Travel

How is life like for Nigerians living in Canada?

Published

6 years ago

August 13, 2019

Canada has been described by many as a heaven on earth while some other persons have a different experience.

Justice Okamgba gathers from Omotayo Fakinlede, a professor at the University of Lagos his experience and thoughts about Nigerians living in Canada.

I was a student in Canada more than 35 years ago. Much of what others have written here could have been predictable and Nigerians need to watch out because the stories of a Canada (or any other nation) where there are no problems is an exaggeration. Everywhere in the world, people struggle to survive.

In the UK, for example, apart from a certain Charles and some other members of his family, most people struggle to survive month to month! Canadians manage every month to balance their family budget (pay heating bills, clearing snow, taxes, transportation, mortgage/rent, settle various other bills, etc.)

In the US, in addition to these, they also dodge bullets (it is their constitutional right to keep dodging bullets), forest fires and “migrant invasion”; realize that a major sickness can ruin their finances all the while “saluting the flag” and watching out for the next joke Trump will pull on them! Nigerians must know that their expectations in Canada or any other place in this world must be realistic and benefit from learning about differencesin the culture and systems they are entering. Perhaps a little story may help. It is the experience of two of my colleagues in Alberta between 1980–85.

Let’s call the first man Andrew. Andrew was born in Calgary. His father was a plumber and he had training in plumbing and was working with his late father since he was old enough to do so.

He earned a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Alberta but could not find a job as an academic. He found out that the hourly wage for a plumber was more than $40 an hour. He eventually kept his PhD on the shelve and went to work as a plumber. He made a comfortable income and had no regrets! Please note that Andrew is a white Canadian “Anglo Saxon” or “WASP” if you know what I mean.

Next comes Nnamdi (not his real name, but a Nigerian person known to me). Nnamdi came to Canada with MSc Chemistry from UNN and was admitted to the PhD program at the University of Alberta. He was here with his family and had sufficient assistantship to live on for the five years it took to get the PhD. He never planned to go back to Nigeria. Upon graduation, he worked initially as a Post Doctoral Fellow. That provided more money than the Graduate Assistantship but was not the level of living he looked forward to. Eventually, even that ran out.

Nnamdi found out that he could earn a more stable income if he taught Chemistry in secondary school. He went back to take the required Teacher’s certificate and was eventually employed as Chemistry teacher. He too went on to live a simple quiet life and had no complaints. He was happy he could put his children in better schools than Nigeria could provide for him.

Analysis:

One of these people was an immigrant from Nigeria, the other, a Canadian from several generations. It was already happening 35 years ago! If you assume that advanced education will automatically place you in a White-Collar job and middle class life in Canada, think again! The opportunities, culture, expectations and society are completely different from what you are used to in Nigeria! That is probably why their system works! It is primed to be efficient. You can be sacked from your work even though you have been working very hard, simply because the economy is slow and your boss thinks that the company will benefit from laying you off, or by closing your section of the company.

This does not necessarily have anything to do with your face or colour! In fact, while you have a job, I think it is mandatory to have Unemployment Insurance so that the time needed to find another job will not send you down into homelessness when you lose a job!

My children, who presently live in Canada, offered me a perspective recently. I think Nigerians need to study how Asians, in one or two generations, climb to the middle class in these Western Countries while Nigerians can keep receiving assistance for several generations.

One of my daughters, while at University in Canada had a friend, an Indian. They talked enough for her to notice that that girl’s parents came to Canada around the same time she herself was born in Canada. They (the girl’s parents)had only high school education compared to me in a PhD program at that time. All they were able to do were menial jobs and lived prudently until they were able to own a Corner Shop. The children grew up helping their parents and going to school.

By the time these children reached university, the same parents could pay their fees while my own children needed school loans to get by. In a single generation, Indians with relatively lower education had arrived at Middle-Class status while we Nigerians are busy amassing degrees and boasting to be doing so well, ipso facto! Newsflash! Degrees are not paid for in Canada! Even with your PhD, you keep quiet at work and perform! If another person with a lower level of education does better than you, he could be paid more!

I will conclude with the story of another Nigerian in the United States. Again, this is a true story:

Musa, a Nigerian, with PhD in Chemical Engineering, works for a high-end manufacturing company in Michigan. He joined the company as a junior engineer before he went for his PhD at University of Michigan. After completion, he was employed to work in the research arm of the same company and was on a six figure annual income. Then the economy went into recession. As a senior member of staff, he was well briefed about the company’s fortunes.

Then there was, again, this happy Indian foreman who did his daily routine joyfully as if everything was OK! Musa called him one day and asked if he was aware that the company had less than six months of work left and would be folded up. Rajiv (let’s call him by that name) smiled and told Musa he was fully aware of the state of the company. Then why was he so joyful?

Musa had the shock of his life when Rajiv explained that he already knew the company was not doing well two years previously. He had already made a down-payment for a 7–11 store that he was ready to move to and operate. Surprisingly, he found he could continue to work for nine more months, he therefore put his brother at that particular store while he was earning the income to work for the down-payment of another store! Instead of him running a single store with his brother, each will run a store and will help each other to complete payment!

The examples here are about certificate-piling Nigerian immigrants under performing compared to lower educated Asians. When you now bring in highly educated Indians – that are by the way multiple of times the number of Nigerians, the story becomes even more interesting. Nigerians, abroad, often do not cooperate as easily as Asians do. Four or more Pakistani IT workers can be so helpful to one another, share apartment and contribute to sustain an unemployed member until they all move ahead in Western society. Nigerians in the same situation are more likely to engage in unhealthy competition. The Koreans, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesians etc., move into middle class much faster than Nigerians do no matter how fast we start. If there is an Olympic medal for the number of degrees acquired, Nigeria will win! If it is a matter of entrepreneurship, upward mobility, social integration, etc., it is a different game! When a Chinese sets up a restaurant, he aims, not only at other Chinese people, but the entire Western population. The same can be said about Thai, Vietnamese, Koreans, etc. The few Nigerians who set up Bukas are targeting other Nigerians or Africans like themselves – 0.1 – 2% of the population! We already failed in the competition from inception!

Conclusion.

There are opportunities in the Western countries for Nigerians and many have done well. There are also hundreds or thousands of Nigerians (doctors, engineers, lawyers, other professionals) living at the margins of those societies but will NEVER tell the truth to their families and friends at home. This can mislead many who get to know the truth too late and simply add to the number. Nigeria, (for several reasons: poor infrastructure, safety, opportunities, etc. ) is a difficult place to live. The Western nations that look attractive to us are also (for a different set of reasons: competition, culture, weather, etc.) difficult places to live. The effort required to succeed in these countries can easily be as great as the effort needed to succeed in Nigeria. In fact, it is my private opinion that, if you are not an “Okada” or “Maruwa” driver in a Nigerian city, your effort to succeed in most of these countries will be sufficient to make you succeed in Nigeria also.

It is with stunning perplexity I hear about young Nigerians with very good jobs, some even already owning their own homes, selling off and going to start at the end of the queue in Canada or America! I still cannot understand what they really think they will get over there! The fact is that you are probably more highly motivated to work when you are abroad than you would have been willing to work here in Nigeria. That is just my personal opinion!

Hospitality

South Africa’s Untapped Economic Goldmine

South Africa’s Untapped Economic Goldmine: Luxury Tourism & Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals Can Drive Job Creation and Stimulate Economic Growth

Published

3 weeks ago

September 9, 2025

Ani Sandra

Roxy Robinson, Founder and Director of Roxstar Global Consulting, and Roxstar Luxury Travel

South Africa’s luxury tourism sector holds the key to unlocking unprecedented economic growth, global prestige, and job creation, argues Roxy Robinson, Founder and Director of Roxstar Global Consulting, and Roxstar Luxury Travel.

“Luxury inbound tourism is not a niche indulgence – it’s an untapped economic goldmine,” says Robinson. “South Africa has all the right ingredients to rival destinations like the Maldives, Dubai, and St. Barths, and with the right strategy, this sector could transform our tourism economy.”

Each year, more than 100 high-end luxury villas in Cape Town are booked by ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI) who fly in for exclusivity, privacy, and world-class services. Some have annual commitments to visit our shores, and tend to arrive by private jet for glamorous New Year’s Eve events in Clifton villas – such as the Luxus Villa – underscoring the scale of opportunity already at play.

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global luxury travel market will surpass USD 2.72 trillion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 8.56% to nearly USD 4.83 trillion by 2032. In parallel, Global Growth Insights estimates that luxury safari tourism alone will reach USD 1.575 billion in 2025, rising to USD 2.894 billion by 2033.

For South Africa, these figures translate into real impact. The latest market analysis projects that luxury and niche tourism growth could increase the sector’s contribution to GDP to 10.8% by 2034, creating over 720 000 new jobs in the process.

South Africa’s unique competitive edge lies in its fusion of concierge-level service, authentic culture, and sustainability. High-touch private hospitality – from chef-led villa dining to curated wine, art and private game lodges of the likes of the Singita Group – all provide the kind of transformative experiences increasingly sought by the world’s wealthiest travellers.

Robinson also highlights South Africa’s culinary capital as a drawcard. In 2025, Cape Town restaurants La Colombe, FYN, and Salsify at the Roundhouse featured on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants extended list, while the country as a whole was named Africa’s Best Culinary Destination at the World Culinary Awards just last year.

“When global recognition shines on our chefs, vineyards, lodges, and villas, it elevates South Africa’s place in the luxury travel map. For ultra-high-net-worth travellers, these are powerful signals of quality and prestige,” Robinson notes.

Robinson argues that luxury tourism should be positioned as a cornerstone of South Africa’s long-term economic future. By enhancing visa accessibility, investing in sustainable, high-end lodges, and marketing the country’s blend of luxury and authenticity, South Africa can claim its rightful place as a global leader in premium travel.

“UHNWI tourism has the potential to be South Africa’s new gold rush,” says Robinson. “It is time we mine this opportunity with the same focus and urgency we apply to any other strategic industry. The return – in jobs, growth, and global influence – will be extraordinary. The fact that we are just a stone’s throw away from island experiences like the Seychelles and Mauritius simply offers ultra-high-net-worth individuals with a host of experiences they simply do not want to miss”

Hospitality

RateGain Introduces Hospitality Industry’s First MCP Integration for Booking Engine, Usable with Claude and Other AI Assistants

Published

3 weeks ago

September 9, 2025

Ani Sandra

RateGain Travel Technologies Limited (NSE: RATEGAIN), a global provider of AI-powered technology solutions for the hospitality and travel industry, today announced the introduction of the industry’s first Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration for its Booking Engine, available within Claude and other AI assistants.

This breakthrough further strengthens RateGain’s position as an AI-first company by expanding the AI capabilities of UNO, its unified platform designed to simplify hotel commerce and power every step of the guest journey. According to KPMG, 66% of consumers now use AI tools in their daily lives, highlighting the urgency for hotels to stay aligned with this shift. The MCP integration for RateGain’s Booking Engine enables hoteliers and travel providers to deliver seamless conversational booking experiences to their guests, a first for the hospitality sector.

For customers, this innovation enables faster adoption of conversational AI without heavy investment or complex integrations. Guests can simply search, compare, and book rooms using natural language with AI assistants and chatbots, helping hotels improve conversion, enhance guest experience, and stay competitive.

Unlike approaches that focus only on visibility in AI-driven searches, RateGain’s solution makes hotels both AI-discoverable and AI-bookable, with real-time rates, availability, and amenities accessible directly from the booking engine. This ensures properties stay front and center as travelers increasingly turn to AI-powered planning.

Commenting on the announcement, Ashish Sikka, Business Head, UNO Platforms, RateGain, said, “At RateGain, our mission is to help the world travel more by constantly reimagining how technology can simplify the journey. As travel discovery moves from clicks to conversations, the MCP integration for our Booking Engine is another step in UNO’s AI roadmap, empowering our customers to make their booking channels conversational and ensuring they are not just visible but bookable across every channel where guests explore and plan.”

Combined with UNO’s expanding suite of AI-powered solutions, this milestone underscores RateGain’s mission to deliver the future of travel technology, today.

Hospitality

Gov. Mbah and the Rebirth of Hotel Presidential

By Nnamani Arinze Darlington

Published

1 month ago

August 22, 2025

grassroots

Enugu’s renaissance is oscillating through the entire space of Nigeria, led by a man whose audacious governance and humongous vision is breathing new life into the legacy of the late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, the iconic Premier of Eastern Nigeria.

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, a maritime lawyer and a towering entrepreneur turned transformative leader, is not just governing, he is rekindling a golden era, breathing Okpara’s spirit into the entire Enugu to catapult the state into a future defined by innovation, prosperity, and pride.

This is not just leadership; it is a renaissance, deliberate and electrifying, that dares to dream as big, if not bigger, than its storied predecessor.

At 39, Michael Okpara took the reins of Eastern Nigeria in 1959, deploying his philosophy of “Pragmatic Socialism” to transform the region into an economic titan. His agricultural revolution, anchored by institutions like Adapalm, turned Eastern Nigeria into a global palm oil powerhouse, fueling monumental projects like Okpara’s industrial ventures, Golden Guinea Breweries, and the Ceramics Industry in Umuahia, which sparked self-reliance, while his investments in education and infrastructure laid a foundation for enduring prosperity.

The parallels between Mbah and Okpara are impossible to ignore. Both are architects of self-reliance – Okpara through agriculture; Mbah through a diversified economic engine. Okpara’s educational revolution and Mbah’s Smart Schools both treat education as the spark for progress. Both have led by action, not noise, earning praise for their quiet yet seismic impact.

The rebirth of Hotel Presidential in Enugu, Nigeria, under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration after over 15 years of abandonment and neglect, is a notable example of revitalizing state-owned assets to boost tourism, economic growth, and job creation for the overriding public interest of the people of Enugu State.

Built by Dr. Michael Okpara and commissioned in 1963, Hotel Presidential was a prestigious landmark in Enugu, originally featuring 100 rooms and hosting significant events in its early years. It served as a hub for social and economic activities in the region. The hotel fell into disrepair over the years, lying comatose for over 15 years due to neglect and mismanagement, becoming a symbol of lost potential.

Since taking office, Governor Peter Mbah has prioritized the restoration of moribund state-owned assets, with Hotel Presidential being a flagship project, along with similar significant rebirth across abandoned assets like UPPL, Sunrise Flour Mills, Nigergas, the International Conference Centre, and a host of others geared towards transforming Enugu into a premier destination for business, investment, tourism, and living.

The revitalization aligns with Governor Mbah’s broader economic goals, including achieving a $30 billion economy for Enugu State. The revamp of Hotel Presidential will create hundreds of jobs and enhance tourism infrastructure in the state, while also making Enugu the Conferencing Capital of Africa.

Mbah’s governance is a “dramatic departure” from the status quo, pulsating with the revolutionary fervor of Okpara’s era.

The hotel’s rebirth is part of a larger portfolio of over 2,000 ongoing and completed projects under Mbah, including smart schools, healthcare centres, farm estates, and various urban and rural road construction.

Peter Mbah is not just walking in Okpara’s footsteps; he is sprinting, adapting a historic vision to a modern canvas. Through relentless infrastructure, education, security, and economic innovation, he is forging Enugu into a beacon of what Nigeria can be. Okpara’s legacy is a towering milestone, but Mbah’s Enugu is a living testament to its enduring fire. The road ahead is fraught with Nigeria’s tangled challenges: economic volatility, political noise, systemic hurdles, and bureaucracy.

Yet, Mbah’s momentum has consciously shown that he is not just reviving Okpara’s dream but redefining it, proving that visionary leadership can turn the past’s promise into the future’s triumph. Enugu is rising, and the world is watching the rebirth of Michael Iheonukara Okpara’s spirit in Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah through his visionary leadership and actions that are intentional and connecting the dots for economic and social prosperity for ndi Enugu.

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s leadership embodies the spirit of Michael Okpara’s vision in a modern context. Through infrastructure, education, security, and economic innovation, Mbah is transforming Enugu into a beacon of progress, much as Okpara did for Eastern Nigeria. While Okpara’s legacy is a historical milestone, Mbah’s ongoing efforts show he is on a path to leave a similar mark. He will fully realize Okpara’s “rebirth” from the already sustained momentum and focus to overcome Nigeria’s complex challenges. For now, Mbah’s Enugu is a testament to the enduring power of visionary leadership, proving that the past can inspire a brighter future.

Under Governor Peter Mbah’s leadership, the rebirth of Hotel Presidential symbolizes Enugu’s resurgence as a hub for tourism and economic activity. Reiterating the words of the Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke, while extolling Mbah’s leadership at the commissioning ceremony, she said: “The silence has been broken; the lights are on never to dim again; the doors are open never to shut again; and the spirit of Enugu is back, stronger and brighter than ever.”

…. Nnamani Arinze Darlington writes from Enugu