GOOD TO GO? JOURNEYS OF CROSS-CULTURAL PREPAREDNESS, TRANSITIONS AND TRANSFORMATIONS AMONG NIGERIAN IMMIGRANTS

This multiple-case mixed-methods narrative study explored how Nigerian immigrants in Italy and the United States prepare for and experience cross-cultural transitions and how their cross-cultural experiences result in transformative learning. The theoretical framework of the study combined critical realism, the aspirations-capacities framework and transformative learning theory. An integrative research design, including case study research, mixed-methods research design, and narrative inquiry, was deployed as the methodological approach of the study. The participants included 27 Nigerian immigrants, 14 from Italy and 13 from the United States, selected using the criterion sampling technique. Data were generated through narrative interviews, which included image elicitation, and the Transformative Learning Survey. Thematic, narrative, and quantitative data analyses were conducted. First, results showed varied levels of preparation among Nigerian immigrants for their lives in Italy and the United States. In Italy, the emphasis was on overcoming language barriers and cultural integration, while in the United States, it was more about leveraging educational and professional opportunities. Second, the study found high engagement in transformative learning processes, particularly in discourse. The transformative experiences showed notable similarities across both countries, despite different cultural contexts. Third, results highlighted how factors such as language skills, educational background, and social networks were crucial in navigating the structural opportunities and constraints in Italy and the United States. Moreover, a comparative analysis revealed commonalities and distinctions in the immigration experiences of Nigerians in Italy and the United States. Both groups emphasised the importance of preparation, resilience, and transformative learning in their journeys. The study concluded that the immigration experiences of Nigerians are dynamic, shaped by a combination of personal aspirations, capacities, and the sociocultural contexts of the host countries, underscoring their resilience, adaptability, and transformation. Among others, future research could involve longitudinal studies that track the experiences of Nigerian migrants over an extended period to provide insights into how their cross-cultural and transformative experiences evolve with time.