Why I quit my job at John Hopkins USA to return to Nigeria after 25 years –Doctor

Nigerian medical doctor, Julius Oni has revealed the reason behind quitting his job at John Hopkins in the United States to return to Nigeria after 25 years.

Oni, via a video post on his Instagram account, disclosed that he sold his properties including house and cars – and proceeded on leave with his family.

“I reverse JAPA from the US to Nigeria. Well…six weeks ago, I relocated from the US to Nigeria. I took a leave of absence from my job at John Hopkins, sold my house, sold my cars, packed my bags alongside my lovely wife and beautiful children, and moved after 25 years of living in the USA,” he said.

The Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery revealed that he is a determined individual, noting that Nigerian patients also deserve a top-notch healthcare system.

“I know at this point, some of you may call me delusional or even crazy but I am neither, I am just a man full of conviction. I happen to believe that Nigerian patients deserve great care too.

“As part of my mission, I have started DOC Medical Nigeria, which offers high-quality musculoskeletal care to the population, part of my effort is to provide access to care so that people do not have to travel to access high-quality orthopedic surgery care.”

He equally stated that he has worked with patients from different parts of the world since he started the initiative.

“I am humbled to say that people are coming from near and fear, near as Ghana and as far as the UK.

“There are many patients that will otherwise have travelled but now have access to quality orthopedic quality surgery on the ground.”

The japa syndrome in Nigeria

The word “Japa” is a Yoruba word meaning “to run away.”

The word has now been absorbed into Nigerian usage to mean “fleeing difficult situations at home to travel abroad.”

The japa syndrome has become a pervasive phenomenon in Nigeria, characterized by the mass migration of professionals, particularly youths, seeking better opportunities abroad.

This exodus is driven by the country’s daunting economic and socio-political challenges, including unemployment, poor infrastructure, corruption, and insecurity.

As a result, Nigeria is losing its most valuable resource: its talented and skilled workforce.

The consequences are far-reaching, with the brain drain stifling economic growth, increasing the burden on remaining professionals, and having profound social implications, such as family separation and cultural identity loss.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook