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Safe Cultural and Economic Havens for Nigerians Abroad

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Nigerians are always dreaming of the metaphorical greener pastures which lie abroad, beyond the shores and outside the borders of our country. They want to make the transition abroad so that they can improve their lives. Sadly, not every foreign destination is conducive for Nigerians, some destinations are very hostile. These destinations like South Africa and Libya have become dangerous points of entry, stay or transit. To go to or through such countries for many Nigerians, may invariably mean to go to one’s death, this is the reality many Nigerians face abroad, especially our teeming army of desperate and illegal migrants who in their eagerness to flee poverty and deprivation in their home-country, end up living in harrowing conditions abroad.

One hard piece of advice I would give to all Nigerians is that traveling out of the country is not the complete remedy to a person’s problems in life. We need to cultivate ourselves right inside our own country even much more than flying, sailing or running abroad to the supposedly greener pastures . I do not consider traveling or transitioning abroad a bad thing but doing so without proper preparation or resources usually gives scars to the souls and bodies of people who blindly rush out of the country. The latest and unsettling nightmarish events, many Nigerians faced in Libya and South Africa are ghoulish experiences Nigerians should not repeat elsewhere just for the sake of economic deprivation or other pressures.

Before setting out to any foreign destination, it is better to be armed with adequate and proper information about the wider world. There are destinations that are conducive to migrants, especially Nigerian migrants and there are others that are not. There are many reasons why some destinations are conducive and why others are not. Knowing why you may thrive and survive in any country is essential before you make the transition abroad. In this article you will find some basic guidelines that have been established from the facts of migration as some Nigerians have experienced abroad and from other sources . As the old saying goes, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. A good dose of immigration-al common sense will save you from a whole lot more than common problems abroad. Read these guidelines carefully to arm yourself with adequate information about going abroad. These are the best destinations for migrants from Nigeria.

Destinations That Are Politically Stable 

Politically stable countries have strong state institutions and have a political culture that is inclusive of every segment of the society. These are also countries where the rule of law is fully assured and justice is humane. The police are professional in their conduct and are checked by significant public and institutional oversight. The press is not gagged by the state or strong local interest groups, neither is it biased towards any segment of the society, including migrants . Civil society is active and acts as a conscientious watch against the excesses of power and other forms of social decay. Banks, hospitals and real estate are open to the patronage of citizens and foreigners, irrespective of their social identities and conditions. Furthermore, the agencies of government that citizens and foreigners interact with on a frequent basis such as customs, the police, the courts etc. do not dehumanize those they deal with especially migrants.

Destinations That Are Economically Stable Or Emerging

There is no use running off to a country that has less economic opportunities just for the sake of going abroad. Economically stable or emerging countries have opportunities not just for their own citizens but for foreigners as well. These are countries with bigger GDPs, effective financial systems, sound economic management – with smart technocrats, in charge of the economy. In such countries there is always immense and productive value in many sectors. These sort of countries have real economic growth that is creating massive opportunities in sectors that need a lot of human labor, beyond the size of the population of that country. Sectors such as construction, manufacturing and agriculture can hold potential opportunities for migrants in many countries but you have to be familiar with the labor laws of that country, to avoid taking up employment with exploitative employers, who would make you work longer hours for lesser pay, sometimes in confinement and with other strictures such as emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Another thing you have to be aware of is the government’s attitude in that country towards exploitative labor, some governments even in the most developed and democratic countries turn a blind eye to the illegal and inhumane labor practices of local businesses as long as they pay their taxes promptly and regularly. If possible, try to obtain employment before setting out to these destinations. You should also make sure that the job you are going to do in the foreign destination has fair and agreeable terms that are clearly spelt out on paper or in a retrievable document and that these terms are actionable in court.

Destinations That Have Migrant-Tolerant Public Institutions

Nigerians are usually harassed outside the shores and borders of Nigeria by customs, immigration and police officers. The fact that Nigerians are widely labeled worldwide as thieves, fraudsters and desperados does little to help the situation. At the point of entry into most foreign destinations, Nigerians are harassed by customs or immigration officials. They are made to undergo more thorough searches and they are treated with greater suspicion. Police brutality is also one of the recurring problems that Nigerian migrants face in many countries of the world. In some countries, innocent and law-abiding Nigerians are harassed even far worse than local criminals who are armed and very dangerous. Some Nigerians end up in foreign jails, for offences that are even overlooked for locals and the citizens of other countries, for the fact that they are Nigerians. If you are about to travel to any country take some time to investigate the attitudes of its public institutions towards foreigners, especially Nigerians. Take a careful look back in time to the present to review the sort of treatment that these public institutions have been giving to Nigerians or the citizens of other countries, especially those from Sub-Saharan Africa. If they have been harsh, please reconsider going to such a place. You can Google the migration culture of that country to know more before you move to that country.

Destinations That Have A Language You Can Master Expertly Under A Year

Before you set out to any country learn some of the basic words of the common language that is spoken in that country or in the region where you will be staying. At least you should be able to master from 100 to 500 basic words of the lingua franca or common language of that country. If the lingua franca or common language of that country is very difficult to understand and there are no clear guides to learning the language of that country, try another destination. You should avoid going to a place where you will not understand others or be understood by others . You would find the people in such a place continually strange to you because you do not understand what they speak. This will also make living in such a country a mere futility because you will not be able to enjoy many of the

social and economic opportunities in such a place. To avoid the language barrier, you should go to countries and regions that have languages you can master in a shorter period of time. Technically, no language in the world is difficult to learn, except esoteric languages that are the mediums of the arcane. However, there are countries in the world that have very poor educational resources for language learning. These countries do not have good bilingual or multilingual resources to help foreigners learn their language. Reconsider going to such countries if you do not have a natural aptitude for learning languages. In this age of advanced digital technology, however, you can exploit language learning apps like Duolingo and Memrise to learn the language of the country to which you are migrating.

Destinations That Are Cosmopolitan And Multiethnic And Have A Tolerant Population

These are destinations that have people from many other countries or races and ethnic groups as residents. In such countries you will find that locals are always welcoming. They try to get along with visitors from other countries. They try to know more about them and assist them in settling down. On the other hand, countries that do not have a sizable number of foreigners are countries that might just be seriously worth avoiding. Such countries have citizens that have an ice-cold attitude towards foreigners. They are usually unaccommodating and unwelcoming. These sort of people can easily harm or kill foreigners because they are not used to them and they don’t like them. In such countries racism and xenophobia are always strong issues. The locals have a strongly biased mindset about foreigners coming to steal their jobs, commit crime or negatively and parasitically integrating into their local communities through marriage or permanent residency. They have a morbid (and sometimes justifiable) fear of migrants becoming the social satellites of exported crime and other forms of sociopathological defects in their country , who will infest and debase the parochial or atavistic-purity of the host country. Such destinations must be avoided at all costs, by the migrant.

Destinations That Have A Favorable Population Dynamic

Any country that has a lot of young people that are out of work is definitely not the sort country you should be migrating to, unless you are going there to attend school, or take up specialized jobs that are outside the common national skill sets of that country . However, it is better to avoid countries where there is a large population that is out of work but is willing to work and is qualified to work. In such countries the citizens easily convert their angst from unemployment into hatred for foreigners. There is usually the strong feeling in such countries that foreigners are there to take away the little jobs and other economic opportunities that exist such as spaces in the country’s marketplaces or limited openings for the most lucrative positions of employment in certain sectors and industries. On the other hand countries that have lesser populations and need foreigners to help them grow their economies are the sort of places you should be going to, in search of better opportunities in life . Some countries usually have a shortage of skilled people in one or more sectors of the economy. These are the countries you could go to if you are looking for better opportunities in life. However, make sure you don’t go to a country with a deeply ingrained culture of hatred and intolerance towards foreigners, especially if this is institutionalized – that is, openly or subtly approved by the public institutions of that country.

Destinations That Have Your Own National Diaspora

A country that is already accepting visitors from your own country is a destination worth visiting. It is better to go to countries where you own nationals are resident, especially where they have been assimilated into the cultural, economic or political life of such countries. If your own country has a strong diaspora organization that is very active in that country, then it would be a very good idea to establish communications with them even before you embark on the journey to that country. In such countries it would be easier to find your way around with support from people that have the same cultural or national roots as yours. Such people would give you first hand information about how to thrive and survive in that foreign country. The information they would give you may even prove to be more useful than the information you would receive at your national embassy or consulate. Your national diaspora organization could also be useful in helping you to find your feet culturally and economically, as they would be able to tell you the essential ‘dos and don’ts’ of that country in specific detail that could be very enhancing for newcomers to such countries. You could also get business, industry and other social connections that will help you get started with successful migrant life, as soon as possible.

Destinations With Symmetric Cultural Sensibilities To Yours

It is better to migrate to countries that have the same cultural characteristics as yours. These are countries that share the same language types, dress modes and food as yours. It is better to go to countries where you can easily fit in without any hassles. Countries where you can easily adapt to the lifestyle that is common there, without distorting your own sense of values or humanity. These are countries that have religious, political, educational, linguistic and other social aspects that are similar to the ones in your own country. You could also easily migrate to a country that has colonial ties with yours. For Nigerians, you can take advantage of our international status as a member of the British commonwealth to migrate to other British commonwealth countries, especially those countries that meet all the other requirements for being favorable destinations for migrants.

Destinations That Have Strong Bilateral Relations With Yours

If a country has strong bilateral relations with your own country because of trade, culture or politics, it is quite OK to reside in such countries. There are many good reasons for residing in countries that have strong bilateral relations with yours, especially if your country has a favored status in that country. Many countries usually treat the citizens of favored countries with more dignity and respect than the citizens of less favored countries. Countries that have given the favored nation status to other countries do so with pragmatic intentions. One of these intentions is to establish strong trade relations with those countries. If there are economic opportunities in those countries, you could also consider seeking them as long as that country has other aspects that are favorable for migration. You have to ensure that other aspects of the national life of that country will be conducive for you as a migrant. Some countries could have governments that are welcoming, at least on paper and citizens that are extremely hostile to the presence of foreigners in reality; in some cases this citizen hostility is subtly prodded on or ignored by the government. The public institutions could also be very hostile to foreigners within the country , as an open departure from the overt welcome of the government . Therefore, before you migrate to such countries, make sure you take a deeper look at all the characteristics of its national life to see if this will be favorable to you in the long run. Don’t rely on the international displays of a welcoming attitude by most foreign governments , the social realities in many countries can be very terrible for migrants.

Destinations That Have Ample Opportunities For Improvement For Migrants

Any Nigerian who goes out of the country should not be focused on looking for work alone. There should also be a focus on self improvement. This focus on self improvement includes mental development through education or experience. A smart migrant should strongly consider moving to countries that have opportunities for self improvement, whether it comes from the place of work, place of residence (the local community, where the migrant resides), local educational institutions or centers etc. In some countries there are programs for migrants to add more existential value to their lives. Some of these programs include training while working, work - to - school initiatives , evenings classes for adults, subsidized educational opportunities, including grant-funded schooling and scholarships etc. These opportunities could also be extended to children, if you are taking yours along or in the event that you start a family abroad. As you are transitioning abroad, you should be on the lookout for such opportunities before you begin the process of moving out. These opportunities will be of immense value to you, whether you plan on naturalizing in a foreign destination or not, because without self improvement in life, success would only come by chance and with little personal aptitude to maximize and scale it up; or survival would come (quite precariously) through public or private handouts, which may be stopped, once the foreign government or any other source of charity is exhausted or fed up with giving.

Destinations That Have A Favorable Climate

Go to a country that has a climate that will not impair your health for it would be futile traveling to such a destination in search of better opportunities. A suitable climate is one that will not give you any health challenges. It does not matter whether the destination you have in mind is in the northern or southern hemisphere of the globe ; be sure to avoid extremes in weather; places that are either too hot or cold . If you must stay in such places then be prepared to adapt to the same patterns of dress and lifestyle as that of the people living in such places. Learn more about the best sort of dresses, food and routines that go with the weather. You should also ascertain if you would be able to afford such dresses, foods and routines financially and non-financially. That is in relation to what you can afford in terms of time, your physical health, life skills and your social relations at home and abroad. Do not bite more than you can chew financially and non-financially.

A Round Up Of All My Advice On Migration For Nigerians

One of the best places a person can ever migrate to is an elevated spot in the mind, especially the elevated spot of a positive, moderate and humble self-confidence that gives you a mental picture of yourself as a better person. A better person in spirit, morals, knowledge and interpersonal relations . You can reach such an elevated spot from anywhere in the world, as long as you are willing to get yourself involved with yourself positively. There are many ample opportunities even in our country for cultivating our minds and for creating personal realities that are even far better than the opportunities that you would find in other countries. If you must travel at all, do ensure that your traveling out is worth it in a lateral sense, which implies that you are well prepared to travel and when abroad you are also well prepared to stay and thrive abroad. As for thriving, this should not also be to the detriment of the host country that has been benevolent enough to let you in. Crime and inhumanity should not be a means to fulfilling your dreams of success.

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