A 20-year-old woman's anguished account of returning to Nigeria after a decade abroad captures the intensifying "japa" phenomenon—young Nigerians fleeing economic hardship and systematic discrimination in search of opportunity elsewhere.
The returnee relocated to Nigeria to "pour into our economy instead of those of foreign nations," but encountered relentless obstacles: business clients who refuse to pay women on time, systematic undervaluation despite qualifications exceeding male counterparts, and scams that drained her savings. "This stupid country has stole everything from me, my time, my money, my dreams, my goals, my happiness," she wrote in a widely-shared post.
Gender discrimination emerged as a critical barrier beyond general economic dysfunction. Being a young woman in business meant clients felt entitled to delay or skip payment entirely, while male competitors with fewer qualifications commanded respect and compensation she couldn't access. "Just because I am a woman, business personnels will not pay me on time, hell sometimes they won't even pay me," she explained.
The economic frustration extends to basic needs. Unable to pay school fees due to Nigeria's "stupid system," she now counts days until departure. "I am counting the days to leave this country and make a better life for myself far far away from this disgrace of a country," she concluded.
Her experience reflects broader brain drain accelerating across Nigeria's educated youth. The "japa" wave—Nigerian slang for fleeing the country—has intensified as inflation exceeds 30%, insecurity spreads, and governance failures compound. Young Nigerians with foreign education or exposure increasingly view return as a trap rather than opportunity.
The gender dimension adds depth to Nigeria's emigration crisis. Women face double barriers: the economic dysfunction affecting all Nigerians, plus systematic sexism that treats female entrepreneurs as less credible than male counterparts. Qualifications matter less than gender in determining who gets paid and respected.
In Nigeria, as across Africa's giants, challenges are real but entrepreneurial energy and cultural creativity drive progress. Yet when even privileged, educated, internationally-exposed young people cannot survive economically, the japa wave becomes rational rather than defeatist.
