Faces of Migration - Miracle, 28-year-old student from Nigeria, living in Kutaisi

Miracle is a 28-year-old student from Nigeria, living in Kutaisi since 2015.

Miracle heard about Georgia from his friend. After some research, to make sure he could afford to start his new life in this previously unknown country, Miracle arrived in Georgia in 2015. He spent few months in Tbilisi together with his two Nigerian friends, medical students like Miracle, before he decided to move to Kutaisi to study medicine. 

“First year was a real challenge”, says Miracle when talking about the difficulties he faced, such as admission process, adaptation, language barrier and discrimination. He managed to overcome all challenges, except for language barrier. Miracle left negative experiences behind and says that he managed to outgrow them.

“Georgians are definitely not racist. There are just some Georgians who prefer migrants who look like them - it’s common, but this has nothing to do with Christianity. I am a Christian too”, says Miracle who is also a preacher at a Protestant church, which he established in Kutaisi.

Miracle has adapted to a lifestyle in Kutaisi: received a residence permit, made many friends among locals and other foreign students. He frequently goes to the gym. To make sure he uses his time wisely, after finishing his medical studies Miracle applied for a master's programme in business management in different universities of Georgia and is excited to engage in a new adventure.

“The fact that I don’t have many problems in Georgia, does not mean that life is easy for other foreigners”, says Miracle, referring to challenges faced by some of his friends and other foreign students in Georgia. Miracle believes that the country should be more open to foreigners willing to receive education in Georgia – this would be beneficial for all. “If Georgia issues residence permit to a person for two years, even extends it for another two, how can that same person, who has done nothing wrong, be rejected when he/she applies for the third time?” says Miracle when giving example of some of the problems foreigners must deal with.
 

Photo by Eric Gourlan