Nigerian-born Blessing Nwachukwu’s remarkable journey from losing her entire $30,000 savings to visa fraudsters to becoming a multi-millionaire tech entrepreneur and US citizen reads like a screenplay of resilience.
The 37-year-old’s extraordinary story began in 2009 when she arrived in Moscow as a 21-year-old student with just $65, a plane ticket, and two suitcases. “It was a very rough journey,” Nwachukwu recalled in an interview with Vanguard, detailing how she survived by selling food items from Nigeria and teaching herself hairdressing.
Her breakthrough came when she identified a lucrative market for English tutors in Russia, eventually earning $3,000-$4,000 monthly by teaching children of wealthy families. “I became the go-to person for Nigerians who wanted to teach English,” she said, explaining how she undercut American tutors’ rates while building a referral network.
However, racial discrimination and harsh winters prompted her to seek opportunities elsewhere. A devastating $30,000 scam by fake Canadian visa agents left her penniless, forcing her to return to Nigeria in 2013. “They took everything – my savings, even money from my mother,” she recounted.
Her turning point came when her late mother, a former NEPA employee, used her gratuity to fund Blessing’s American dream in 2014. Despite two previous visa rejections, she successfully obtained a US visa by switching her application to film production studies.
In Georgia, USA, Nwachukwu’s life transformed when she noticed tech salaries. She taught herself database administration and web development, soon charging $2,000 per website. “When I saw that money, I realized I could build my own business,” she said.
Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to real estate during a market downturn. “I started buying properties and converting them to Airbnbs – that’s how my money more than tripled,” she revealed. Today, her portfolio includes multiple properties and tech ventures worth over $2 million (≈₦3 billion).
Now a proud US citizen, Nwachukwu has no plans to return to Nigeria permanently. “America has become my home…it’s where I want to be buried,” she stated, reflecting on her journey from Moscow’s struggles to living the American dream.
Her story stands as a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and seizing opportunities against all odds.
