Nigerian sales and global partnerships expert Ezekiel Bamigboye has said the education and professional experience he gained in Nigeria helped him secure a successful career in Canada, despite the challenges of relocating....
Nigerian sales and global partnerships expert Ezekiel Bamigboye has said the education and professional experience he gained in Nigeria helped him secure a successful career in Canada, despite the challenges of relocating.
Bamigboye, who spent 18 years at telecommunications company MTN before moving to Canada, said Nigerians who had lived and worked in the country often developed the resilience and skills needed to thrive internationally.
“If you ever lived life in Nigeria, you’re set up to succeed anywhere in the world,” he said during an interview on TVC News’ Diaspora Connect.
Bamigboye, who currently serves as Director of Global Sales and Channel Partnerships at DigitalEd Canada, said his professional exposure at MTN prepared him for opportunities abroad in ways he had not fully appreciated while working in Nigeria.
He recalled undergoing five rounds of interviews before securing his current job, including meetings with senior executives and a presentation to company leaders.
According to him, the experience demonstrated the value of the skills and professional development he had acquired in Nigeria.
‘Get A Mentor’
The sales expert urged young Nigerians seeking career growth to find experienced professionals who could guide them through difficult decisions and help them avoid costly mistakes.
“What I would say is get a mentor. You need the shoulders of giants to rise,” he said.
He explained that mentors could provide guidance, share experience, open doors to opportunities and connect young professionals to useful networks.
“If a mentor takes away one error from your life, that might be the basis for your success,” he added.
Bamigboye said he had benefited from mentors throughout his career and still maintained contact with them, including when he received promotions.
Relocation Was Not The Original Plan
Bamigboye also disclosed that relocating to Canada was not initially part of his plans, despite beginning preparations with his wife in 2015.
He said he was enjoying his career at MTN when the couple began exploring alternatives as a contingency plan.
They first travelled to Canada in 2018, but he returned to Nigeria after three weeks and did not return until 2019. He described the eventual decision to relocate as difficult, given the professional life he had built in Nigeria.
Settling in Canada came with its own challenges, including culture shock, limited job opportunities and difficulty building social connections.
He said it took him about six months to secure his first job after starting his job search, adding that he had submitted numerous applications before getting interview opportunities.
Before securing employment, he also enrolled in a bridging programme to understand Canadian culture, workplace expectations and leadership practices.
Diaspora Nigerians Urged To Give Back
Bamigboye called on Nigerians living abroad to contribute to the country’s development by sharing their expertise, professional networks and best practices, rather than limiting their contributions to financial support.
He said he returned to Nigeria annually to network, meet professionals and exchange ideas.
“We need people to believe in giving back, not only financially, but giving back skills, giving back, sharing best practices,” he said.
He acknowledged that efforts to introduce new ideas might not always be welcomed but urged Nigerians in the diaspora not to become discouraged.
He also encouraged them to support initiatives that connect professionals abroad with opportunities to mentor and train people at home.
An unexpected career path
Bamigboye revealed that he originally wanted to study engineering but did not secure admission to the University of Ilorin because his Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) score was not good enough.
Rather than spend another year at home, he enrolled to study Business Administration and Management at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State.
He said he eventually developed a passion for the course and turned it into the foundation of his career.
“Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know,” he said, reflecting on how an unintended academic path shaped his professional journey.
Bamigboye is also the author of Selling for Beginners and Brand Arrogance. He said he remained committed to learning, mentoring professionals and helping bridge Nigeria’s sales skills gap.
He urged Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute to the country’s progress regardless of their political differences, stressing that national development required collective effort.
“Leadership will change; what won’t change is our country,” he said, calling on Nigerians abroad to mentor young people, share professional knowledge and promote the country’s positive attributes.