Japa: Is Leaving the Only Hope?

Let me be honest. This question sits in many of our hearts, even when we don't say it out loud.

Should I stay or should I go?

You see friends pack their bags. You watch their airport posts. You hear the success stories from abroad. And somewhere deep down, a whisper asks: Is hope somewhere else? Does God want me to leave?

The word "Japa" has become more than slang. It's a prayer, a plan, a desperation wrapped in a dream. But underneath all the talk about visas and tickets, there's a deeper question we rarely ask.

Let me ask you something, honestly.

When you imagine leaving, what are you actually chasing? A better job? Safety? Respect? A chance to breathe without someone demanding something from you?

None of those desires is wrong. God made you to want provision, peace, and purpose. But here's what I'm learning: no place on earth can give you what only God can provide.

You can move across the world and still feel empty. You can get the passport and still feel trapped. You can earn the foreign currency and still lie awake wondering if you made the right choice.

The real question isn't "Should I go or stay?" The real question is: What am I really searching for? Place, safety, or meaning?

This Conversation Is Happening Everywhere

If you scroll through Twitter or Instagram, you can't miss it. The Japa conversation has taken over.

Not long ago, reality TV star Tacha sparked intense debate online when she called her generation of Nigerians "the dumbest and most cowardly," slamming young people for wanting to leave instead of fighting for their country. The comments section exploded. Some agreed. Others said she doesn't understand the desperation driving people away.

Then there's the viral story of a Nigerian doctor who relocated to the United States only to end up working as a butcher. Nollywood actor Ugezu J. Ugezu shared this on Instagram as a warning, asking if the sacrifice is really worth it.

Meanwhile, media personality Do2dtun fired back at Nigerians abroad who discourage others from leaving, arguing that unless they have returned home to live, they have no right to tell anyone to stay.

Everyone has an opinion. And the arguments? They're loud.

The Numbers Tell a Heavy Story

But this isn't just online noise. The numbers are real.

Between 2020 and 2025, an estimated 5.5 to 6 million Nigerians left the country. The number of study visas granted to Nigerians for the UK alone rose from 8,384 to a record 65,929 in recent years. One survey found that 53% of young Nigerians expressed a desire to "Japa," with 88% citing economic hardship as their reason.

An African Polling Institute survey found that 69% of Nigerians aged 18 to 35 would relocate if given the chance.

That's not a trend. That's a generation in motion.

What God Promises About Going and Staying

There's a verse that has held me together when I didn't know what to do.

"The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." — Psalm 121:8 (NLT)

Did you catch that? As you come and as you go.

Not just if you stay. Not just if you leave. Both. God's presence doesn't have a passport requirement. He is not more present in London or Canada than He is in Lagos or Nairobi. His watch over you doesn't depend on your GPS location.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't go. It means you shouldn't go thinking that geography will save you. Because only God saves.

The Hard Truth About Leaving

Let me say something that might be uncomfortable.

Some people leave and flourish. Some people leave and struggle more than they ever did at home. Some people stay and build beautiful lives. Some people stay and remain stuck.

The difference isn't the destination. It's what you're carrying in your heart.

One young Nigerian who moved abroad shared honestly: "The most challenging part of Japa is starting a new life: making new friends, getting used to new food, new traditions... no one fully talks about the loneliness that comes with doing all of these, most times at once".

If you're running from something instead of running toward God, the problem will follow you. Insecurity follows you. Comparison follows you. The hunger for meaning follows you. A new country cannot give you a new spirit.

That doesn't mean stay out of fear. It means go or stay with your eyes open.

A Better Question Than "Should I Go?"

Instead of asking "Is leaving the only hope?" try asking these three questions.

What am I hoping a new place will give me? Be honest. List it out. Then ask: Can God give me some of that right here, right now? Peace? Purpose? Community?

Am I leaving for opportunity or for escape? Both are valid, but they feel different. Opportunity expands you. Escape just runs. Know which one is driving you.

Have I asked God what He wants for me? Not your parents. Not your friends. Not your fears. God. Have you sat still long enough to hear His voice about your next step?

A Prayer for the One Torn Between Two Roads

Father, I don't know if I should stay or go. The pressure is real and the fear is loud. But I know that You watch over my coming and my going. Give me wisdom to choose without panic. Give me peace whether I stay or leave. And remind me that my true home is in You, not on any map. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Your Next Step

You don't have to decide today. But you do need to decide who you're trusting.

At SendYouth International, we believe a generation anchored in God's presence can thrive anywhere—or everywhere. Not because the place is perfect, but because their God is.

Visit www.sendyouth.org for more articles on purpose, decision making, and finding your hope in something more solid than a visa.

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