When Yemi Adefemi (not his real name) packed his bags for the United Kingdom, it was not out of a hunger for luxury or prestige — it was sheer survival.
A mid-level employee at one of Nigeria’s leading banks, Yemi earned ₦350,000 monthly — far above Nigeria’s ₦30,000 minimum wage. His wife, a federal government worker, brought in a little over ₦100,000. Still, in Lagos — Nigeria’s boisterous commercial capital — their combined income could barely stretch to cover rent, school fees, food, and daily expenses for their family of four.
“I kept believing that with my second degree and hard work, things would get better,” Yemi recalled. “But Lagos taught me a different lesson.”
As more friends and colleagues joined the Japa wave, the temptation became impossible to resist. Determined not to be left behind, Yemi secured a UK student visa, scraping together the required funds through loans and savings.
His story mirrors the harsh reality faced by many Nigerian professionals.
Nwachukwu’s experience followed the same pattern. A mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Lagos with a solid second-class upper, he expected doors to open after graduation. Instead, they slammed shut.
“After two years of frustration and countless job applications, I settled for a teaching job at a private school,” he said. The pay? A meagre ₦60,000 a month — barely enough for transport, let alone a future.
With his parents’ help, he too bought his escape route — a plane ticket to Europe.
But abroad, the reality rarely matches the glossy Instagram photos. Highly educated Nigerians — lawyers, engineers, bankers — often find themselves cleaning hospital floors, packing boxes, or working as care assistants in nursing homes.
The UK Care sector runs on migrants
The UK’s adult social care system is heavily dependent on migrant labour. Latest figures from the UK’s Office for National Statistics show that as of 2023, nearly 17% of care workers in England are foreign nationals — with Nigerians, Indians, Zimbabweans, and Filipinos making up large numbers.
The reason? The sector is in crisis. In 2023 alone, over 152,000 vacancies plagued the adult social care sector, according to Skills for Care, an industry body.
To plug the gap, the UK government in 2022 made care work part of its official Shortage Occupation List, easing visa rules for foreigners willing to do the job. The Health and Care Worker visa allows migrants to work for approved employers, with the possibility of bringing dependents — though recent policy changes have restricted that option.
For Chukwuka Ayam, who has been working in the sector since 2018, the decision to go into care work was less about passion, more about survival.
“Job rejections kept coming,” he recalled. “I realised the fastest way to earn was through care work. A few days of training, and I was earning £12 an hour. It wasn’t what I dreamed of, but it kept me afloat.”
For many Nigerians, care work is not just a job — it is the only lifeline to remain legally in the UK.
“I couldn’t face returning home empty-handed,” said Yinka Ayemi, another graduate now in the sector. “Care work offered a certificate of sponsorship — my only route to stay.”
The price of opportunity
But this pathway comes with pitfalls. Advocacy groups have raised concerns over exploitation of migrant care workers.
Many pay illegal recruitment fees of up to £15,000 (over ₦22 million) to agents in Nigeria and other countries. Upon arrival, they find themselves overworked, underpaid, and unable to switch employers due to strict visa rules.
A 2024 report by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford revealed that many migrant care workers face long hours, poor pay, and limited rights, despite being essential to the UK’s care system.
Beyond legal and financial struggles, migrant care workers battle loneliness, cultural shock, and prejudice.
“It’s not easy,” admitted Chukwuka. “Sometimes the patients struggle with your accent. Sometimes they make you feel like you don’t belong. But over time, you connect — through kindness and patience.”
Despite the challenges, many find unexpected purpose in their roles
“I never imagined enjoying this work,” said Yemi. “But when I see a patient relieved or a family grateful, I know I’m doing something important.”
Holding up the system — But at what cost?
The UK’s ageing population means demand for care workers will only grow. By 2030, one in five UK residents will be over 65, according to the ONS. Yet, despite carrying the system on their backs, most migrant workers remain stuck in low-paid, dead-end jobs.
“We have qualified people washing patients and changing bedpans,” a Nigerian immigrant who declined to be identified said. “Their skills are wasted. The system needs to recognise their true potential.”
For Yemi, Nwachukwu, and many others, the UK journey has been tougher than expected. Their certificates gather dust, ambitions are put on pause, and the fantasy of abroad gives way to harsh reality.
Still, through long hours and quiet sacrifices, they are building new lives — far from home, far from easy, but fuelled by resilience, survival, and hope.
It is not all gloomy
A US-based Nigerian and popular Facebook influencer, Omotoyosi Ogunbanwo, criticised Nigerians who spend millions of naira to relocate to the UK for care work.
In a Facebook post that drew reactions from hundreds of Nigerians both at home and abroad, Ogunbanwo challenged her followers to reconsider the costly route many are taking under the Japa wave.
“You all, I say this with love — I don’t think you should be paying millions of naira to go do care work in the UK,” she wrote.
“I don’t care what these agents are feeding you. Care work is hard, and if you’ve been working as a bank manager in Nigeria, it’s beneath you.
“If you already live legally in the UK, and you have a degree from Nigeria or the UK, yet you’re paying agencies £8,000 (over ₦10 million) for a care visa, you need to go back to your university and demand a refund on your tuition.
“If you are a graduate with a good degree and solid work experience, why are you paying ₦10 million for care work? Make it make sense. Explain to me why this option is better than studying for the GRE and TOEFL? There’s no way you’ll score above 320 on your GRE, ace your TOEFL, and not get a fully funded scholarship to the US — if you have a strong undergraduate degree.”
In response to Ogunbanwo’s post, many Nigerians agreed that desperation and lack of information were driving people into care jobs abroad, even when better options exist.
Ezinne Ogochukwu Nnoka, a Nigerian based in the UK, hinged the lure of care jobs on poor job search strategies which often leads to frustration.
“There is a need for intentionality in applying for jobs,” she said. “People need to apply for at least 10 jobs daily. You must tailor your experience to the role, read the job description thoroughly, and research the company.”
She also criticised the lazy approach to job applications, warning against ‘copy and paste’ CVs.
“There are keywords in every job advert — you have to understand them and reflect them in your application. It’s because of constant rejection emails that people panic and pay agencies for Certificates of Sponsorship (COS). It’s not worth it,” she added.
Bibian Chinenye Pius-Urum, a lawyer-turned-tech professional, acknowledged that while care work is a legitimate source of income, it should not be seen as a long-term career path, especially for the highly educated.
“It’s quite sad. Care work is a respectable job, but if you don’t have a passion for it, it becomes a trap,” she warned.
Popular UK-based lawyer, Dele Olawale, also weighed in, warning Nigerians to be cautious before making life-changing decisions based on social media narratives.
“The UK immigration atmosphere is becoming toxic. Things are getting increasingly difficult,” Olawale said.
“If you are doing well back home, think very carefully before you sell everything to come here. Many people are depressed. Many lives have been broken. Families are stranded. Regret is everywhere.
“Don’t relocate simply because others are doing it. Think thrice before making the jump. Most importantly, get proper legal advice before you throw away your job, savings, and prized possessions.”
Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urged Nigerians to reflect deeply before making relocation decisions.
‘‘We have been bombarded with many cases of regret and depression. The grass is not greener on the other side; it’s greener where you nurture it,’’ Dabiri-Erewa said.
