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Xenophobia: "I Was Rejected for Being Nigerian" | NUSA President Speaks
BORDERLINES
Friday, 17 July 2026 - 57 minutes
"I was rejected for jobs despite graduating at the top of my class because I was Nigerian."
What is it really like to build a life, career and business as a Nigerian in South Africa? In this revealing episode of Borderlines, Ireti Bakare-Yusuf speaks with Barrister Smart Nwobi, President of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA) and an immigration lawyer, about discrimination, migration, employment, and the realities facing Nigerians living in South Africa.
Drawing from nearly two decades of experience, Smart Nwobi shares his personal journey from arriving on a visitor's visa to becoming a respected attorney, founding a successful law firm, and helping hundreds of migrants navigate South Africa's immigration system.
In this episode:
Why he says he was denied opportunities because he was Nigerian
His journey from student to founder of a successful law firm
The realities of South Africa's immigration laws and work permit system
Why unemployment, not migrants, is at the heart of the crisis
His thoughts on xenophobia, Pan-Africanism and social cohesion
Whether South Africa should consider an immigration amnesty
How the Nigerian government handled the evacuation of its citizens
This conversation offers a rare, firsthand perspective on migration, identity, opportunity and justice in South Africa, while exploring the challenges and contributions of Nigerians living abroad.
Guest: Barrister Smart Nwobi, President of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA) and Immigration Lawyer
Show: Borderlines
Host: Ireti Bakare-Yusuf
What are your thoughts? Do migrants deserve greater protection, or should immigration policies become stricter? Share your views in the comments.
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