A Nigerian man has sparked laughter on social media after recounting his conversation with a British colleague at his workplace in the United States.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Opeyemi Babalola shared that he met the British man at his workplace, where they usually only exchanged greetings from afar.
How their conversation started
However, on that particular day, they finally had a chance to speak in detail.
According to Opeyemi, the British man, who works as an accountant, revealed that he came to the United States out of sheer curiosity.
He wrote: “There is a British guy at my workplace but he is an accountant. We only greet each other from afar but today, we have the opportunity to talk. He came to the US out of ‘curiosity’ when he was 23!
“He said he just decided to go and see that ‘America’. He came, went back to the UK, and came back to stay.”
A lesson in motivation for migration
The encounter, according to Opeyemi, opened his eyes to the difference between people who migrate out of curiosity and those who migrate out of frustration.
He added humorously that when the British man asked about his own reason for coming to the United States, he jokingly replied that he came to “charge his phone.”
“It was during that conversation that I realized there is a difference between migrating out of curiosity and migrating out of frustration.
“He later asked why I came to obodo oyibo. Me that I came to charge my phone.😂”
Social media reactions
... quickly drew attention online, with many Nigerians reacting with humour and sarcasm.
One user, Folasade, commented: “You should have told him you migrated to open computer village branch over there. Buying and selling of phone chargers, power bank, oraimo cord etc.”
Another user, Adeola, shared a similar experience: “Lmhoooo someone I know from the UK to US too said she came to explore the world. Chai the way the thing dey annoy me ehn. Just dey waste space for someone who needs to japa for survival loool.”
Different reasons, different realities
Opeyemi’s post has since sparked a wider discussion on social media about the reasons people migrate.
While some move abroad for adventure, exploration, or curiosity, others do so for survival, better opportunities, or to escape economic hardship.
The humour in his story resonated with many Nigerians who could relate to the contrast between “charging phone” jokes and the serious struggles behind migration.