A registered nurse and Health Protection Practitioner at Walsall Council in Lichfield, England, Kevin Ossai speaks with Biodun Busari about the realities of seeking better opportunities abroad
Why did you leave Nigeria?
I left Nigeria because I didn’t see a future for myself there at that time. Nigeria is a great country, but pervasive corruption and uncertainties around employment, security, and infrastructure made me rethink my prospects. I felt I had reached an age where the best gift I could give my children was a chance at a better life in a developed country.
Back then, I was working hard at a company but earning far less than colleagues who seemed to do less. As a contract staff member, my pay didn’t match my effort. On top of that, I was constantly harassed by the police. Stop-and-searches happened whenever I was driving. Each time, they’d dismiss me as “just a young boy.” I worried that one day they might brand me an armed robber.
In the office, we would use phone torches because there was no electricity. I couldn’t see where Nigeria would be in ten years under those conditions. By 2019, I decided it was time to go.
Did you or your family sell any property to raise money for your migration?
No. I didn’t have to sell anything before moving to the UK. I planned my relocation around my nursing career and matched the qualifications the UK was seeking. At that time, nurses were in high demand worldwide. The UK offered free flights and visas, three months’ accommodation, some meal allowances, airport transfers, and a small start-up stipend of around £200–£500 (with some costs deducted from my salary later). Everything was arranged before I travelled. That was before the COVID-19 pandemic, so sponsorship packages were still generous.
Do you encourage people to sell their property in order to relocate?
Yes, if it makes sense. If the only thing standing between you and a legitimate job offer abroad is selling an asset (a car, house, or land), then sell it and move. By “legitimate,” I mean a genuine employer you’ve vetted, a proper interview process, and no upfront fees. If all that checks out, selling a property to secure a better opportunity isn’t wrong.
How do you respond to Nigerians who say the grass isn’t greener in the Diaspora?
First, it’s not rosy in Nigeria either. As someone living there, you might earn N1m a month and own a house or land, but the government could demolish it at any time. Even with a good salary, you still deal with irregular power, the cost of running a generator, and data bills that can reach N50,000, depending on your usage. Life in Nigeria is full of challenges.
What do you think of the UK White Paper and other restrictive immigration policies?
I am not in favour of the new restrictions, but I won’t criticise the UK government’s right to set its policies. The UK makes decisions based on data. They opened the social care worker visa in February 2022 and saw high numbers of people—both legitimate and not—coming through that route, often with dependents. If they issue 1,000 care visas, they might get 4,000 people arriving, which strains resources, especially amid a cost-of-living crisis.
So, they’ve used the White Paper to tighten rules, extending the time to permanent residency from five to 10 years, tightening sponsorship rules, and cracking down on fake certificates of sponsorship. Ideally, these measures should target illegal migrants, not those who work and pay taxes.
Historically, the UK has relied on migrants since the Windrush generation after World War II. If the UK becomes unattractive, people will move elsewhere, and eventually the UK will need to recruit again. I already know nurses who have relocated to Australia, Canada, Luxembourg, New Zealand, and even Dubai (United Arab Emirates). In a few years, the UK may face labour shortages and reopen these pathways.
Why don’t British people take the jobs that Nigerians do?
Many Brits prefer not to fill certain roles because the welfare system effectively rewards unemployment. If you’re employed, you face high taxes; if you’re on Universal Credit, the government pays you. Why work, then, if you can receive monthly benefits without a job?
There’s also a demographic factor. The UK has a large elderly population that lives independently. In Nigeria, families often care for aging relatives at home, but in the UK, older people live alone. So, there’s demand for paid carers. Someone might survive multiple heart attacks or strokes with medical support, but they still need daily assistance, and that is work Nigerian nurses and care workers are well-suited to do.
How do Nigerians cope with racism in the UK?
Racism in the UK tends to be subtle. Open racial slurs are illegal, so you rarely hear direct insults. Instead, people might socially exclude you or treat you coldly. If you confront them, they usually deny any wrongdoing. Nigerians who have experienced religious or tribal discrimination back home know not to internalise every slight. We are accustomed to navigating prejudice, so we tend not to stress over it.
What explains the rampant knife attacks in the UK?
Guns are almost impossible to obtain legally in the UK, so knives become the weapon of choice, especially among youth. In 2024 alone, there were nearly 50,000 knife-attack cases and over 200 homicides linked to knife violence. Knives are readily available in kitchens, easy to conceal in bags, and quick to grab. It is illegal to carry a knife in public, but enforcement can’t catch every incident. If guns were as accessible as in the US, the situation could be even worse.
What advice would you give Nigerian nurses searching for greener pastures?
Opportunities come once, so start preparing now. Countries like Australia, the Republic of Ireland, Canada, and the USA are still recruiting nurses (though there’s a queue). Dubai is also hiring. Relocating isn’t only about money; it’s about peace of mind. Here in the UK, I can drive anywhere at 2am without fear, and if my car breaks down, I can call the police to assist me. Can you do that in Nigeria?
This advice applies not only to nurses but also to engineers, IT experts, software developers, lawyers, doctors, and journalists. Get your transcripts and credentials ready so when the time comes, you can move quickly.
What other things do you do?
I am a musician. I have been playing keyboard and drums since I was in primary school. In the university, I coordinated music for a student group and began composing. I will be featuring Tunde of Styl-Plus on my next song.