Why Are Nigerians So Desperate to Japa?

People want better pay. Better infrastructure. More predictable systems. A chance to build a life where their income can actually cover their needs.

And global work has become one of the more attractive routes.

A Nigerian software developer can work for a company in Europe without immediately moving to Europe. A designer can work with clients in the US. A doctor can pursue opportunities abroad. A finance professional can work across borders.

The opportunity is real.

The problem is what happens when desperation gets ahead of preparation.

The issue is not that Nigerians lack skill. Thousands of Nigerian tech workers, doctors, engineers, creatives and other professionals compete and win globally every day.

The problem is the mismatch between local survival desperation and global employment standards.

A company hiring from another country doesn't know that you are trying to escape rising costs in Lagos.

It doesn't care that your salary disappears quickly because of rent, transport and food.

It cares whether you can do the job.

And that is where things get uncomfortable.

A degree won't carry you very far

Nigeria already has a skills mismatch problem.

A 2026 report cited by Punch found that nearly 60% of employers surveyed said Nigerian graduates were not adequately prepared for their roles, while more than 55% were working in fields unrelated to what they studied or prepared for.

Even the National Universities Commission has acknowledged the problem, pointing to a mismatch between university competencies and labour-market needs.

So if the local market is already telling you that a degree alone isn't enough, the global market certainly won't be more forgiving.

Global employers have options

This is the part many people underestimate.

If a company in London, Toronto or New York is hiring remotely, it isn't choosing between you and another Nigerian.

It could be choosing between you and candidates from Kenya, India, South Africa, Poland, Brazil, the Philippines or anywhere else.

Your competition is no longer limited by geography.

That means saying “I know how to use Excel,” “I can manage social media,” or “I'm a digital marketer” isn't enough on its own.

What can you actually do?

If you want a global job, the first question shouldn't be “How do I use this to leave Nigeria?”

It should be “Am I actually good enough for the role?”

International employers still have to choose who gets hired. Your location may be different, but the basic test remains the same: can you do the work, and can you prove it?

That means your CV needs more than a list of skills. Your experience, portfolio, projects and results should give an employer a reason to take you seriously.

And this is where some people get stuck.

They want the salary, the remote job and eventually the visa, but haven't spent enough time building the skill that gets them through the door.

Japa Is Not the Skill

There is nothing wrong with wanting to leave Nigeria. But “I want to japa” is not a career strategy.

A strong skill gives you more options. You can use it to find better work in Nigeria, work with international companies remotely, or eventually pursue opportunities abroad.

So before applying for every international opening you see, ask yourself one thing:

If the right opportunity came today, would your skills actually be ready for it?