Yusuf BabaTunde, CEO of Mapleby Holding Inc., discusses his journey from deportation to Canadian citizenship and global entrepreneurship

Growing up in Lagos, he was inspired by neighbors who migrated overseas. Despite his love for Nigeria, he desired to live part of his life outside the country. His first attempt to travel after secondary school to the UK was unsuccessful.

While studying Computer Science at Olabisi Onabanjo University, he saved money from a car dealing business. Before his National Youth Service Corps program, he secured a Japanese visa, but upon arrival in Tokyo, he was deported the same day at age 25. He was questioned about the purpose of his visit, and immigration officers were not convinced he was a businessman.

This experience left him heartbroken and anxious for two years, almost leading to depression. His elder brother, who won a US Visa Lottery in 1995 and sponsored his Japan trip, continued to support his travel aspirations, funding attempts for German, Turkish, Qatari, and Canadian visas, all of which initially failed. BabaTunde focused on education and work, obtaining a Cisco Certified Network Associate certification.

In 2012, he joined Etisalat as a graduate trainee engineer. In 2013, he obtained a US visiting visa, spending 10 days there before returning to Nigeria to work. He later secured a loan from Etisalat in 2015 to pursue postgraduate studies in Canada, where he eventually gained a work permit, permanent residency, and citi