Posted by Amarachi on Fri 13th Dec, 2024 - tori.ng
Adegboyega discussed his personal story of leaving for the UK at the age of 25 and the challenges he faced in resolving his immigration status.
Pastor Tobi Adegboyega
UK-based Nigerian clergyman, Tobi Adegboyega has addressed reports regarding his deportation over a £1.87 million fraud allegation.
In an interview with BBC Yoruba, Adegboyega discussed his personal story of leaving for the UK at the age of 25 and the challenges he faced in resolving his immigration status.
The founder of SPAC explained that he was unaware of the complexities of the immigration process and had relied on others to handle his paperwork.
However, he discovered that his documents were not in order, prompting him to take matters into his own hands.
The pastor reflected on his journey, stating that he initially came to the UK without a clear plan but finally found his purpose in guiding Nigerian youths and guiding them in a new country.
Adegboyega emphasized the importance of community and helping one another, particularly in the face of negativity and challenges. He encouraged Nigerians to support each other and work towards making their country proud.
He said in Yoruba:
“We are all migrants here, I am not a white man. I was 25 years old when I came and there were certain things I didn’t know that I thought those who were in the know would sort for me but with time I discovered that they didn’t do anything. When I saw this, I decided to take steps to sort it myself. Now people are saying I am a celebrity but as of that time, I wasn’t a known person, I came here just like our ancestors did, I didn’t have an idea that I was going to build a life and start living here but when I saw the way our Nigerian youths were behaving, and I knew I could guide them to the right path, I started working and I did that for 10 years. I wasn’t even concerned about my documents, I was just doing my work.”
“The reason the youths are following me is because the youths of these days ask questions. When we were growing up, we dared not ask questions but the present youths want to know and they would ask questions because they are looking for the truth and when they see the truth, they will follow it. They all know that since I’ve had a house and started living on my own after I used to stay with my big brother, they all know that I do not leave after preaching on Sundays.
The work we are doing here is different from the one in Nigeria. Our youths of about 14 and 15 are killing themselves here in the UK, and the work we have been doing for 20 years, we are still doing it now and removing the youths from jail and other problems and giving them good jobs, making them become prestigious people.
I live with the youths, we all eat and drink together, they know that whatever I tell them is the truth and they know that for the past 20 years, I have used everything I have to care for them, so there’s no way they won’t follow me because I have made myself plain to them and I am not asking for anything in return except how we will all make progress and how black people will become prestigious people in this country.”
“Negativity is too much in Nigeria, that is why people are leaving and running away from them. We should no longer avoid each other but help ourselves. If God has blessed one of us, it’s because of the other people we have to help. So my message is that we should help each other and make our country proud.”
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