Must Read: Tolulope Akintola Explains Why Nigerian Women Misbehave In America

Archaeologists have confirmed that humans have been on the move since the world began. Nigerians are no doubt among the most travelled people in the world; as they travel across many nations for leisure, academics, business and many other reasons; hence the belief that anywhere you go, you will meet a Nigerian.

Tolulope Akintola, a Nigerian, resident in the United States of America speaks with Glitter News Online on how western culture has influenced a lot of Africans and why Nigerians are scared of marrying their fellow compatriots abroad. Enjoy:

Can we meet you?

I am Tolulope Akintola, I had my primary education at Faith Nursery and Primary School, Oke-Ayo, Odo-Ona and my secondary school at Our Lady of Apostles, Maryway, Odo-Ona both in Ibadan before I proceeded to Federal College of Education Abeokuta to study Computer/Physics but now I’m working and residing in United States of America.

You have been in the States for a while, what’s your experience so far?

America is also a good country where everyone dreams to be. I also love my country (Nigeria) because that is where I was born and brought up.

Racism is one of the problems facing blacks. How have you been coping?

Well you know America is a place where we have different types of people from different countries. So, we can never be the same as our fingers are not equal. Although, there is love and respect here in America than Nigeria. For example if you going out by bus or train, it doesn't matter may be you are old or small people you meet inside the train will stand up for you so that you can sit down and that can't happen in Nigeria.

What are the efforts of the government in order to curb racism?

Government is trying their best to solve it and I believe God will take control.

Same-sex relationships are common in the Western world. Do Nigerians living America also practice it?

We have different cultures here. I believe those who are practicing it are very much interested in that and we heard that they are also practicing it in Nigeria also. With the population of men and women in this world, how can you just wake up in a day and think of having affairs with the same gender like you, I think that's crazy. Only God can save us from this gimmick of Satan.

Nigerians are scared of getting married to their fellow Nigerians, why do you think this happens?

Well it depends on choice and I think that really happens here. Most times men are faulty and women may be faulty at times. In Nigeria some men doesn't value their wives and here in America women are like gold.

Can you shed more light on that?

In Nigeria when couples give birth, men believe women should only take care of the kids and here in America both of them will be responsible for that. So, many gongs caused breakups here.

For example, when couples who came from Nigeria to settle here in America and all of a sudden one of them started misbehaving, may be the wife started coming home late from work and the husband knows the time she close from work then they started having issues the wife will just call 911 then the husband is in trouble. The problem is that, if at the end the couple divorce, the husband must pay the schools fees and other logistics and the man doesn’t have a choice because if he fails to perform his responsibilities, he will be jailed of face deportation.

Another problem that usually arises here is that, the culture of America also affects Africans, because when you are here and mingle with people here, they will influence you and they will even convinced you that if your husband misbehaves all you need to do is to call police. So, women usually use this avenue to harass their husbands here. For example, a married woman will bring concubine to her husband’s home and when her husband arrives, she will tell her husband to cook food for her concubine and her husband doesn’t have a choice but to dance to the tune of her wife. There are some cases here where the woman will sell the house of her husband all of a sudden without the consent of her husband. Many men are homeless here because of this problem; many men live in their cars for up to 2 or 3 months before getting another apartment. Many things are happening here, it only takes the grace of God to overcome these challenges.

What's your advice for Nigerians that wish to visit America?

America is a very good country. In terms of Education and security they are the best. I will advise them to know what they are doing here and portray the good image of our country. My advice for them is not to be influenced by western culture.

What are the things that you missed here in Nigeria that you are unable to do America?

There are so many things I really miss. For example, there are a lot of Bukas in Nigeria where I normally eat Amala with Gbegiri. There is a woman that usually fries Akara (Beans cake) in my area when I was in Nigeria and I can’t afford to miss her beans cake. Another thing I miss in Nigeria is that you know there are some corners where you can just park your cars and easily urinate. But here, the case is different; if you mistakenly urinate anyhow here in America that person should ready to face the consequences.

What’s the effort of Nigerian community in USA in order to protect Nigerians living over there?

God's protection is the most important. America generally is secure. You can't just misbehave here in America because everyone knows the law and if you do not obey then the person has to go to Jail and learn. But in Nigeria there is no law and anyone can just misbehave at any point in time.

Interviewed By Abiodun Adeniyi, Publisher, Glitter News Online