Popular comedian Bovi Ugboma has shared the reason behind his children’s relocation to the United Kingdom.
Speaking on the Uncolored podcast, Bovi revealed that his kids have been living abroad for the past two years, starting with his first son, who moved in 2021. He explained that his decision was influenced by the state of Nigeria’s educational system, particularly the issue of bullying in schools.
“My kids don’t live in Nigeria anymore; they have been in the UK for two years now. It started with my first son going to boarding school there in 2021,” Bovi said. “I went to boarding school in Nigeria, and it made me street-smart. But I didn’t want my son to experience the kind of bullying that has become normal here. In Nigeria, the school system allows senior students to bully juniors under the guise of discipline.”
Bovi also spoke about the ongoing trend of Nigerians moving abroad, commonly referred to as "japa syndrome."
“The only reason the situation in Nigeria hasn’t exploded is because we haven’t had war, famine, or natural disasters,” he said. “We’re losing professionals like doctors in large numbers every year, but new ones keep coming in. It’s like putting a band-aid on a deep wound.
"If the government wants to stop the mass migration, they need to look at what developed countries are doing. It’s not just about money—people want a functional system where basic things like electricity and medical supplies are available. In Nigeria, patients die because of power failures or a lack of blood during surgery. No doctor wants to work under such conditions.”
Bovi is married to Kris Asimonye Ugboma, and they have three children.
