In September 2023, Dinma bade farewell to family and friends, leaving the life she was used to, even though she lived what many would describe as a “good enough” life in Nigeria. She had a job, and each day unfolded gently into the next. “Life was fair and good,” she says. “I took each day as it came.” However, for some people like her, leaving Nigeria was about ambition. For over ten years, she had imagined studying abroad. She sees growth as a necessary part of life, which is why she decided to leave home for the unknown.
What made you decide to quit your job and pursue a Master’s degree abroad? Did anyone try to talk you out of it?
Yes, I had a job, but I chose growth and decided to pursue it. That growth was pertinent because my future was part of it, and academics are one thing I admire.
Apart from my family and two friends, no one really knew I was leaving, so there wasn’t any talking out for me, and it was a dream I had far back in 2013. These people who knew stood by me with all they had.
What was the school application and visa process like?
I was already familiar with the study-abroad application process, as that was my job, so it was not stressful, but then life is not a bed of roses. The exchange rate floated, and Tinubu happened. Then the CAS issuance team frustrated me, not like it was their fault. I prayed, cried, and never gave up. I pushed till I got positive results with all I had and could get.
How did you fund your Master’s degree?
My family supported me, and I went to my friends for loans. My husband made so many sacrifices; it was not easy.
Did you work while studying? If yes, what kind of job, and how did you balance work and school?
Yes, who doesn’t work in the UK? I did support work. It was quite flexible, but not easy. I found a way around it because I cannot forget the sacrifices that had been made.
Chidinma got pregnant during her Master’s program in the UK, miles away from her mother, her aunties, her cousins, the entire support system Nigerian women rely on during pregnancy. It was her first pregnancy, and she had no previous experience to compare it to. But while she lacked extended family nearby, she wasn’t alone. She had a support system, though it wasn’t easy.
“I had a good support system during the period,” she says. “Also, I lived all my life in a boarding house, so being independent was not new to me. Though challenging, I made sure my mind didn’t sell to me.”
What’s the biggest difference between the UK healthcare system (NHS) and what you would have experienced in Nigeria?
I never wished or desired to have a baby in Nigeria. I made that decision in 2010. There’s zero respect and reception in the hospitals. I needed a system I could trust with my vulnerability. For me, that trust mattered deeply.
How soon after giving birth did you go back to work, and how do you manage childcare?
I returned to work nine months after giving birth. My husband and I carefully coordinate our shifts to manage childcare.
Policies keep changing every day, and sometimes it feels like the people are anti-immigrant. How do you feel about this? Do you think immigrants are getting a fair deal?
Immigrants are not getting a fair deal, but what can we say? We brought ourselves here. Everyone is here for different reasons. I know why I am here, and I allow that to keep me going regardless of their laws.
What’s the biggest lie Nigerians believe about life abroad?
That you automatically become rich. The truth is, you are not a millionaire here. When you convert your salary to naira, it looks impressive. But there are needs, bills, taxes, rent, and responsibilities that take your income before it even arrives.
Knowing everything you know now, would you still leave Nigeria? Also, would you say the move to the UK has been a good decision so far?
A big yes. I have never regretted my decision, and I hope I never will. For me, a functional system is better than a dilapidated one that refuses to be patched.
If Nigeria became everything you hoped it could be tomorrow, would you move back permanently?
Until it happens, I’ll enjoy my stay where I am.
“These stories are based on real-life experiences. Some contributors have chosen to remain anonymous due to privacy and sensitive circumstances. We respect their choice to remain anonymous.”
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