FunTimes Magazine spoke with four Nigerian international students currently navigating four different countries, the UK, Canada, the US, and Italy, to capture what studying abroad actually looks like once the celebration photos are put away.
In this conversation with FunTimes Magazine, Thomas shares the highs and lows of life as an international student, the realities of the UK system, and what life looks like now as he tries to find his footing after graduation.
In this conversation with FunTimes, Gift opens up about the realities many immigrants face but rarely discuss, and how she has been able to overcome several challenges along the way.
In this session with FunTimes Magazine, Matthew talks about the realities of immigrant life in the UK, and what he wishes Nigerians understood about survival and starting over.
There’s a moment familiar to every Nigerian. You’re stuck in traffic, scrolling through your phone, and then you see the WhatsApp status of one of your friends who “japaed”.
When Itunu left Nigeria for her master’s degree in the UK, she imagined a smooth transition, school, part‑time work, and a fresh start. Instead, she found herself battling depression, debt, and the harsh reality of starting over in a new country. This is her story.
Chinyere Luke’s relocation journey started with a scroll on Facebook, and then a short post – “Nigerian teachers are moving to Japan to teach,” which piqued her curiosity. In 2024, she packed her bags and bade farewell to the place she had called home all her life.
Henrrietta Chima, a Public Health Professional and the Founder & Global Institutional Strategist for Women Advance, poured everything into a business in Nigeria, her savings, her time, her assets, and watched the system swallow it whole. That was the moment she discovered that the problem wasn’t her hustle; it was the ground she was building on. In 2025, she found new ground, very far away in Canada.
This week, FunTimes spoke with a Nigerian man who moved to the UK in January 2025 as an international student. Chuks’s experience has been eye-opening and humbling. Here’s what he wishes he knew before relocating.
For Harrison, who relocated to the UK, the 2023 election result was what finally moved this thought to reality. What started as a carefully planned escape from Nigeria’s uncertain future has turned into a race against time, visa rules, and a system that keeps changing the rules.
