By Koye Odunlami
(All of this is paraphrased a bit)
This is an interview with my mom who is a Nigerian immigrant. She came to the United States in the mid-1990s to become a lawyer. She works with many immigrants as a lawyer and manages her own law firm.
What was your main motivation for leaving Nigeria?
“I wanted to come to law school, I loved the way America was, it is a country that embraces freedom of speech, and religion, I wanted to be able to fight for other people’s freedoms as a lawyer. American law is very vibrant. There are many freedoms here that I didn’t have in Nigeria.”
What is the biggest difference between Nigeria and the U.S?
“The biggest difference is that in Nigeria their arent as many freedoms. For saying the wrong things about the government, you can get jailed. There is no freedom of speech. Women in Nigeria are treated badly and as second-class citizens. Until recently, women weren’t allowed to own property. If they did, it had to be in a male’s name. Even today, there are still landlords that won’t rent to women. There is a culture of oppression of women and women’s rights. That’s why I love America, women are allowed to have a voice.”
What was one challenge that stemmed from being an immigrant
“Being so far away from your home and your family is extremely difficult. Getting used to a new culture is also difficult.”
Have you ever considered going back to Nigeria?
“No”
How did close relatives react to your decision to leave
“They were happy for me because they knew I was going for a better life. They were happy I was going to school and going to become a lawyer.
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