A Catholic priest, Rev. Father Anthony Aleakwe Odior, has expressed worry over the increasing number of Nigerians living in harsh conditions abroad, warning that the quest for greener pastures is often laced with hardship, humiliation and regret.
Speaking on the NIX Podcast Network, which was shared on Facebook and sighted by Diaspora NG, Father Odior reflected on his personal experience living overseas for nearly a decade, during which he encountered several Nigerians and other Africans struggling to survive.
According to him, many migrants end up in situations far worse than they imagined before leaving the country.
“I was there for nine years of my life and I met a lot of Nigerians, I met a lot of Africans. It’s not rosy, it’s not easy. If they should tell you the truth about their lives there, no one would want to leave,” he said.
He described how deeply emotional it is to witness fellow countrymen, including elderly women, reduced to begging on the streets and in front of stores.
“What they would not do here, what even their families would never allow them to do, standing in front of stores with a cap, begging. And people justify it by saying, ‘they used the money to build houses.’ But is that the point? What about your dignity as a human being?” he questioned.
While the priest did not condemn international travel entirely, he emphasized the importance of self awareness and purpose before making such a move.
“I’m not saying you should not travel out. In fact, you should. Go and see the rest of the world. Educate yourself through traveling. But first and foremost, know who you are and where you’re coming from,” he advised.
Father Odior stressed that Nigerians going abroad should be equipped with value to contribute, not just seeking survival.
“Have something to go and contribute so that when you get there, you can speak at the table. Not to be the one spoken about at the table or the one serving those speaking at the table,” he concluded.
