December 08, (THEWILL) – The lure of unlimited opportunities, the desire for career advancement and to start a new life elsewhere, as well as the need to simply get away from an ailing economy may have compelled several Nigerian celebrities to relocate overseas. IVORY UKONU spotlights some of these celebrities who have chosen to live and work abroad, while navigating new chapters with resilience and determination in 2024.
Sidney Esiri
A former Mo’Hits signee, Sidney Esiri, more popularly known as Dr Sid, confirmed his relocation to the United States a few months ago. The divorced father of two revealed that he relocated to the US because he secured a job opportunity with a New York-based company and an offer to live anywhere he wants in the US.
Prior to his departure from Nigeria, Dr Sid had quit music, which brought him fame, for the film business after his last music project did not meet his expectations. He even nurtured his passion for gaming and started a company in Nigeria to contribute to the country’s gaming ecosystem after realising that the gaming industry makes more money than music and film combined.
Unfortunately, he abandoned all of it and moved to the US when he couldn’t make a headway in the film and gaming industry.
Natacha Akide
Natacha Akide who is fondly referred to by her fans as Tacha is one of many Nigerians who decided to check out of the country.
Tacha, who found fame via the Big Brother Naija reality TV show, chose to relocate to the United Kingdom. While some believe she relocated for want of a better living condition, THEWILL reliably gathered that one of the major reasons she left the country is to be with her latest love interest.
The young man, a crypto trader, a gamer and a gambler, among other things, is based in the UK and the need to be closer to him informed her decision to relocate to the UK.
Bankole Wellington
Singer, actor and politician, Bankole Wellington, aka Banky W, took many by surprise when a few months ago he announced that he and his family which comprises his wife Adesua and their son, had relocated to the United States.
Banky W said he left Nigeria to achieve the purpose of his life, for his family, his faith as well as to earn a Master’s degree in Policy Management at Georgetown University in Washington DC.
The award-winning singer’s relocation is coming a year after he attempted to win a seat to represent Eti-Osa Federal Constituency in the House of Representative on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It was his second attempt and both times, he was unsuccessful at the polls, losing out to Labour Party’s candidate, Thaddeus Attah during his second attempt.
Yomi Fabiyi
Yomi Fabiyi, the controversial actor who plies his trade in the Yoruba sector of the movie industry, relocated to the United Kingdom under the guise of seeking asylum. He claimed that he was being hunted by those who he alleged killed budding singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka MohBad, simply because he was in pursuit of the truth and needed to expose his killers.
While the #justiceformohbad movement was active, Yomi didn’t bother about it. He only decided to insert himself in it when he realised that he could easily gain asylum from being a part of the moement. He decided to seek justice on his own single handedly, searched for clues and late MohBad’s neighbours to interview. He documented all of these as evidence. Then he began to plan a march to demand for justice from politicians.
After a lot of publicity on the march, it ended up not taking place only for him to make a post crying out that he has fled from Nigeria because his life was in danger and some unnamed people threatened his life. He added that he left his only son with his estranged wife, adding that he filed a complaint with the police categorically insisting that nothing must happen to the witnesses he interviewed.
Adekunle Kosoko
Adekunle Kosoko, otherwise known as Adekunle Gold and his wife, Simi are among celebrities who have left the shores of Nigeria. Initially, they both shuttled between Nigeria and the United States, but sometime in the year, they decided to make the US their permanent home.
A few months ago, Adekunle Gold shared on his Instagram page a photograph of their new house in the US undergoing repairs. The reason for their relocation is however unknown.
Dapo Oyebanjo
Former Mohit co-founder, Dapo Oyebanjo aka D’Banj has relocated his family to Dubai.
Although he personally shuttles between Nigeria and Dubai, it is obvious that the 40-year-old who recently launched a comeback album chose to relocate to Dubai after he was appointed as the Official Afrobeat Artist of the AfroZons Dubai Soundoff in 2022 by Dubai’s Department for Economy and Tourism.
Temilade Openiyi
Singing bird, Temilade Openiyi, also known as Tems, has been operating out of the United States for a while and she hasn’t been anywhere near Nigeria.
Since featuring on Wizkid’s global record, ‘Essence,’ Tems has become a force in the American music industry, working with top-tier stars like Future. This perhaps explains her reason for relocating abroad.
Kazeem Abimbola Ibrahim
Nollywood actor, comedian and content creator, Kazeem Abimbola Ibrahim, better known as Jigan Baba Oja, who used to ply his trade in the Yoruba genre of the movie industry has relocated to the United States.
The actor bid farewell to Nigeria in September and currently keeps body and soul together there as an Uber driver.
Ahmed Ololade
Although he is an award-winning singer, Ololade Ahmed, aka Asake, has been shuttling betwen the United States and Nigeria.
The singer finally made the US his permanent abode. He solidified his stay with the recent acquisition of his first car in the US, a brand-new 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon.
The luxury ride also solidifies his position as one of Nigeria’s most successful artists, what with his rapid rise to fame and success in the music industry with hit songs and sold-out performances.
Stella Damasus
Although actress Stella Damasus relocated to the United States with her then third husband, film maker, Daniel Ademinokan who has since moved on and remarried, she is currently in the country and has been for over six months now, sparking speculations of reverse ‘japa’. She has been in the country with her two grown up daughters, Izzy Bella and Angelica, to allegedly access the funds placed in a trust for her two daughters with late first husband, Jaiye Aboderin, son of the founder of Punch Newspaper, James Aboderin.
After Jaiye died, a trust fund allegedly named ‘Estate of Jaiye Aboderin’ was allegedly opened by the Aboderins. The money which currently pulls in millions monthly in profits, allegedly is in billions.
The Aboderins are no longer signatories to it. Stella is now in charge of the fund. Stella and Jaiye got married in 1999 before Jaiye died suddenly in 2004 of heart attack.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
