Thinking about relocating from Nigeria to Canada? I share why I left my businesses, the countries I considered, why I chose Canada and what I wish people thought about before moving abroad.
How I Decided to Relocate From Nigeria to Canada: The Real Decisions Behind My Move
If you are thinking about how to relocate from Nigeria to Canada, one of the first things I would tell you is this: before you start worrying about visas, IELTS, school applications or flight tickets, be very clear about why you want to leave in the first place.
That was where my own journey really started.
Before moving to Canada from Nigeria, I already had a life I had built for myself. I had completed my degree. I was married. I had a child. I was also running businesses.
So my decision to relocate was not because I was sitting in Nigeria doing nothing and looking for anywhere to escape to.
I had things going on.
But I was also thinking about my future.
I wanted to go back to school. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to build something bigger for myself and my family, and I was beginning to ask myself what the next stage of my life should look like.
That was when relocating abroad became more than just an idea.
I Already Had Businesses in Nigeria
Before coming to Canada, I owned a jewelry business and a wine business.
My jewelry business was doing okay. I would travel to Lagos and Onitsha to source jewelry and bring them back for my customers.
I was also trying to take my wine business more seriously. I had stock, I had already prepared a catalogue, and I was thinking about going properly into retail.
Both businesses were registered with CAC.
I prefer to keep the name of my jewelry business and some private business details to myself, but the important thing is that I was not leaving Nigeria because there was absolutely nothing for me there.
I was leaving something I had already started building.
Surprisingly, I was not extremely sad about stepping away from the businesses.
I had thought about my decision.
For me, it was more about saying, “Okay, this is what I am doing now, but where do I want my life to go from here?”
I knew I wanted more education and a different direction for the future.
My Own Experience Made Me Want to Study More
There was also a very personal reason behind my decision to further my education.
While I was in Nigeria, I had experienced anxiety.
I had professional support and talking sessions, including CBT style therapy. Going through that experience made me curious about mental health.
I kept thinking about how many people experience anxiety, stress or depression without really understanding what they are going through.
I wanted to understand it better myself.
I did not want to simply have one personal experience and then start telling other people what to do. I wanted to study. I wanted proper knowledge. I wanted qualifications behind what I would eventually be speaking about.
My idea was that one day I could use that knowledge to help people.
Even if I was living abroad, I could still come back to Nigeria, speak at events, do webinars, educate people online and advocate for people who may be struggling with things they do not understand.
So when I started looking at studying abroad, it was connected to something I genuinely wanted to learn.
That is one thing I think people should consider before choosing the study route to relocate.
Ask yourself: If relocation was removed from the picture, would I still be interested in what I am going to school to study?
For me, the answer was yes.
I Was Thinking About My Family Too
I was not making the decision only for myself.
I was married and already had a child, so naturally I was thinking about the future of my family as well.
My plan was not simply to study abroad for a short period, collect a certificate and completely return to Nigeria as if nothing had changed.
I was considering permanent relocation.
At the same time, I did not see that as cutting Nigeria out of my life completely.
I imagined building a life abroad but still coming back to Nigeria, visiting, sharing what I had learned and remaining connected.
I also hoped that eventually my husband and children would be able to visit or become part of the life I was building.
That mattered when I was choosing a country.
If you are married or have children and you are researching how to move abroad from Nigeria, this is something I think you should consider early.
Do not choose a destination as though you are the only person your decision will ever affect.
Think about the life you want three, five or even ten years later.
Canada Was Not the First and Only Country in My Head
I looked at several countries before finally choosing Canada.
I considered Australia.
I considered Luxembourg.
I considered Finland.
I considered Mexico.
I considered China.
I also looked generally at other European countries.
I was not comparing them using some complicated spreadsheet with 50 categories. My thinking was much more practical and personal.
I was asking myself questions like:
Would I be comfortable living there?
What language would I be dealing with?
Could I see myself studying there?
How far would I be from home?
Could I imagine my family being part of my life there later?
Australia interested me, but the distance kept coming to my mind.
With some of the other countries, I was also thinking about language. I wanted somewhere I could comfortably study and communicate in English.
At one point, I was thinking that if Canada did not work out, I might try China or Mexico for school.
So Canada was not some magical country that I had dreamed about from childhood.
It became my choice as I researched and considered what suited the life I wanted.
Why I Eventually Chose Canada
When I put everything together, Canada started making sense to me.
I was looking for an English speaking environment.
I wanted further education.
I was thinking about my family.
I was also thinking beyond just getting into a school. I wanted to be able to imagine myself actually living in the country.
Those things made Canada attractive to me at that point in my life.
This is where I think people need to be careful when reading another person’s relocation story.
I can tell you why I chose Canada.
I cannot tell you that Canada must therefore be the best country for you.
Your finances may be different.
Your career may be different.
Your family situation may be different.
The program you want may be different.
Immigration policies may also be different from what they were when I made my own decision.
If you are currently researching how to study in Canada from Nigeria, check the latest requirements directly with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada before making financial decisions. IRCC currently directs prospective international students to verify whether they need a study permit and what documents are required before applying. (Canada)
My experience can help you think.
Official information should tell you what the current rules are.
Then I Saw Durham College on Instagram
One day, while I was already thinking seriously about further education, I came across Durham College online.
It was an Instagram advertisement.
I clicked on it.
Sometimes I still think about how simple that moment was.
I could easily have scrolled past.
Instead, I clicked and started checking the school.
What I liked was how straightforward the information seemed.
I could go through the website, read what I needed and understand the application process.
I did not use an education agent to apply to Durham College.
I worked through the school application myself, with ChatGPT helping me along the way when I needed assistance.
My experience with Durham College’s application process was positive.
Even today, Durham College has a dedicated international admission process on its official website where applicants can review program requirements, country requirements and documents before applying. (Durham College)
I still believe people should learn to read official information for themselves.
That does not mean nobody should ever use an agent.
Later in my journey, a relative helped me with the visa side.
But there is a difference between getting help and handing over your entire future to someone without understanding what they are doing.
Even when somebody is helping you, know what you are applying for.
My Husband Did Not Even Believe Me at First
At the beginning, I do not think my husband fully realized how serious I was.
Then I started taking actual steps.
I travelled to Port Harcourt to write IELTS.
It was my first time going to Port Harcourt.
By that point, this was no longer just Sandra saying, “One day I want to travel.”
I was doing the work.
I also had a sister who encouraged me.
She believed I could do it.
And my husband eventually gave me his full support too.
He knows me.
When I put my mind to something, I usually want to see it through.
That support was important to me because moving abroad when you have a family is not really one person’s journey.
Even when only one person is getting on the plane, other people’s lives are involved.
One Thing I Underestimated About Relocating Abroad
Before moving from Nigeria to Canada, I knew life would change.
I knew Canada was cold.
I knew I might feel lonely sometimes.
I knew I would need time to adjust.
But knowing something in your head is different from living it.
I underestimated how much adjustment relocation would actually require.
Coming from Nigerian weather into Canadian winter was not easy for me.
Starting again in a country where almost everything around you feels different was not as simple as I had imagined.
That does not mean I regret making the decision.
It means that if I were talking to someone planning to relocate from Nigeria today, I would tell them not to prepare only for the visa process.
Prepare for the life after the visa too.
A visa approval is not the end of relocation.
In many ways, it is the beginning.
If You Are Thinking About Relocating From Nigeria, Ask Yourself These Questions First
Looking back at my own decision, these are the questions I believe are more important than asking, “Which country is easiest to enter?”
Why exactly do I want to relocate?
Try to give yourself an answer that goes deeper than “things are hard in Nigeria.”
What do you actually want?
Further education?
A different career?
More opportunities for your children?
International experience?
Permanent relocation?
A safer or different environment?
Business opportunities?
Your answer will affect almost every decision that follows.
What am I leaving behind?
People spend so much time thinking about what they will gain abroad that sometimes they forget to calculate what they are giving up.
I had businesses.
Someone else may have a career they spent ten years building.
Someone may have strong family support.
Someone may own property.
Someone may have a good business opportunity already developing.
Do not look only at the destination.
Look at your current life too.
Why am I choosing this particular country?
This is why I did not simply hear “Canada” and start packing.
I thought about other countries.
Language mattered to me.
Distance mattered.
Education mattered.
Family mattered.
Your reasons may be completely different from mine.
That is okay.
What happens if my first plan does not work?
I had other countries in mind.
Canada was what I wanted, but I knew the world did not end with Canada.
That mindset matters because desperation can make people vulnerable to bad decisions and even scams.
If one plan fails, what is Plan B?
Am I choosing school because I actually want the education?
This one is especially important for anyone searching for how to study in Canada from Nigeria.
Ask yourself honestly whether you care about the education you are going to receive.
You are investing money, time and years of your life.
For me, further education connected to something I genuinely wanted to understand and eventually use to help other people.
Have I thought about what happens after I arrive?
Before travelling, it is easy to focus on:
Getting admission.
Getting the visa.
Buying the ticket.
Packing.
Landing.
But what happens after that?
Where will you live?
How will you adjust?
Who will support you?
How will you cope emotionally?
What happens if finding work takes longer than expected?
What happens if your family cannot join you immediately?
These questions deserve attention before you travel, not only after you land.
Do Not Let Social Media Make the Decision for You
Social media was very useful to me.
Instagram was literally how I discovered Durham College.
I also used TikTok, YouTube and Instagram heavily during my preparation.
But I later discovered that not everything people say online matches reality.
Some things helped me.
Some things caused unnecessary worry.
Some things were exaggerated.
That is why I now separate two things:
Discovery and verification.
You can discover a school on Instagram.
You can discover a country through someone’s YouTube video.
You can hear about an immigration pathway on TikTok.
But before putting down money or making a major decision, go and verify it.
For Canadian study permits, use IRCC.
For admission requirements, use the school’s official website.
For airline rules, use the airline.
For what you can carry into Canada, check the Canadian border authorities.
A person’s experience can help you understand what a journey feels like.
It should not replace the official rules.
My Decision Was Bigger Than “I Want to Japa”
The word “japa” has become an easy way to describe leaving Nigeria.
But behind every successful relocation story is a real life that has to be considered.
For me, deciding to relocate from Nigeria to Canada involved my education, businesses, marriage, child, personal experiences, future goals and the kind of life I wanted to create.
That is why I would not tell someone, “Just leave.”
And I would not automatically tell them, “Stay.”
I would tell them to think.
Sit down and ask yourself:
What am I moving toward?
That question is more important than simply asking what you are trying to escape.
For me, I was moving toward further education, personal growth, a future I imagined for my family and knowledge I hoped one day to use to help other people.
That was enough for me to take the next step.
Frequently Asked Questions About My Decision to Move From Nigeria to Canada
Why did I decide to relocate from Nigeria to Canada?
My decision was mainly connected to further education, personal growth, my family’s future and my desire to build a longer term life abroad while remaining connected to Nigeria.
Was I unemployed before moving to Canada?
No. I had already completed my degree and was running a jewelry business and a wine business in Nigeria.
Did I move to Canada because my businesses failed?
No. My jewelry business was doing okay, and I was actively developing my wine business when I began making relocation plans.
Was Canada the only country I considered?
No. I considered several countries, including Australia, Luxembourg, Finland, Mexico and China, along with other possibilities in Europe.
Why did I choose Canada instead?
At that time, Canada matched several things that mattered to me, including studying in an English speaking environment, education and my longer term family plans.
How did I find a school in Canada from Nigeria?
I found Durham College through an Instagram advertisement. I clicked on the ad, researched the school through its website and eventually applied.
Did I use an agent to apply to Durham College?
No. I handled the school application myself with information from the website and help from ChatGPT. A relative later helped me with the visa side of the process.
Is moving from Nigeria to Canada easy?
My experience taught me that there is a difference between completing the relocation process and adjusting to life after relocation. I knew there would be challenges, but I underestimated how significant the adjustment could be.
Is Canada the best country to relocate to from Nigeria?
There is no one answer that fits everybody. Canada suited what I was looking for at that stage of my life. Someone else’s career, finances, family situation and goals may point them toward a completely different country.
What I Want You to Remember
If you are searching for how to relocate from Nigeria to Canada, do not let the first question be, “How do I get the visa?”
Start with:
Why am I relocating?
Once you know the answer, other decisions start making more sense.
You can decide what kind of education you need.
You can compare countries more intelligently.
You can think properly about money.
You can involve your family.
You can decide what you are willing to leave behind.
And you can prepare yourself for the reality that relocation is more than getting on a plane.
I already had a life in Nigeria when I made my decision.
I chose to interrupt that life because I believed there was another direction I needed to explore.
Canada became part of that journey.
That is my story.
Yours does not have to look exactly like mine.
But whatever decision you make, make sure you understand what you are moving toward before you start packing your bags.
