Move Back to Nigeria is a new series on BellaNaija.
The aim is to encourage young and not-so-young professionals in the
diaspora who are trying to make the decision of whether to move back to
Nigeria. In collaboration with the brilliant team at MoveBackToNigeria.com,
we hope to bring you a weekly interview with individuals who have
successfully made the leap, considering the leap, as well as those who
have tried it and realized it is not for them. The idea is to share
their successes and their challenges as they made the decisions they
did. A lot of Nigerians in the diaspora have questions about
making a change at home in Nigeria. Many suggest really good ideas on
how to make things better; others would like to contribute to making a
difference back home but are just not sure where to begin. Movebacktonigeria.com is the fastest growing online community of Nigerian professionals living, studying and working in diaspora.
Deji Adegoke is our
feature for the week and he is a corporate finance solicitor currently
based in London. Whilst he has not made the move back yet, read on for
his sound gems regarding working in diaspora, the opportunities inherent
in the Nigerian business landscape and the right mindset for moving
back.
Let’s begin with introductions: Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Deji Adegoke and I am a corporate finance solicitor in the City of London. My practice covers the entire spectrum of finance: So I have worked on mergers and acquisitions, acquisition financings, re-financings, insolvency and restructurings as well as private equity deals, including advising an international investor on the acquisition of an interest in a large Nigerian bank.
My name is Deji Adegoke and I am a corporate finance solicitor in the City of London. My practice covers the entire spectrum of finance: So I have worked on mergers and acquisitions, acquisition financings, re-financings, insolvency and restructurings as well as private equity deals, including advising an international investor on the acquisition of an interest in a large Nigerian bank.
Why did you leave Nigeria?
Although I was born in Nigeria, I left
at quite a young age, but given that my family are based between Nigeria
and England, I have always been a frequent traveller back and forth and
as you will see, my connection with Nigeria played an integral role in
my getting a graduate job in the UK.
Can you tell us about your educational background?
I studied law at Warwick University, largely at the urging of my father who noted that if Warwick was good enough for the former head of state then it should be okay for me. Notwithstanding my initial reservations, I had the best three years at Warwick, I made some really very amazing friends who I am still very close to today and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I should add that Warwick has one of the most active African Caribbean Societies (“ACS”) in the UK and a very strong Nigerian alumni. A large number of the Nigerian contingent at Warwick have since moved back to Nigeria after working for a few years in London and have gone on to set up businesses in Nigeria or work at large corporates in Nigeria and so any interested students reading this should bear this in mind when deciding which university to attend.
I studied law at Warwick University, largely at the urging of my father who noted that if Warwick was good enough for the former head of state then it should be okay for me. Notwithstanding my initial reservations, I had the best three years at Warwick, I made some really very amazing friends who I am still very close to today and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I should add that Warwick has one of the most active African Caribbean Societies (“ACS”) in the UK and a very strong Nigerian alumni. A large number of the Nigerian contingent at Warwick have since moved back to Nigeria after working for a few years in London and have gone on to set up businesses in Nigeria or work at large corporates in Nigeria and so any interested students reading this should bear this in mind when deciding which university to attend.
I was also very strategically focused on
getting a graduate job offer prior to graduation when I was at Warwick
and employment is something that students should always have at the
forefront of their minds, especially given the increased student fees at
university. So at the end of my first year at Warwick, I completed
short internships at small, high street Law firms in London and then
travelled to Nigeria to undertake longer internships at several
corporate and public institutions, all of which were unpaid and largely
obtained through sending copies of my CV out and picking up the phone.
In addition to undertaking internships, I was also active in the student
body at Warwick. In my second year I was elected president of the ACS
and in my third year I was captain of the Warwick basketball team. The
purpose of all of these activities, other than being fun, was to show
potential employers that I was an “all-rounder” as gone are the days
when a 2:1 or even a 1st alone will guarantee you a job. Fortunately, in
my second year, I received offers from 4 of the ‘magic circle’ law
firms (they are among the ten largest law firms in the world) to
undertake internships. At the end of my second year I received and
accepted a job offer (a training contract) from one of the law firms
that that I had interned with. I graduated from Warwick in 2007 and I
then attended BPP law school and completed the City LPC; the
professional exam required to be undertaken by solicitors.
What motivated your study of law?
I studied Economics, Law, Government & Politics and English Literature at college and because I really enjoyed economics, my initial inclination was to continue studying it at university. However, I also very much enjoyed studying law and I had always secretly harboured the view that the brightest people in a gathering are inevitably the lawyers (or perhaps that should be the loudest). A key driver for me, above and beyond everything else was that I wanted to be sure of what I would be doing post-graduation. I felt that studying law would provide clarity and focus, whereas if I studied economics I was not sure of what I would do with it because as at that time, banking was not viewed as the all-encompassing panacea that it has subsequently become. I believe I ultimately made the right call as law is a very interesting and rewarding profession and also a good launch pad from which to do other things if one is so inclined. The fact that law has always being recognised as a respectable profession also played in my decision making process.
I studied Economics, Law, Government & Politics and English Literature at college and because I really enjoyed economics, my initial inclination was to continue studying it at university. However, I also very much enjoyed studying law and I had always secretly harboured the view that the brightest people in a gathering are inevitably the lawyers (or perhaps that should be the loudest). A key driver for me, above and beyond everything else was that I wanted to be sure of what I would be doing post-graduation. I felt that studying law would provide clarity and focus, whereas if I studied economics I was not sure of what I would do with it because as at that time, banking was not viewed as the all-encompassing panacea that it has subsequently become. I believe I ultimately made the right call as law is a very interesting and rewarding profession and also a good launch pad from which to do other things if one is so inclined. The fact that law has always being recognised as a respectable profession also played in my decision making process.
Pretty much win-win for you then. As a law firm associate in the city, what does your role entail?
As an associate within the finance group my practice covers the full spectrum of any form of debt financing, which is basically anything from, acquisition financing; lending to acquire an asset, to project finance; arranging and negotiating the terms of financing for the construction of infrastructure like roads, bridges or oil and gas pipelines.
As an associate within the finance group my practice covers the full spectrum of any form of debt financing, which is basically anything from, acquisition financing; lending to acquire an asset, to project finance; arranging and negotiating the terms of financing for the construction of infrastructure like roads, bridges or oil and gas pipelines.
Over the past couple of years I have
been particularly focused on leveraged finance; lending from banks or
other financial institutions and this typically involves negotiating
documents and structuring and managing transactions. I probably spend
nearly as much time on conference calls, managing people, strategising
and structuring deals as I do actually dealing with strict legal issues
(hence the importance of the point I alluded to above about not just
being technically sound but also being an all-rounder in that you are
able to get along with others and operate as a team player).
What’s your position on the law practice in Nigeria?
The future is Africa and to a large extent Nigeria, and as a proud Nigerian, I would be remiss if I did not at least consider the opportunity to move back to Nigeria or develop a practice in London that involves work in Nigeria. I am attempting to develop an Africa practice and so I am constantly in communication with personal contacts, law firms and companies operating in Africa and Nigeria especially. In my view almost every sphere of industry in Nigeria has the potential for tremendous growth and the same applies to law. Increasingly you find UK and US law firms looking for ways that they can access the Nigerian market, either through working for international clients investing in Nigeria or through building stronger ties with Nigerian law firms and corporates. In terms of practising law in Nigeria, I see the Nigerian legal market as one which is growing steadily and becoming increasingly sophisticated but in need of some adjustments in terms of its existing regulations.
The future is Africa and to a large extent Nigeria, and as a proud Nigerian, I would be remiss if I did not at least consider the opportunity to move back to Nigeria or develop a practice in London that involves work in Nigeria. I am attempting to develop an Africa practice and so I am constantly in communication with personal contacts, law firms and companies operating in Africa and Nigeria especially. In my view almost every sphere of industry in Nigeria has the potential for tremendous growth and the same applies to law. Increasingly you find UK and US law firms looking for ways that they can access the Nigerian market, either through working for international clients investing in Nigeria or through building stronger ties with Nigerian law firms and corporates. In terms of practising law in Nigeria, I see the Nigerian legal market as one which is growing steadily and becoming increasingly sophisticated but in need of some adjustments in terms of its existing regulations.
What regulations specifically?
For instance, in most countries if you are a Nigerian qualified lawyer and you have been practising law before going to another country, all you need do in order to be able to practice in that country is take a course that runs for a few months at most, whereas in Nigeria, even if one has been practicing law in England for say 20 years, you would still need to go to Nigerian law school (in the same manner as a recently graduated student) before being able to practice law in Nigeria. I think that that is the biggest issue that needs to be reviewed especially in light of the governments’ push to encourage diasporans to return. There are understandable reasons for the present policies, given that law is a big employer of labour and regulators are trying to ensure that there will always be opportunities for Nigerian lawyers first and foremost, but we are living in a globalised world and change will come whether one likes it or not. The onus is on the regulators to ensure that they are the masters of their fate and that they harness this opportunity in a way that best benefits Nigeria, rather than having to react as developments overtake them.
For instance, in most countries if you are a Nigerian qualified lawyer and you have been practising law before going to another country, all you need do in order to be able to practice in that country is take a course that runs for a few months at most, whereas in Nigeria, even if one has been practicing law in England for say 20 years, you would still need to go to Nigerian law school (in the same manner as a recently graduated student) before being able to practice law in Nigeria. I think that that is the biggest issue that needs to be reviewed especially in light of the governments’ push to encourage diasporans to return. There are understandable reasons for the present policies, given that law is a big employer of labour and regulators are trying to ensure that there will always be opportunities for Nigerian lawyers first and foremost, but we are living in a globalised world and change will come whether one likes it or not. The onus is on the regulators to ensure that they are the masters of their fate and that they harness this opportunity in a way that best benefits Nigeria, rather than having to react as developments overtake them.
Does the thought of NYSC play into your decision to either move back or not?
I believe that this raises issues similar to those relating to the regulations around practicing law. There is scope for greater development in the programme and it should be more nuanced to reflect the fact that not everyone is at the same point in life when they enter the Nigerian workforce, rather than take a one size fits all approach.
I believe that this raises issues similar to those relating to the regulations around practicing law. There is scope for greater development in the programme and it should be more nuanced to reflect the fact that not everyone is at the same point in life when they enter the Nigerian workforce, rather than take a one size fits all approach.
Having said the above, do you ultimately plan to move back to Nigeria?
Let’s put it this way, I would be very surprised if I do not at some point in the future either work in Nigeria or have a practice that is centred around Nigeria and Africa; especially given the type of work that I do where physical location is almost a secondary consideration, as against, (1) your ability to service clients and, (2) your knowledge of the market. For example, I have been working on a deal for clients in Russia for the past few months and have not stepped a foot in the originating country. As with most things in life, timing and opportunity are key – if there were an opportunity in Nigeria that I believe trumps what I can achieve in the UK then I would undoubtedly consider it. I know first-hand that the quality of life of professionals in Nigeria is comparable to my peers in London, so I would have no qualms about making the leap. For every negative story or obstacle I hear or personally experience in Nigeria, I think of the opportunity that that negative presents and it is these developmental shortcomings in Nigeria that reflect the vast potential that excites ambitious Nigerians. I believe that this is an exciting time for my generation as there is a real groundswell of successful young Nigerians, choosing to return to Nigeria to set up businesses or invest in Nigerian enterprises simply because they realise that the future is now and there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to really make ones mark. I have lots of friends who have moved back or have set up businesses that touch upon Nigeria (a few examples being, the founder of Citychops.com, Meet the Adebanjos TV series, Tamar Aid Foundation, Parthian Partners, dazzlemebooths.com (all, but one, are fellow Warwick Alumni)) and they constantly tell me of their positive experiences.
Let’s put it this way, I would be very surprised if I do not at some point in the future either work in Nigeria or have a practice that is centred around Nigeria and Africa; especially given the type of work that I do where physical location is almost a secondary consideration, as against, (1) your ability to service clients and, (2) your knowledge of the market. For example, I have been working on a deal for clients in Russia for the past few months and have not stepped a foot in the originating country. As with most things in life, timing and opportunity are key – if there were an opportunity in Nigeria that I believe trumps what I can achieve in the UK then I would undoubtedly consider it. I know first-hand that the quality of life of professionals in Nigeria is comparable to my peers in London, so I would have no qualms about making the leap. For every negative story or obstacle I hear or personally experience in Nigeria, I think of the opportunity that that negative presents and it is these developmental shortcomings in Nigeria that reflect the vast potential that excites ambitious Nigerians. I believe that this is an exciting time for my generation as there is a real groundswell of successful young Nigerians, choosing to return to Nigeria to set up businesses or invest in Nigerian enterprises simply because they realise that the future is now and there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to really make ones mark. I have lots of friends who have moved back or have set up businesses that touch upon Nigeria (a few examples being, the founder of Citychops.com, Meet the Adebanjos TV series, Tamar Aid Foundation, Parthian Partners, dazzlemebooths.com (all, but one, are fellow Warwick Alumni)) and they constantly tell me of their positive experiences.
On a final note, although you do
not have immediate plans to move back, what can you say to fellow
‘diasporans’ who may be in similar positions?
First, I would strongly advise against
romanticising the concept of Nigeria. Although I am a strong believer in
the future of Nigeria, it is the last place that you want to be down to
your last Kobo or simply coasting along, the majority of professionals
in London are living a very comfortable life and are in fulfilling
careers, as opposed to jobs and that is not something that should be
dismissed casually. There are lots of very smart and hardworking people
in Nigeria, so unless you are sure that you are bringing something
special to the table I would think carefully about just heading back,
you cannot go to Nigeria and try to out-Nigerian a Nigerian.
My second piece of advice would be to
surround yourself with successful and enterprising people who are also
considering making the move back or who have already done so, learn from
them, provide guidance to them and touch base with them and find out
how they are finding the experience.
The next piece of advice that I would
proffer is not to move back until and unless one has (in an ideal
situation) (i) purchased a property in the country that you are living
in, after all, you need something tangible to show for your years of
hard work in ‘jand’, (ii) evaluated what stage you are at in your
present profession, i.e. do you have enough experience (or if not,
confidence) that you could autonomously run a team if you moved back to
Nigeria? Or if things did not work out, would you have difficulty
returning to the international job market?, (iii) I would also urge
anyone considering a move back to get a source of income, separate from
work before moving; my friends and I put it aptly as before you move
back to Nigeria, you must ensure that you have your MYDM, which
basically is an acronym for “maintain your dignity money” and
lastly for the guys, and maybe some of the young ladies as well, I would
suggest that if you have plans to move back home in the next year or
so, cut your monthly designer brand purchasing/champagne popping budget
in half!
Most importantly, moving back to Nigeria
should be for the right reasons, so if you are going there to exploit
the weaknesses in the system or to compound the pre-existing negative
issues then unfortunately, you are becoming part of the problem. The
entire benefit of a ‘diaspora’ is that we are meant to have obtained the
best parts of a foreign culture and are able to combine that with the
strengths of our own culture, to then impart that positive experience
and learning on people back home.
Our generation has a great opportunity
and an even greater responsibility to be the change we seek in Nigeria
and to outdo our parents’ generation but we cannot do that if we fail to
jettison negative traditions and mind-sets and accept mediocrity.
Thank you for your time and best wishes moving forward.
Thank you for your time and best wishes moving forward.
___________________________________________________________________________
The primary objective of MoveBackToNigeria.com is to connect Nigerian professionals with various opportunities in Nigeria, ranging from recruitment drives to information & support regarding relocation processes, financial & tax advice and much more. Move Back To Nigeria also features social interest topics such as what’s on, where to live, how-to survival tips and so on. Consistently engaging with and featuring Nigerian professionals in weekly interviews, Move Back To Nigeria regularly publishes social interest articles relevant to the general public. Everyone is welcome to their online discussions & fora and you are invited to air your views & suggestions on the topical and trending matters section.
The primary objective of MoveBackToNigeria.com is to connect Nigerian professionals with various opportunities in Nigeria, ranging from recruitment drives to information & support regarding relocation processes, financial & tax advice and much more. Move Back To Nigeria also features social interest topics such as what’s on, where to live, how-to survival tips and so on. Consistently engaging with and featuring Nigerian professionals in weekly interviews, Move Back To Nigeria regularly publishes social interest articles relevant to the general public. Everyone is welcome to their online discussions & fora and you are invited to air your views & suggestions on the topical and trending matters section.
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