Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Olayide Oluwafunmilayo Soaga, in Lagos

‘I get this rush of sadness’: is a wave of youth migration threatening the Nigerian way of life?

People queue at the entrance to departures in Lagos airport, Nigeria.
The departures gate at Lagos airport, Nigeria. Seven in 10 Nigerians would be willing to leave the country if they could afford it. Photograph: Olayide Oluwafunmilayo Soaga

On the day Nigeria celebrated the anniversary of its independence from British rule, Chisom Chuba said farewell to her family and her home country. Her mother accompanied the industrial chemistry graduate to the airport but Chuba’s father stayed away.

“My father refused to come with me to the airport and I think it was because he was afraid of crying. I could see his hands shaking when he was giving me some advice,” she says.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.