Reverse Migration: Why I Returned to Nigeria - Dr. Oni

Nigerian born doctor Dr. Julius Oni is a man who went on to a lot of success in the medical profession over in the United States of America, but has now come back to Nigeria - a move that is surprising in a time when a lot of Nigerians dream to 'japa' from the country.

Now, during a new interview with Channels Television, Dr. Oni opens up about why he relocated back to Nigeria, and speaks about if he has any regrets upon coming back especially with the rising price of goods and services. Here's what Dr. Oni had to say.

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Speaking about why he came back to Nigerian, Dr. Oni said:

DR. ONI: Before I came back to Nigeria, I had practiced in the US for 12 years and so before I left, I was a fellowship director and diversity chair at John Hopkins, and doing a lot of other things and holding a lot of other positions in the U.S. But ultimately, the conviction to come back got a little too strong. I always knew I wanted to come home to share what I did with my fellow citizens in Nigeria. And I remember having a first date with my now-wife and asking her if she would come home with me if we got together, and she said yes. And to her credit, when the time came and the conviction got too strong, she didn't say no. So, I give her all the credit for supporting my vision and allowing me to be here today.

Speaking about his origin story and why he left in the first place, Dr. Oni said:

DR. ONI: I was born and raised in Ondo State and I'm a son of the soil through and through. I went to nursery, primary, and secondary school here in Nigeria and then I got partial scholarship to go to the U.S. and my parents sacrificed to make it possible for me to go. So, once I got to the U.S. in 1999, it was a big transitionary period for me. But I was lucky enough to stay focused despite many issues. I actually wanted to do cardiovascular surgery when I started medical school, but a conversation with my father about my grandmother's ailing knees changed that for me. So, that conversation started a cascade of events that eventually led to me switching over to orthopedic surgery, and it started the fire in me that I want to contribute in significant ways to transforming the world of orthopedic surgery in Nigeria.

Speaking about if he regrets the decision to come back now that the economy seems to be getting worse, Dr. Oni said:

DR. ONI: Now more than ever, I'm actually convinced that I made the right decision. Seeing patients come in to the office now weeks after their surgeries and walking without assisted devices, without canes or wheelchairs, and just being excited that they're getting a new lease on life gives me so much joy. No amount of money can replace that, and to be able to do it in the place that I was born and raised, to be able to offer those services to people who look like my father, my mother, my uncles, my aunties; to be able to do it in a place that I feel such a close affinity to, it just gives me so much joy. And yes, the macroeconomics of the country is tough right now, but one thing I know is that this is not going to be permanent.

What do you think about what Dr. Oni had to say? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment either below or on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

That's All.

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