Popular Nigerian comedian Bovi Ugboma famously known as Bovi has revealed that he has relocated his children abroad, citing issues within the country’s educational system as a major reason for his decision.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Uncolored podcast, Bovi explained that his children have been living in the United Kingdom for the past two years. He said the move initially happened by accident, as his first son had been studying in a UK boarding school since 2021. However, after considering the state of Nigeria’s education system, he decided to relocate the rest of his family as well.
Bovi expressed concerns about the widespread culture of bullying in Nigerian schools, particularly in boarding institutions. Drawing from his own experiences, he noted that while attending boarding school in Nigeria made him “street-smart,” he didn’t want his children to go through the same struggles.
“I went to boarding school in Nigeria, and it made me street-smart. So I decided my kid needs to go to boarding school but not in Nigeria because the educational system here has accepted bullying. Students are empowered to bully their fellow students under the guise of seniority and discipline, and I don’t want my kids exposed to that,” Bovi said.
During the podcast, Bovi also weighed in on the ongoing trend of mass migration, popularly known as japa, where many Nigerians, including professionals like doctors and engineers, are relocating to other countries in search of better opportunities.
He acknowledged that while Nigeria has not faced war, severe food shortages, or major natural disasters, the country continues to lose a significant number of professionals each year due to poor working conditions.
“The saving grace of the country is that we’ve not gone into war or food shortage. We’ve also not had natural disasters,” So we can lose 500 doctors in one year, but there are about 200 new doctors coming on board. It’s like applying a balm on a big wound, that’s why the situation hasn’t completely blown up in our faces yet,” he explained.
Bovi believes that financial incentives are not the only reason Nigerian doctors and other professionals are leaving. He argued that an enabling work environment, infrastructure, and a basic level of comfort play significant roles in making jobs attractive in other countries.
“If the government wants to stem the tide, they should look at what the West is doing. Why are doctors comfortable working in those countries? It’s not just about the money. If you’re passionate about your work, you should at least have electricity and encouragement. You shouldn’t have to struggle to get to work or go back home.”
He further lamented the dire state of the Nigerian healthcare system, recalling instances where patients have died due to preventable causes such as power failures or a lack of essential medical supplies.
“Patients have died in Nigeria because of a lack of blood or power failure during surgery. If you’re a medical doctor, would you want to work under those conditions? The answer is no,” he said.
Bovi’s comments reflect growing concerns among Nigerians about the state of essential services in the country, with many opting to relocate in search of better opportunities for themselves and their families.
