A Nigerian man who relocated to the United Kingdom in 2010 with dreams of acquiring a quality education and securing a better life has returned home after spending 10 years and 9 months in London, carrying with him nothing more than ₦650,000 and a wealth of life experiences.
The story was brought to light by X (formerly Twitter) user @chidomerendubuisi, who shared a video of the man narrating his ordeal while dressed in an elegant white native attire. The video has since gone viral, sparking conversations across social media about the realities of seeking greener pastures abroad.
According to his account, he left Nigeria on January 16, 2010, full of high hopes, but those dreams were cut short when the school certificate that had secured him admission in the UK was suddenly revoked. He revealed that he was given only 90 days to either transfer to another institution or return to Nigeria. The only requirement was £500 to secure admission into a new school, but he could not raise the money despite reaching out to friends and family.
“I got to UK January 16, 2010. Many things happened. My school certificate was revoked. It was either I get a new school or go back home, and I had 90 days to do that. That 90 days, 500 pounds was the money I needed to be in a new school. I didn’t have it. I called him, called everybody, nobody could raise 500 pounds. Then pounds was around ₦200,” he recalled.
His father, sensing the difficulty, advised him to return home. However, he decided to stay back and struggle through life in London, surviving on odd jobs and little food. He described how tough those years were, saying: “If I see one Indomie for London, I go dey happy say I chop something that day.”
Before traveling, he had been running a motorcycle parts business in Ibadan, where he was known for dismantling Bajaj, Jincheng, and Suzuki bikes to sell them as “follow come” spare parts. He revealed that he sold off this business to fund his relocation abroad, hoping to find better opportunities in the UK.
His saving grace, he said, was that he had initially been granted a three-year visa. By the time the certificate issue came up, he had already spent over a year, allowing him some time to stay back and try to figure things out. Yet, despite the years abroad, he eventually returned home with only ₦650,000 to his name.
The post shared by @chidomerendubuisi carried a powerful caption: “He sold his machine parts shop to japa for Masters and greener pastures. But life had other plans. After 10 years and 9 months in London, he returned to Nigeria with just ₦650,000.”
Fortunately, his story did not end there. Today, he is the proud Managing Director (MD) of EIS Group in Nigeria, a testament that success does not always lie abroad. According to the viral post, his journey serves as a lesson for Nigerians who believe prosperity can only be found outside the country.
“For those who think success only lives abroad, sometimes your true breakthrough is right here at home with your problem-solving skills. Nigeria has more problems to be solved that can make more money for you. Think it again before you japa,” the post emphasized.
His testimony has sparked wide reactions online, with Nigerians debating the realities of relocating in search of greener pastures versus building opportunities locally. While some praised his resilience and eventual success, others noted that his struggles abroad may have shaped the skills and mindset that enabled him to thrive after returning.
See some reactions below:
whitemoneyz🇳🇬🇳🇬: “But EIS Group has existed before 2012. But he said he returned to Nigeria in 2020. Is he not the founder of EIS Group?”
Nas100ft: “Assuming you didn’t travel, you wouldn’t have gotten the skills. Life is a process.”
Thomy: “He travelled to acquire skill which is fine and he came back to utilise the skill. I am also that kind of person, wen I am done, I will be back home to utilise my skills. I am an industrialist now ❤️🙏.”
Ikenna: “The way we think is funny, some that didn’t travel with him then was either killed or kidnapped 😂.”
Pius: “Sir I have a skill that solves problems but I need link up and an investor I sent you a message no reply yet.”
WATCH VIDEO:
@chidomerendubuisiHe sold his machine parts shop to japa for Masters and greener pastures… But life had other plans. After 10 years and 9 months in London, he returned to Nigeria with just N650,000. Today, as MD of EIS GROUP in Nigeria, his story has become a powerful lesson for those who think success only lives abroad. Sometimes, your true breakthrough is right here at home with your problem solving skills. Nigeria has more problems to be solved that can make more money for you. Think it again before you Japa. #Oluwaisinvolved #thebillionairejourney #bmskillsseries
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♬ original sound – The Billionaire Mechanic