Daniels James on Leaving Nigeria, Jollof in Rwanda and a 100 Million Dream

Daniels James and I finally met somewhere in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital sometime in 2021 after poking at each other’s content on Facebook for years. When he makes a controversial comment on the social media platform, you’d assume he’d defend that comment offline. You’re wrong.

Unlike his Facebook account, he is one of the warmest people you would ever meet and he wouldn’t brag about a thing in person. He also seems to know a thing or two about everything, something we both have in common. For example, If you mention a place in Abuja, he might tell you he has never been there but heard about it or knows a similar place.

Daniels James moved to Rwanda sometime in 2022 and we recently caught up to talk about why he left Nigeria and his experience so far.

Magnus: I know you’ve always wanted to Japa. Why Rwanda?

DJ: I was supposed to go to Dubai. I was already leaving Nigeria for Dubai… I was working on my visa. The day I started processing my visa was the day Dubai placed that ban on Nigerians coming over. It was devastating at first, it was very tiring because I was very tired of Nigeria already.

Magnus: I’m sorry to hear that. Why were you tired?

I had a police incident earlier that year and it cost me money. Although, I recovered the money and the police officers were detained. I kept hearing about tech guys who were constantly having issues with the police and I just didn’t want that. They came into my compound one time but it wasn’t for me. They illegally arrested the next-door neighbour.

So I kept hearing about incidents like that in my area and then the electricity issue. I was already paying an expensive amount of money on rent, electricity and internet subscription in Nigeria. So I thought about it… Instead of spending all that money in Nigeria, why don’t I leave the country for a place with better resources to aid my work because I work remotely? I run a Social Media Marketing agency.

So when the Dubai incident happened, my friend suggested I go to Rwanda. I remember researching Rwanda a couple of years ago and it was nice. It’s one of the safest countries in Africa and the 9th safest country in the world. Since I was so desperate to leave Nigeria at the time, I decided I’d go to Rwanda. That’s how I ended up here and to be honest, I’m loving the place.

Magnus: What would make you come back or settle down in Nigeria?

Three things will make me come back to Nigeria. In fact, I have said this before, when I make a lot of money and I know I can be safe from the problems of the government and all that, I am retiring to Abuja. Three things that can make me come back to Nigeria right now are:
1. If the electricity issue is fixed
2. Most importantly, if the police harassing people because of dreadlocks and all are reformed
3. Then if we have access to unlimited internet. I heard about Starlink coming to Nigeria and you can pre-order now, so I guess that one is already partially sorted.

The two main things right now are if the police stop harassing people because of dreadlocks or because you are in tech and then 24/7 electricity. Those things will make me run back to Nigeria. To be honest, I love Abuja as a city. it’s quiet and really nice. Those three major things, internet police harassment and electricity are why I left.

Magnus: Gotcha. Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to Japa from Nigeria?

DJ: If anyone wants to leave Nigeria, be sure that you already have something you’re doing or be sure that wherever you’re going to already has a job that is going to cater for your needs there because if you don’t, it’s going to be tough for you.

The rent is not like in Nigeria where you pay annually and it’s cheaper. For example, equivalent to dollars, you can pay $1000 to $2000 for rent annually in Nigeria. Over here, you would have to pay an average of $500 monthly for rent, electricity and internet. The internet is unlimited. You can even find something cheaper but at the same time, you need to have something that would generate a steady income.

If you are jobless, be sure that you’re going to get a job wherever you’re relocating to, else, It’s going to be frustrating when you are in another country and you don’t have enough financial support. You need to sort that out, especially if you like eating Nigerian food. Nigerian food is very expensive outside the country.

Magnus: You mentioned owning a Marketing Agency. Can you tell us about it?

DJ: So Grow Viral is a Social Media Marketing Agency. We help brands create, edit content and grew their Social Media, specifically Instagram and Tiktok. We’re trying to build a startup right now but I can’t go into details on that yet. The startup is separated from the Agency.

We are also working on an office here in Rwanda for Grow Viral which will help businesses in Africa, starting with South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria and probably Ghana. We will be helping these businesses grow their Social Media, creating content for their Social Media and we will be releasing affordable courses… low-budget causes for people within Africa who can’t afford the major Social Media Marketing causes we have right now. We will be helping small businesses grow their Social Media.

Magnus: What’s your biggest dream right now?

DJ: I am working on so many things at the moment, including the startup but my biggest dream right now is moving my mum from Benue state to Abuja and getting her a nice duplex apartment worth at least 100 million Naira and that’s what I’m trying to make sure I achieve in 2023 no matter what it takes.

Magnus: That’s beautiful. Does she know about it?

DJ: Yes, she does. We have lived in Abuja before

Magnus: I saw your post about a TikTok user recognizing you offline the other day, how do you feel about being famous?

DJ: I will not say I’m famous. Although I get recognised in public, even in Rwanda. Someone from Facebook saw me and said he’s been following me on Facebook for years and knows about my TikTok. It’s nice but then I have mixed feelings about it. Especially when I was in Abuja and I had people recognise me in public… I get mixed feelings about it because even though I’m loud online, I’m reserved in person and I keep to myself offline.

There are so many things I like doing offline and I just don’t want people in my private business so if I’m out there and someone runs into me, I’d feel somehow about it because it’s supposed to be private. But then it’s fine. I don’t mind it most of the time.

Magnus: Rwandan Jollof Vs Naija Jollof: Which is your favourite and why?

DJ: I will forever pick Nigerian Jollof but Rwanda doesn’t have their own Jollow. They have what is called Pilau and I think they are dragging it with Kenya, the same way there is a Nigerian and Ghanaian Jollof War. It wants to taste like Jollof but it’s not as good as Nigerian Jollof. They call it Pilau.

I would always pick Nigerian Jollof, even in Rwanda here, it’s delicious. There’s a restaurant in the Tech industry here with a Yoruba man here. They sell Nigerian jollof rice and pilau as well. I always go for the Jollof, in fact, I think that’s what’s finishing my money here because I’m too lazy to cook. I order from the restaurant every day because they are affordable. I think it’s the only cheap Nigerian food here in Rwanda – the company is called One Menu.

Magnus
Thank you so much for your time. You can follow Daniels James with the links below:
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok