YOUTH VOICES FROM THE STREET
At 11:47 p.m., a 24-year-old graduate lies awake, phone glowing in the dark.
Another notification.
Another visa approval.
Another friend leaving.
He isn’t lazy. He has plans.
But he feels late.
For many young Nigerians, success no longer feels like a journey. It feels like a countdown. Social media has turned life into a highlight reel where everyone seems to be “making it” at record speed. Every scroll becomes a reminder: someone your age is relocating, launching a startup, living soft life. Success is now public. Panic is private.
Once just slang for leaving the country, Japa has become more than relocation. It is hope, escape, validation, and proof of progress. For many, leaving feels like the fastest way to breathe. But beneath the excitement is a quiet question: are we running toward opportunity, or away from pressure?
When OgunSpeaks Media spoke to young people on the streets, most rated their pressure to succeed above 7/10. Some were eager to leave. Others admitted they didn’t even want to go, but feared regretting it if they stayed. What stood out wasn’t just their words, but the urgency behind them.
The pressure comes from everywhere:
family comparisons, friends’ expectations, social media success stories, and a society that treats “staying” like stagnation. Young people aren’t just chasing dreams; they’re managing expectations.
Yet the online narrative rarely shows the full picture. We see airport photos and winter aesthetics. We don’t see loneliness, financial strain, or the struggle of starting from scratch. Even relocation comes with its own pressure.
So, is success geographical? Or is it alignment, impact, peace, wherever you are? Some young people choose to stay and build locally, quietly resisting the idea that progress must come with a boarding pass. In today’s climate, staying also takes courage.
Beyond economics, this is a mental health issue. Constant comparison fuels anxiety, restlessness, and burnout. When success feels like a deadline, joy becomes conditional: I’ll relax when I relocate. I’ll be proud when I make it. But the definition of “making it” keeps moving.
The conversation about Japa isn’t just about migration. It’s about identity, worth, validation, and fear. Until young people feel supported economically and emotionally, the pressure will remain.
Julius Precious
Maybe the real question isn’t, “Should we Japa?”
Maybe it’s: Why does success feel like a ticking clock—and who set the timer?
Written By: Precious Julius
