Lagos -- Many Nigerian professionals who grew up, studied and worked abroad are returning to career opportunities back home in a trend that has gathered pace with the global economic crisis.

And some specialists say now-democratic Nigeria, still battling corruption, crime and pockets of armed militancy, will reap the benefits.

Yvonne Emordi-Njideka, 37, made the jump eight months ago. With a background in Silicon Valley then in financial products in San Francisco she walked into a strategic development job at the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Even though the economic crisis has had an impact on Nigeria's economy "the opportunities are here for sure," said the tall, slim woman sipping tea in a Lagos boutique hotel and sounding and looking like an American executive.

After a childhood in Ghana, secondary school in Switzerland and 20 years in the United States, Yvonne -- who said she was tired of US politics -- settled in Lagos. She wanted to be closer to her now-widowed mother and scout the job market.

It was a radical change, and not an easy one initially. In this megacity of 15 to 18 million people, she had to get used to regular power cuts, crime and water shortages.

"We've just changed some of our water tanks .. In the US you don't think about water tanks, the city supplies you with water!" she exclaimed. "It's been quite an adjustment."

Yet she does not regret her choice.

"Now that everything is falling into place, I am happy I moved back. A lot of my friends in the US don't have jobs anymore. When it comes to your career or earning a living, I am a lot better off here right now for sure".

An estimated eight million Nigerians have settled abroad, with more than three million in the US alone and many others in Europe, notably Britain, said Adike Dabiri-Erewa, who heads the House of Representatives standing Committee on the Diaspora.

Though she gave no figure, she said the number of "repats", as the returnees are called, has been on the rise for the past four years.