For me, I would eventually retired back to NIGERIA. I am a Nigerian and nothing about that has changed. The life people describe as “going back to” is the same kind of life I lived before I travelled abroad.
I grew up, live, and worked in Nigeria for over two decades before migrating to the United States of America in my late forties. I understand the culture, the people, the food and the way of life. Of course, Nigeria has changed and I have changed too, but that doesn’t mean I can no longer live there.
Living abroad has given me opportunities, experience and a different perspective, but it hasn’t erased where I come from.
I may not have personally experienced everything that comes with growing old overseas, but I have learnt lessons from watching people who came before me.
I know many people who came to USA. When I was young, in their old age today, they’re in NURSING HOME.
Their children have their own lives to live, and visit them occasionally, but they feels very lonely. They wanted to come back home. But there’s no place for them to live in their home Country. They want to be around family.
The difficult part is that after almost six decades abroad, they never really prepared for life after retirement for themselves back in their home Country.
Their story’s has taught me serious lessons. Don’t wait until old age before deciding where you want to spend your later years.
My father showed me the path. He traveled to Ghanaian as a young man, he spent twenty years (20). And returned back to Nigeria, worked for over thirty years. Before retiring to his farm, and rode his Raleigh bicycle until death.
Now, I look at other people’s stories, my father returning home and build a house, while some people spend almost five decades abroad and now wishing they had prepared their way back home and I ask myself, how would I want my own story to be.
Some of my children have grown up overseas, they will eventually have their own lives, careers, relationships and families. That is normal. I cannot expect them to put their lives on hold because of me when I’m old. So while I am still able to work, plan and build my life. I have prepared for my own future.
I also look at the direction life overseas is heading. The cost of living keeps putting pressure on everyone. While AI and automation may change many jobs over the coming years. Nobody knows exactly what life will look like in ten or fifteen years from now, but for me. Earning more money overseas doesn’t automatically mean having a better life.
I have seen older Americans who sold their homes and move to places like Ghana and Dubai. Because they want a simpler or different lifestyle. So I ask myself: if some people can leave the country where they were born and move thousands of miles away in search of the life they want, what stops me from returning to my own country?
I don’t expect NIGERIA 🇳🇬 to be perfect. As no country is. I know the challenges because I lived there before travelling abroad. Going back home would not mean going to a strange country or starting life somewhere I don’t understand.
The important thing is preparing for life in old age.
Build something at home while you are still working. Have a sustainable income. Maintain your relationships with family and your community. Have somewhere to live. Don’t wait until you are old, lonely or unable to work before thinking about returning.
I don’t want to run away from life abroad. I want to use what life abroad has taught me, the experience, discipline, knowledge and resources,to prepare for the life I eventually want.
Sometimes travelling abroad isn’t the final destination. Sometimes you travel, learn, work, build yourself and eventually take that experience back to where your journey started.
For me, returning to NIGERIA wouldn’t mean that living abroad failed me.
It would mean that living abroad served its purpose.
Nigeria is my Country, Ekiti is my State, ISABA is my home town. East or west. No place like home. Ayo Omolade writes.
