Renowned Nollywood filmmaker and actor, Ugezu J. Ugezu, has sounded a sobering warning to Nigerians eager to ‘Japa’ — a popular slang for relocating abroad — urging them to think twice before making life-altering decisions based solely on fantasy or pressure.
Taking to his Instagram page, the veteran storyteller shared a startling account involving a Nigerian medical doctor who, in the heat of the ‘Japa’ wave, sold his clinic in Nigeria and relocated to the United States with high hopes. But the reality that greeted him abroad was a far cry from his expectations.
“In the name of JAPA, a practicing medical doctor in Nigeria sold his clinic and relocated to the US. Finally, he is now in a US city. Guess what?
“He now works as a butcher in a meat shop, hiding from Nigerians to avoid being noticed… FOR HOW LONG?” Ugezu wrote.
According to him, the once-practicing doctor now lives in quiet obscurity, cutting meat in a shop and actively avoiding fellow Nigerians — perhaps out of embarrassment or fear of judgment. The actor used the story to highlight a growing concern among Nigerians who romanticize life abroad without understanding the full picture.
“A lot of things are not really the way they appear. BE GUIDED,” he concluded.
While the desire to seek better opportunities abroad is valid, Ugezu’s post raises critical questions about planning, expectations, and the cost of uprooting one’s life without a safety net.
It also sheds light on the less glamorous side of migration — one where professionals often face steep barriers such as licensing, accreditation, and the struggle to survive in unfamiliar systems.
