The urge to go back has not left you. You are ready to change your life and come home. Yet you know Africa has changed since you left, and one question comes back: how will I earn a living?
Your family may be waiting to welcome you, but you have been independent for years and have no intention of depending on anyone. Your relatives are happy, and a little sceptical: will he, or she, adapt to our realities? Holidays of two or three weeks a year rarely prepare you for daily life. Before you buy a one-way ticket, take stock of your professional life.
If you are early in your career
The job market offers real opportunities, but working conditions and company culture vary widely. Subsidiaries of international groups and large local companies recruit on qualifications, experience and what you bring. Relationships can open doors, but nobody will bet on someone who does not stand out. Be ready to start with the opportunity you are offered, work hard and build your place. Patience, persistence and a clear goal matter.
If you want to start a business, I encourage you. Many markets are less saturated than in Europe. But barriers exist, financing first among them. Study the ground yourself, adapt your idea to the market and choose your partners carefully.
If you are experienced and well established
You are in the best position to come back. Experienced, dynamic professionals are in demand, especially if you plan your return and activate your network well before you land. Consulting or freelancing is a strong option, and remote work now lets you keep clients abroad while you settle. Look beyond your own country: anglophone markets such as Nigeria and Ghana often value skills highly, but competition is intense.
If you have few formal qualifications
Entrepreneurship is often the most realistic path, because many employers still weigh diplomas heavily. Trade, agriculture and agri-food can be accessible sectors if you have something useful to sell. Start lean, with a project that is innovative but not too ambitious.
Practical advice that still holds
- Salaries are often negotiated case by case. Ask peers in your sector what the market pays before you state your expectations.
- As a freelancer or consultant, your income follows your contracts. Build a cushion.
- Think regionally. Opportunities do not stop at your border, and English is a real asset in West Africa.
- Use professional networks such as LinkedIn and local recruitment platforms, and reactivate your contacts before you leave.
- Do not take on heavy commitments in your first months. Give yourself at least three months to find your feet.
What to remember
Success here is not so different from success elsewhere: skills, relationships and the ability to sell your potential. The difference is that you must observe, adapt and stop comparing everything with Europe or America. Prepare well, then go. Africa is now.
