Taiwo Kazeem Returns to Nigeria After Hostility Threatens His South African Businesses

After more than a decade in South Africa, Nigerian entrepreneur Taiwo Kazeem says hostility there has disrupted the life and businesses he worked hard to build. He has returned to Nigeria after an incident he says damaged his property, affected his business and made him question his safety. Kazeem said he left Nigeria around 10 years ago, hoping to discover opportunities abroad. But he soon found that getting a job was difficult, with unemployment also affecting South Africans. Looking back, he said he had not properly understood the economic conditions before relocating, and his experience taught him the value of preparing carefully before moving overseas. With limited employment options, Kazeem turned to the beauty industry, learning nail and eyelash services despite having no previous experience. That practical step eventually opened up new directions: he entered modelling, explored acting and later became involved in film production. Before leaving Nigeria, Kazeem had studied banking and finance and worked in hospitality. In South Africa, he developed a professional identity in the creative world, formed industry connections and received recognition for community service, creative arts and leadership. He was also nominated for the country’s 40 Under 40 recognition and took part in activities connected to arts and cultural institutions. His career, built through opportunities he had not initially expected to pursue, reflected years of persistence and adaptation. Yet Kazeem’s account now centres on the personal and professional costs of the hostility he says he faced. After investing years in his South African life, he has come back to Nigeria, leaving behind businesses and a creative career he had worked to establish.