The search for a better life has seen millions of Nigerians relocate to another to start a new life. Since the late 1980s, this has been the new norm for Nigerians across all financial classes and sectors.
In entertainment, we have seen a couple of celebrities who relocated abroad even at the height of their fame.
This has surprised many to see celebrities at the height of their fame, leaving all the glitz and glamour for a quieter life abroad.
In this Pulse List, we will be looking at seven of those celebrities.
1. Victoria Inyama
Victoria Inyama wasn't just the regular Nollywood actress, she was at the top of the industry, getting top roles and making the headlines- for all the right and wrong reasons. .
She was famous for her 'bad girl' roles in movies which earned her a lot of fans in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After kicking off her career at a very tender age, she starred in some of Nollywood's biggest movies like 'Silent Night' and 'Barracuda.'
Inyama later left Nollywood after she got married to Godwin Okri. The couple relocated to the United Kingdom. She still resides in the UK with her three kids even after the marriage hit the rocks.
2. Pat Attah
There is no way the history books of Nollywood will ever fail to mention Pat Attah, the Anambra-born actor who was one of the biggest names in film in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Attah rose to stardom in the blockbuster movie of the 1990s, 'Glamour Girls' with his outstanding performance. He went on to star in over 100 movies including 'My Love' and 'Extreme Measure.'
He later dabbled into movie production and directing and even music. According to reports, Attah became a born again Christian and relocated to Germany with his family where they currently reside.
3. Dolly Unachukwu
For many who grew up watching watching Nollywood movies in the 1990s, Dolly Unachukwu certainly rings a bell. She was an early entrant into the entertainment world in the 1990s. Unachukwu was on the cover of many soft sell magazines for her talent and radiating beauty.
The actress became a household name in the TV drama series 'Fortunes'. Furthermore, she earned her star status when she played the mean pimp in the movie 'Glamour Girls.' She went on to star in several movies.
Unachukwu relocated to the United Kingdom in 2000 after she remarried for the second time. She still resides in the UK with her daughter and even after the short-live marriage.
4. Karen Igho
Igho hit fame from the popular Big Brother Africa show and became the second woman to win the show with her victory in 2011.
In 2014, the two-time breast cancer survivor got married to Yaroslav Rakos. The two welcomed their kids back in 2015 and 2017. The reality TV star and media personality currently resides in the United States of America.
5. Regina Askia
Regina Askia-Williams remains one of the biggest celebrities to have come from Nigeria. Unarguably the biggest actor of her time, the former beauty queen was the toast of many designers and brands as she walked the runway before hitting Nollywood.
Her first Nollywood appearance was in the 1993 popular TV drama series 'Fortune.' She later went on star in some other movies including 'Vuga,' 'Most Wanted,' 'Juliet Must Die,' 'Suicide Mission,' and a host of others.
After many years in the entertainment space, the former medical student of the University of Lagos relocated to the United States of America where she is now a nurse. She got married an American, Rudolph 'Rudy' Williams. They are blessed with three children.
6. Sandra Achums
One of the early entrants in Nollywood, Sandra Achums was unarguably a very talented actress. She owned every movie role, nailed them, and became a household name. Achums could be the original 'bad girl' in one movie and an adorable wife in another.
She hit stardom in 1995 when she starred in the movie 'Deadly Affair.' She later went to star in many big movies including 'Sakobi,' 'Karashika,' 'Outcast,' 'Domitila,' and her yet to be rivaled role in the movie 'Hatred.'
Achums left the shores of Nigeria in 2006 after she got married to her hubby, Tony. The couple is based in Germany with their kids.
7. Georgina Onuoha
The actress was one of those celebrities who made the headlines in the late 1990s and early 2000s. If you wanted to see a movie with a beautiful love story, Onuoha was certainly going to be that cast.
The actress starred in over 50 movies where she mostly played the lead role. From 'Without Apology,' 'Occultic Wedding,' 'Moonlight,' to 'Without A Shame,' 'Die Another Day,' 'Because Of Love,' and 'Emotional Tears,' Onuoha was one busy movie star.
She later went to get married to DR C Igwegbe and they relocated to the United States of America. That marriage made the headlines for all the wrong reasons as it was marred with reports of domestic violence. The couple eventually went their separate ways. Onuoha and her ex-husband have two kids together.