Why we left America for Nigeria with five children — US professor, wife

Pablo Segun, a US professor, and his wife Aanu, better known as Familia PablAnu on social media, moved their family of five from the United States to Nigeria. The couple met in the US while Pablo was teaching and Aanu was completing her professional degree. Their decision to relocate was driven by the high cost of living in the US, concerns over safety and wellbeing for their children, and the desire for a sustainable, more relaxed lifestyle.

Initially, they considered East Africa, but difficulties with land acquisition in Uganda led them to Nigeria. Pablo was drawn to the laid-back nature of Ugandans, and the language similarities between Yoruba and Spanish made learning easier for him. Their adaptation was facilitated by shared family values and traditions, such as food and cultural practices.

Pablo and Aanu got married within a year of meeting after Pablo's year-long visit to the continent. They have since lived in Nigeria for over a decade, raising five children who now speak the local language and feel at home in their adopted country. Pablo credits the cultural and familial similarities as key factors that made the transition smoother, despite initial fears and uncertainties about leaving America.