Why I Wrote the Great British Migration Lottery (2020–2025)



I wrote Jápa: The Great British Migration Lottery (2020–2025) not as a political critique, but as a testimony to the indomitable human spirit. This book is a work of satire, yes, but every absurdity—the soaring visa fees, the policy U-turns, the cynical monetisation of hope—is anchored in the very real, often heartbreaking experiences of migrants, myself included, who traded their stability for a chance at a better future.

The Yoruba term Jápa—meaning "to break away" or "to flee with urgency"—became the silent password for a generation. It is a desperate social contract to pursue prosperity abroad. My novel simply holds a mirror up to the system that turns this noble aspiration into a rigged game, where the Home Office acts as a chaotic, profit-driven show host.

My greatest hope is that this novel compels readers to look past the statistics and see the humans: Adaeze, the determined nurse; Rohan, the brilliant software developer; and Cedella, the bright-eyed student. They are the heroes of this era, displaying a resilience that is nothing short of miraculous against an unfeeling bureaucratic machine.