\u201cWe should build our home too,\u201d Ridwan tells me over the phone. \u201cEven if you travel far and wide, your home is still your home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now pursuing his third master\u2019s degree in Canada, Ridwan continues to push forward with determination and ambition. Over the years, his academic journey has taken him from Nigeria to South Korea and, eventually, to the bustling St. George\u2019s campus in Canada. Along the way, he has learned to adapt, persevere, and stay connected to his roots. Beyond the textbooks, research papers, and endless scholarship applications, however, another story unfolds, one that reveals quiet responsibility, deep emotion, and the meaningful act of sending money abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Ridwan, every transfer carries a memory, a feeling, a reminder of where he comes from and who he\u2019s responsible for. Read Ridwan\u2019s story here: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tell us a little about yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My name is Ridwan. I\u2019m doing my Master\u2019s in Canada at the moment. Actually, this is my third Master\u2019s degree. I studied in South Korea before coming here, but now I\u2019m in St. George, Canada, studying computer engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you remember the first time you ever sent money abroad?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, that was back in 2016. After completing my undergraduate degree in Nigeria, I began applying to Canadian universities. At the time, I knew very little about international transfers, so I sent the money to my brother\u2019s Naira account in Canada, and he handled the rest. He converted from naira to Canadian dollars. I was completely clueless at the time; I just trusted him to get it done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What was the most memorable reason you\u2019ve ever had to send money abroad?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Definitely applying for scholarships. That whole process was tough. I made so many applications, and at first, it truly felt like I was wasting my money. Each rejection made me wonder if all the effort was worth it. For a while, I thought, \u201cAll this money, gone, and nothing is working.\u201d However, when one application finally clicked, the feeling changed completely. In that moment, it was like, “Wow, it actually pays off.” That was a big moment for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s the most difficult experience you\u2019ve had sending money abroad?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That would be when I was in South Korea. My siblings and friends back home would ask me to buy gadgets and accessories for them. But converting money was a nightmare. I\u2019d have to go from naira to dollars, then from dollars to Korean won. By the end, \u20a62,000 could look like \u20a65,000. They didn\u2019t understand as they thought I was trying to cheat them. It caused trust issues sometimes, but really it was just the stress of multiple conversions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For you, is sending money abroad an obligation or an act of love?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s definitely an act of love. Every time I get my paycheck, I think of my dad, my siblings, my wife.Although my mom passed away just two months ago (may her soul rest in peace), I\u2019ve always found joy in giving. Even before her passing, supporting my family came naturally to me. Whenever people around me lacked something, I couldn\u2019t stay comfortable knowing they were struggling. So, instead of keeping things for myself, I\u2019d rather go without because, for me, helping them has always been more fulfilling. Sending money home makes me feel fulfilled. It\u2019s part of who I am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you share a story about sending money abroad that you think everyone should hear?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, South Korea\u2019s story. About 30 to 40 years ago, South Korea was underdeveloped. Many of their people went abroad, especially to Germany, where they worked hard and kept sending money back home. They built their country through those contributions. Look at South Korea today, a technology powerhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think Nigerians should learn from that. We travel for greener pastures, but we shouldn\u2019t forget home. Even if you go far, home is still home. As we say in Yoruba, \u201cIlela busemiukwu\u201d: No matter how far you go, your home is still your home. We should build our own too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you had to sum up your experience with sending money abroad in one word, what would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnited.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n