Nigerian comedian and television host Teju Babyface has opened up about the emotional challenges he faced after relocating to the United States, admitting that he once believed the move was the worst decision he ever made.

In a candid conversation on his YouTube channel, Teju reflected on how many people romanticize life abroad, only to discover that every country comes with its own unique set of struggles.

“The problem with life is that we often suffer from what I call ‘the grass is greener on the other side’ syndrome,” he explained. “When we’re standing in one place, we look at another situation from afar, and it appears so rosy, so perfect. But we can’t see the challenges that exist on that side until we get there.”

Teju revealed that his family’s relocation to the U.S. coincided with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which made the adjustment period particularly difficult.

“When we were leaving Nigeria, I was certain that moving was the next step for my career and for us as a family. But when the challenges began—especially with COVID hitting just months after we arrived—I honestly felt I’d made the biggest mistake of my life,” he said.

He admitted that the transition tested him in unexpected ways, saying that the U.S. presented its own “tough challenges,” which were only intensified by the global pandemic.

“For about three years, I was convinced I’d shot myself in the foot,” he confessed.

The comedian also shared that the experience gave him a deeper appreciation for a lyric by legendary Nigerian musician King Sunny Ade, one he had sung for years without fully understanding.

“I had a phrase for that feeling—I called it a ‘ruinous risk,’ the kind that leads to ruin. I was completely lost and unsure where my life was going. But during that time, I finally understood the emotion behind King Sunny Ade’s lyrics. For the first time, they made perfect sense,” he added.