How To Canada: Ayo Owodunni on how to grow and establish yourself in Canada

Ayo Owodunniremembers the moment his journey to Canada began.

It was 10:30 p.m. andOwodunni, who was born and raised in Nigeria, was driving with his wife. There was traffic. They still had an hour left to go before they'd get home. Both of them were barely awake and his wife was pregnant.

She turned to him and asked: Do you really want to raise a child here?

"I remember, I couldn't answer that question and I was just silent," Owodunnisaid. "And that was when the conversation started."

Owodunniand his family settled in Waterloo, Ont., and he now works with companies to help them navigate cultural issues.

In a series of interviews on CBC Radio, he shares his immigrant experience and providestips on how people who are new to the country cangrow and establish themselves in Canada.

The 5-year transition

Owodunnisays it takes about five years to fully get settled in Canada and he says he hopes by sharing his own experiences, it will make the process go more smoothy for others.

Listen to the interview:

The Morning Edition - K-W7:55How To Canada: Ayo Owodunni on the 5-year transition

Experts say it takes about five years for a new immigrant to transition to life in Canada. In a new series of interviews called How To Canada, Ayo Owodunni talks about his decision to leave Nigeria, the mistakes he made in his new country and what tips he has for others making the move.

Build a credit score

A credit score is vital to starting a new life in a new country.

Owodunni says for new immigrants, establishing a solid credit record can be the key to finding a home, getting access to loans with better rates, or even having a credit card to use in the parking lot.

Listen to the interview:

The Morning Edition - K-W7:37How To Canada: Ayo Owodunni on establishing your credit score

Ayo Owodunni lives in Waterloo, Ont., but was raised in Nigeria and moved to Canada. He's sharing his experiences in a special How To Canada series and this week, offers his perspective on establishing a credit score.