Nigerian Software Engineer Shares Life After Relocating to Toronto When Daniel Fayemi, a senior software and blockchain engineer originally from Lagos, Nigeria, relocated to Toronto, Canada in 2024, he wasn’t just changing jobs — he was entering a whole new world of work culture, weather, and lifestyle. Fayemi now works at Source Inc. in Toronto, enjoying a six-figure salary and blended career that includes consulting, but he also encountered unexpected challenges adapting to life in one of North America’s most diverse cities. Adjusting to Life in the Great White North Daniel’s move was both personal and professional: he joined his wife in Toronto and embraced the opportunity to work in the North American tech market. While he loves Toronto’s food variety, multicultural energy, and even the cold, he says the cost of housing and everyday living was a major adjustment compared with Lagos and Amsterdam. Another cultural surprise was tipping culture — where tips are expected in Canada, unlike in Nigeria or the Netherlands. At work, Fayemi says the friendly, low-ego approach to leadership and collaboration at Canadian companies was a refreshing change, with managers and colleagues jumping into problem-solving together instead of maintaining rigid hierarchies. Work, Community & Future Goals Though he hasn’t fully plugged into Toronto’s broader tech scene yet, Daniel leans on LinkedIn, Slack, and Discord for networking and professional growth, while maintaining close relationships with fellow engineers. He continues to mentor emerging tech talent in Nigeria and plans to one day build his own AI and blockchain-focused venture.
