diaspora. I have an idea to run an ICT business but have you ever heard of a network that doesn’t run on electricity? As a network engineer data centres in the UK have to run 99.999% of the time; with the present infrastructure in Nigeria I doubt we can achieve 50% uptime. I commend the writer for this article.
John Jay said on April 26, 2012 [11:40 pm]:
The people’s mindset needs to change. Let us look to Asia and adapt their values on hardwork and excellence (for the sake of the nation).
Second, I’ve been thinking… the food needs to change too. From my recent experience, you cannot eat a full plate of eba, amala, or pounded yam and expect to go study right away, or return to work right away. Can you work late into the night on a full plate of amala? Can you grab lunch and go, eat on the run with eba? Can you have a lunch business meeting with a client and conquer a plate of pounded yam?
I think we need to find a way to transform our traditional dishes for the masses, to make them more productive.
And don’t forget hardwork must be inculcated into all levels of society. Then Nigeria will transform seemingly by itself.
100%Naija said on May 28, 2012 [12:23 am]:
We are talking about ways to make Naija better to allow genuine growth and stability and this lad is on about amala and pounded yam. Lord have mercy. We really do have a long way to go.
FANIMOKUN GIDI said on February 28, 2013 [2:36 pm]:
There is nothing wrong with our food infact we have the best and most fascinating variety of foods in African. African foods are prepared to aid productivity and should not be transformed to adultrated tin foods that contain cancerous elements. Food itself is part of our culture that must be kept jealously.
Chika Uwazie said on April 25, 2012 [1:47 pm]:
I agree with everyone points, but Tosin do not lose hope yet. Even though we may be facing down a gloomy barrel there is still always a glimmer of hope.
Tosin said on April 24, 2012 [6:14 pm]:
It’s very difficult to do business here in Nigeria even for those based here, not to talk of those returning.
You made very good points on why it would be difficult but I think those coming back are infused with kind of energy that living abroad only gives. They have the optimism, the will and also the right way to do things.
We have lost ours.
Ejike Ikezuagu said on April 24, 2012 [12:45 am]:
This is very laudable, encouraging, and motivating. As a resource in management,I will be contributing with my articles to actualise the vision of this project.
Abraham Omotayo said on April 23, 2012 [5:22 pm]:
I believe that if Nigerians in diaspora returns, its good for both themselves and even the country at large. Returning back gives them an opportunity to achieve their Nigerian dream and also create a change in the Nation.
Olusegun said on April 21, 2012 [5:04 pm]:
I also read that article in The New York Times. Suffice here to say that the problems of our dear nation are enormous along with all that you rightly enumerated. I tend to ask myself the question why political campaign of political candidates are still laden with promises of good roads,water,light,access to primary education and health and other basic necessities of life. As much as we have genuine people who wish to return home and contribute to the nation’s upliftment,the reminder of the state of things back home gives the cause for a more critical and second thought.
I definitely intend to return home despite the calmness and comfort one experience living in diaspora. I recently moved to the United States from Nigeria and must say i greatly miss the communal relationship back home. It is a more quiet, individualistic way of life here. Besides, I think too much of life here unnecessarily over regulated. That is not to say one does not envy the quality of life, advancement in infrastructure, politics, organization and much more. I see a lot of things work here and at most times leaves me at a point of crying when i think of what obtains back home,especially knowing how easily we could get ourselves to make a better life for our people. I once spoke with a girl when i arrived in the United States and was stunned when she said she’d NEVER let her child know about Nigeria! Can you beat that. I cried silently that day because I love my country despite it all.
However, it is not all doom and gloom for Nigeria. Things are sure looking up steadily. A few State Governors are taking the bull by the horn already. It will be tough and difficult, but we can always do our bits to make things better. At least for future generations. We owe it to our nation to return. Most of our founding fathers gave up living in the diaspora to help agitate for independence. Along with all we’ve been exposed to in the 21st century, we should perhaps do same.
tmoni said on June 15, 2012 [10:21 pm]:
The fact that Nigeria has a challenging environment to operate is the very reason why the huge business opportunities there are still there for the taking.I’ve had the opportunities of studying in Nigeria and spending time in Europe and in the US and I can say categorically that there is so much space here for legitimate biz with high returns of investment to boot.E.g I stumbled onto this site trying to locate Dangote cement new site at Calabar.Want to buy a truck truck (6M capex and hire it for cement haulage at the going rate of 15k per day (i dont pay for petrol or mtce)….that is routine biz in nigeria…do your npv and tell me if you can get that in the US or UK!