Wednesday, 05. February 2025
After a gruelling journey to Germany and years of uncertainty abroad, Sodiq returned to Nigeria to start afresh. With coaching and support from ARRIVES, he set up a plumbing materials business in Osogbo and is now able to take care of his family’s needs.
A Yoruba saying goes, "Ìgbà àti ibi tí mo ń wá, ti wà fún mi láti ìbẹ̀rẹ̀" – which means, "The life and place I was searching for has been there for me from the beginning."
Sodiq had initially believed that a better life was waiting for him in Europe. He embarked on a journey to chase that dream, but circumstances brought him back home to Nigeria, where he found a new start.
Sodiq Sowunmi Ade grew up in a single-room home in the Agege area of Lagos with his mother and aunt. There, he quickly learned that survival required struggle. “Not everyone is born with a silver spoon, and certainly not someone like me,” he says as watching privileged friends face fewer hardships often led him to question his own path in life.
Despite many challenges, Sodiq completed secondary school. But his family's financial burden became overwhelming, and his formal education ended there. His two sisters also dropped out, with one marrying early. This forced Sodiq to turn to apprenticeship, learning aluminum installation and construction work, and using his daily stipend to keep his family afloat.
Even with Sodiq contributing to his family, their financial situation remained volatile. “In those years, it was so difficult to succeed in Nigeria,” he recalls. As his friends began seeking opportunities abroad, Sodiq longed for his own chance. That opportunity finally came through a phone call from a distant cousin in Libya and a conversation with a friend who guided him toward Europe. So, he left Lagos with only a backpack, some food, a water container – and hope.
Migration can come with harsh realities, and sometimes, it is a dangerous gamble. Sodiq took the risk, joining other travelers on a gruelling 10-week journey across the Sahara Desert, travelling by motorbike and truck from Kano through Niger and into Libya.
“There were days without food. And we had no compass. No map,” Sodiq recalls. “Once, while we were waiting in a transit camp in Agadez, traffickers captured us, but we managed to escape. Later, my cousin arranged for a Hilux truck to take us further into the desert.”
The most terrifying moment of Sodiq’s journey came in the Mediterranean. "We were packed onto an overcrowded wooden boat with over 200 people. I was scared I would never see my family again," he says, noting that some people who could not afford a spot on the boat had to cling to inflatable objects to cross.
One night, the boat Sodiq was on suffered an engine failure, leaving them adrift. To prevent capsizing, they removed the engine entirely, surrendering to the mercy of the waves. Sodiq watched helplessly as lives were lost. Finally, rescuers arrived and brought them to safety in Italy.
With a background in construction, Sodiq found work as a housing contractor and forklift operator in Italy. Seeking stability, he and his then-fiancée—whom he had met in Libya—moved to Germany to start a family. But their new life was unsustainable. Legal restrictions, particularly around documentation and residency, made it nearly impossible for Sodiq to secure stable work. The pressures of asylum life added to their burdens and strained their relationship to its breaking point. When they separated, Sodiq was crushed. “I felt lost,” he admits. “Nothing was working, and I was losing my new family.”
Having exhausted all means of securing refugee status, Sodiq understood that he would soon lose his residence permit to stay in Germany. Returning to Nigeria became a real possibility. Then, he wondered if he could still achieve the dreams that had taken him abroad.
At an immigration office in Ingolstadt, Germany, Sodiq met social workers who introduced him to the ARRIVES project. Together with a coach assigned to his case, he explored what sort of support he could benefit from. Eventually, he registered for the programme.
Sodiq arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos in June 2024, where he was greeted by an ARRIVES counsellor and received €615 in cash to support his immediate needs.
He secured a three-month apprenticeship through the project and later received €2,000 worth of in-kind business start-up support to establish his own plumbing materials business in Osogbo. This support was provided through the European Union Reintegration Programme (EURP). As he progressed, he also benefited from one-on-one business coaching to equip him with the skills and knowledge to manage and grow his business.
"Now I know that success is not guaranteed anywhere, and sometimes, home offers the best chance," Sodiq reflects. He has finally built something for himself in Nigeria—a business selling marbles, water closets, pipes, and other building supplies. "In Nigeria, if you can build a business that survives, it’s great success," Sodiq says. "With this one, I believe I can take care of my family's needs."
Sodiq now looks to expand his business ahead of exploring new possibilities in the building industry.
If you or someone you know is considering voluntary return from Germany to Nigeria, contact ARRIVES today to learn more about how we can help.
You can also visit our return support page for step-by-step guidance on the support we offer, or explore our FAQ page for answers to frequently asked questions about ARRIVES.
ARRIVES is a project co-implemented by Social Impact, International Returns and Reintegration Assistance (IRARA) and International Trade Centre (ITC). It is funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) of the European Commission and the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
