Foreign
Why I can’t practise medicine in Nigeria again – Popular Canada-based physician, Dr Zo
Canadian-based Nigerian doctor, Arinze Onwumelu, aka Dr Zo, shares his experience as a medical practitioner abroad and the expectations for his colleagues at home.
What has your experience been like as a medical doctor in Canada?
I came to Canada as a finished product. I had put about 17 years into practice including the Surgical Residency in Ireland and the Family Medicine Residency in the UK. I left medical school almost 27 years ago and migrated to Ireland three years later.
To be honest, I have been fortunate since coming to Canada. I was lucky to have inherited a clinic and a pool of patients from my mentor, Dr Rick Zabrodski. The contract was for $1. I practically did not pay him a dime. The clinic is big now because we’ve expanded. And we are going to have probably about 10 doctors by the middle of next year.
The medical profession is quite different in Canada because the government and the people support you. People are extremely nice here compared to the UK and Europe. The health sector supports the medical doctors very well. When we were in the UK, it was as if the General Medical Council was against Nigerian doctors there.
What is your specialisation and how have you managed it?
My area of specialty is Family Medicine but I also worked in several Emergency Medicine Departments all over the world for 26 years. I had to give up the emergency room three years ago when I turned 50. I felt I was getting too old for the ER adrenaline rush.
I did my house job at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and my youth service in Port Harcourt before moving to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuoji, where I worked for about one year before migrating to the Republic of Ireland. I spent about nine to 10 years in Ireland where I did a Higher Surgical Residency before moving to the UK to start a Family Medicine residency all over again.
In those days, it was not easy for black immigrants, especially in the surgical field. Family practice is what I do now. I look after hundreds of seniors and patients. I love it. It has really given me a renewed sense of purpose. The Dr Zo you see today is essentially a product of my time and cordial relationship with elderly people. They take me like their son and I have adopted them as my parents too. They are the best and nicest Caucasians to deal with. Believe me.
When did you relocate to Canada?
I came to Canada in November of 2015 from Scotland. The UK had this Brexit policy back then so we had Irish passports and we suddenly were required to get work visas to work in the UK. There was a lot of anti-immigrant sentiment in the UK at the time. At the same time, Canada was seeking doctors from the UK to work in Canada. So, it was a combination of push and pull factors that made us migrate to Canada. I signed my first contract to go to Canada without having even visited Canada. Believe me, it has been the best decision of my life. People were nice, and very welcoming from the airport to the immigration. They asked what I did, and I said ‘doctor’ and they asked what of my wife, and I answered ‘lawyer’. They were welcoming and saying come and stay in our country. Meanwhile, with your British passport or EU passport in the UK, the immigration officers would be looking at you like you stole your passport. The love in Canada is real.
What are your remarkable achievements as a doctor in Canada?
My achievements in the last couple of years are that I have mentored a lot of young doctors. In the next couple of years, I would say that I’ve trained over 70 doctors and they succeeded. That’s the best thing that has happened to me. And this gives me joy.
The second achievement is that, in the last seven years, I was introduced to elderly care because I took over a 35-year clinic, so I started looking after very old people and managing a lot of old people. I gave myself a target to push these old people to 100 years as far as I can. I’m doing everything possible to push them to 100 years. Sometimes, I succeed and sometimes, I narrowly miss it at 90. This has given me a sense of purpose lately. And the best and nicest Caucasians that you would ever do anything with are the elderly people.
I did my weight loss surgery essentially based on the advice I got from a 92-year-old woman. She was not up to five feet but she looked at me and told me ‘Dr Leonard, you have to lose weight. We want to see you around for a long time but with the way you’re going, it’s not gonna happen.’
Two months after the encounter with this lady, I had a Gastric Sleeve and right now, I have lost over 35kg within the last year alone. I look fit and I feel good. I always thank her for her advice anytime I visit her lodge.
You advised Nigerian ladies on Brazilian Butt Lift recently on social media. What prompted you to do that?
As I said, I did a surgical residency and family practice residency. Most of these people go outside of Canada to Turkey, Mexico, and Nigeria because they are cheap. You can get BBL for $2,000 in Nigeria. But, I will say a good number of them run into complications when they come back. They come back to me because they know I have surgical medicine experience and I treat a lot of them here.
I do say that if you look at the ladies with BBL on the outside, it looks good but it doesn’t feel natural. There are possible complications and most of them are infections. I know people from Canada who did BBL in Nigeria and they ran into serious troubles. Some nearly died from it.
I know people who developed infections and sepsis and it was hard for them to travel. Some others developed blood clots as a result. These are serious complications and I have managed them here in Canada.
Is there a difference in practising medicine in Nigeria and Canada?
It’s like night and day! When I left Nigeria 23 years ago, I made myself a promise to return to Nigeria after about 10 years and settle down in Nigeria. See what happens when you practice medicine abroad; I have worked here as a doctor for 23 years and we are trained to be transparent to our patients. There is no reason to lie. You tell them the diagnosis, everything is clear to them.
Unlike Nigeria, they won’t tell you the diagnosis, they won’t tell you the prognosis. It’s different. After 10 years, I built one house abroad and one in Nigeria, I was ready to go. But I realised I couldn’t practise in Nigeria anymore. The reason is that I will be considered ‘mugu’ or ‘maga’. I will tell you everything as it is abroad. If you do that in Nigeria, people won’t come back again.
That’s the mindset and the difference. In Canada, everything is evidence-based but in Nigeria, there are a lot of financial constraints as doctors are trying to manage occupations because they don’t have the money. Having said that, I trained at the University of Nigeria and I have to appreciate all my colleagues working there. It is not easy to work in Nigeria. I praise and encourage them, but at least, every doctor deserves to work a bit abroad. But there is a huge difference between the medical system in Nigeria and Canada.
What improvements would you like to see in the Nigerian health system?
Talking about government, the best health minister the Nigerian health system had was Olikoye Ransome-Kuti. He was my idol. He did a lot of things like primary healthcare, and vaccination. I think former president Buhari did well too but Nigeria as it is, if you ask me, I would recommend a private-government partnership to permanently sort out Nigeria’s health problems. It’s about time we partnered with a lot of people abroad. That’s the only thing I can say that Nigeria needs as soon as possible.
We have thousands of Nigerian specialists abroad who want to come home, including me. I feel like I owe Nigeria because if I look at how I trained, I want to give back. My last school fee was N59 in UNN in 1997. But when you think of giving back, there have to be facilities on the ground. People are doing it gradually, coming to Lagos to set up private hospitals. I will just say that the government should team up with the private sector to build the health system. If it can do that, doctors will start coming home to practise and before you know it, the medical system will be like that of India. I can guarantee you that because we are the ones with the brains. Unfortunately, our politicians don’t think in that direction and it is what it is. But I strongly believe that one day, things will get better in Nigeria.
What other things do you do aside from practising medicine?
If you go to my social media page, you will realise that I do travel, family, and service to humanity. I mentor a lot of people. Even these days because of social media, I’ve turned to a marriage counsellor. I mentor thousands of younger people in marriage because I love the marriage institution. I buy medical equipment and send it back home. I live like there is no tomorrow so I make everything matter. Most weekends, I travel with my wife to explore the world because my children are in universities. I love to spend time with my family. Most of the things I do now is that I advise young people because I also interact with old people.
Do Nigerians in Canada take medical checkups seriously?
To be honest with you, Nigerians are Nigerians. Even Nigerians here in Canada are still Nigerians. They don’t bother about healthcare that much but that’s what we do. We go around and preach to people. I talk to a lot of Nigerians in organisations to take their health seriously. The reason is that when you are in Canada, the health services have been paid for, so it’s free. We tell them why they are cheating themselves. Nigerians behave as if they only come to see you when they run into problems. Even a doctor had a COVID and he didn’t know he was diabetic. Nigerians are like that all over the world, but it takes a bit of education and awareness for us to get to what we desire.
What is your take on Japa syndrome?
With the way things are in the country, you cannot advise anyone with an opportunity to travel not to do it. Personally, I believe that every doctor in Nigeria should practise for a while abroad. There are things that they only read in textbooks and they have to experience it here because they are not available in Nigeria. It improves quality. For medical practitioners, and all professionals in other sectors, I don’t have a problem with that. For instance, I made plans to go back home and I keep changing my mind because things are getting worse in the country. So, are you going to blame the people looking for greener pastures to better their lives or the politicians who are mismanaging the resources? It is a no-brainer that anyone would support Japa syndrome because you want the people on the ground to survive. I look at my country now and I weep.
What challenges do Nigerian doctors face in Canada?
You must learn how things are done in the West. In my opinion, it’s a bit more difficult to get yourself into the system here in Canada compared to the UK. But, it’s more forgiven when you work here as a Nigerian doctor than in the UK. Medicine is a total package here. Even if you know the whole thing, there are still a lot of semantics. Remember that English is not our first language. You have to learn how to talk to patients. You must know things are done in the West.
How will you advise Nigerians who want to relocate to Canada?
I’m saying this as someone who has been in the West for 23 years. I’ve been to over 70 cities in the world. I have a lot of experience when it comes to travel. Calgary in Canada remains the best place for me. I’ve never seen people as nice as these people. So, I will say that if you are travelling to Canada, I do say it’s a land of milk and honey. It’s the best gift you can give to your kids. You know sometimes when you will come over, there will be a downgrade and saying I was this and that in Nigeria. Don’t look at it in that perspective. Look at it from the perspective of the future of your kids. The trajectory will change because you have given yourself a quality of life.
Source: PUNCH
The administration of United States President Donald Trump has finalised a new rule limiting most foreign students and exchange visitors to a maximum stay of four years, unless they obtain an extension from the federal government, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.
The new regulation, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ends the long-standing “duration of status” policy, which allowed international students to remain in the United States for the length of their academic programmes, provided they complied with visa requirements.
The restriction applies to holders of F-1 student visas and J-1 exchange visitor visas.
According to The Washington Post, the DHS acknowledged concerns that some students may struggle to complete their academic programmes within the new timeframe, noting that many bachelor’s degree programmes take more than four years to complete, while doctoral programmes often require significantly longer.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the change was necessary to strengthen immigration enforcement and reduce visa overstays.
“For nearly half a century, the outdated ‘duration of status’ system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud,” Mullin said.
The policy has drawn criticism from NAFSA: Association of International Educators, which described the move as unnecessary and warned that it would create uncertainty for international students.
“DHS’ decision to end Duration of Status is a misguided and unnecessary policy shift that injects uncertainty, bureaucracy, and fear into a system that has long worked effectively,” NAFSA Executive Director Fanta Aw said.
The new rule comes as many US colleges and universities continue to face challenges in attracting international students amid tighter immigration policies and visa restrictions introduced by the Trump administration.
A coroner’s court in the United Kingdom has ruled that a 27-year-old Nigerian woman, Beatrice Solomon, died by suicide after battling mental health challenges linked to personal difficulties.
Beatrice, who relocated from Nigeria to the UK on a skilled worker visa in November 2023, was found unresponsive in her home on Norris Road, Stanfield.
According to a report by The Sentinel on Sunday, the inquest heard that her husband, Damian Butler, had left home for his delivery job at about 4:30 pm on the day of the incident before returning approximately two hours later to use the toilet, where he discovered his wife unresponsive.
A police officer, PC Hinchliffe, told the court that emergency responders arrived shortly afterwards, but Beatrice was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:21pm.
According to the report, the investigators ruled out any third-party involvement in her death.
During the hearing, Butler told the court that his wife had struggled with her mental health over the past year, which he attributed to ongoing issues involving Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
He also disclosed that he later became aware that Beatrice had made two previous attempts to take her life.
“It is clear to me that Beatrice had researched and planned how to take her life. I can only extend my sincere condolences to Beatrice’s family and friends,” the coroner said.
Beatrice, who worked as a carer in the UK, is survived by her husband, a son, and her siblings.
This tragedy highlights the emotional and mental health challenges some migrants may face while adjusting to life in a new country.
According to the World Health Organisation, research from various countries has shown that some migrants face increased mental health risks due to factors such as separation from their families, financial stress, uncertainty, discrimination, and cultural barriers.
The WHO stated that the findings underscore the need for accessible mental health support and timely interventions for migrants experiencing psychological distress.
Israel recently shared intelligence with the US about a new Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump, according to a report.
The latest assassination plan, reported by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, comes after years of Iranian regime threats to kill Trump as revenge for the 2020 killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Gen. Qasem Soleimani by US forces.
When asked for comment, the White House referred The Post to Trump’s Wednesday remarks at the NATO summit in Ankara.
Trump traveled to Turkey on his new Qatari “palace in the sky” plane, but took a different Air Force One home. The plane switch was a strategic “distraction” to keep the commander-in-chief safe, the White House said.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who accompanied the president to the summit, was instructed not to travel to Israel as planned shortly before Trump chose to switch planes in Turkey. It’s unclear if the Iranian threat extended to the war secretary.
Trump terminates remaining members of Election Assistance Commission after landmark Supreme Court ruling expanded his powers
The Journal report did not include details of the alleged assassination plot.
The Israelis tipped the US off about the plot earlier this week. The specific threat was not being tracked by US officials before Israel’s warning and has yet to be vetted, CNN reported.
A banner against President Trump is held in Tehran as mourners gather on the day of burial of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The warning comes as Trump’s relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become somewhat fraught amid the Iran war.
Trump on June 1 told Netanyahu he was “f–king crazy” over his attacks on Lebanon, fearing they would provoke more war with Iran.
”You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this,” a US official summarized Trump’s comments, which the president later confirmed to The Post.
The world leaders have spoken on at least two occasions since the tense June 1 call, including Thursday, and have agreed to meet “in the near future,” according to Netanyahu’s office.
Banners vowing revenge against Trump were on full display in Tehran this week as Iranians prepared to bury late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war.
This was disclosed in a statement released on the website of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday.
The DHS claimed that these individuals have been placed on what it described as its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register.
While the names and photos have been made public, the timeline for deportations remains undisclosed.
However, the US immigration authorities explained that the deportations are part of ongoing immigration enforcement, stressing that those listed were convicted of serious crimes, but declined to provide details about the offences or when deportations would take place.
The statement read: “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst – including the illegal aliens you see here.”
The website then listed: “Sunday Adediora, Sunday Kunkushi, Mkpouto Etukudoh, Marcus Unigwe, Olaniyi Ojikutu, Boluwaji Akingunsoye, Ejike Asiegbunam, Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola, Bamidele Bolatiwa, Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh, Aderemi Akefe, Solomon Wilfred, Chibundu Anuebunwa, Joshua Ineh, Usman Momoh, Oluwole Odunowo, Bolarinwa Salau, Oriyomi Aloba.”
Others are Oludayo Adeagbo, Olaniyi Akintuyi, Talatu Dada, Olatunde Oladinni, Jelili Qudus, Abayomi Daramola, Toluwani Adebakin, Olamide Jolayemi, Isaiah Okere, Benji Macaulay, Joseph Ogbara, Olusegun Martins, Kingsley Ariegwe, Olugbenga Abass, Oyewole Balogun, Adeyinka Ademokunla, Christian Ogunghide, Christopher Ojuma, Olamide Adedipe, Patrick Onogwu, Olajide Olateru-Olagbegi and Omotayo Akinto.
There are also Kenneth Unanka, Jeremiah Ehis, Oluwafemi Orimolade, Ayibatonye Bienzigha, Uche Diuno, Akinwale Adaramaja, Boluwatife Afolabi, Chinonso Ochie, Olayinka A. Jones, Theophilus Anwana, Aishatu Umaru, Henry Idiagbonya, Okechukwu Okoronkwo, Daro Kosin, Sakiru Ambali, Kamaludeen Giwa, Cyril Odogwu, Ifeanyi Echigeme, Kingsley Ibhadore, Suraj Tairu, Peter Equere, Dasola Abdulraheem, Adewale Aladekoba, and Akeem Adeleke.
Also listed were Bernard Ogie Oretekor, Abiemwense Obanor, Olufemi Olufisayo Olutiola, Chukwuemeka Okorie, Abimbola Esan, Elizabeth Miller, Chima Orji, Adetunji Olofinlade, Abdul Akinsanya, Elizabeth Adeshewo, Dennis Ofuoma, Quazeem Adeyinka, Ifeanyi Okoro, Oluwaseun Kassim, Olumide Bankole Morakinyo, Abraham Ola Osoko, Oluchi Jennifer and Chibuzo Nwaonu.
The latest action is part of the sweeping immigration enforcement measures introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump after his return to office on January 20, 2025.
On his first day back in office, Trump signed a series of executive orders declaring illegal immigration a national emergency and directing federal agencies to intensify border security and accelerate the removal of undocumented migrants.
One of the orders, titled: “Protecting the American People Against Invasion, instructed immigration authorities to prioritise the arrest and deportation of removable migrants, particularly those considered threats to public safety and national security.”
Defending the policy, the DHS said the administration was delivering on Trump’s campaign promise to carry out mass deportations, beginning with what it described as the “worst of the worst” criminal offenders.
The department said officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had been directed to intensify operations nationwide against non-citizens convicted of serious crimes.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has also defended the crackdown, saying the administration remained committed to enforcing immigration laws and removing undocumented immigrants with criminal records in line with President Trump’s immigration agenda.Executive Branch
Official US immigration data indicate that Guatemala has recorded the highest number of deportees since the renewed crackdown began, followed by Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador, reflecting the administration’s focus on migrants from Latin America.
The US has also expanded deportation flights to countries across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean as enforcement operations continue.
Nigeria has also come under increased scrutiny by the Trump administration. In June, Washington imposed partial visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens, citing concerns over identity management, information sharing, visa overstay rates and security screening.Demographics.
The PUNCH
The parents of a Nigerian student convicted of robbery and blackmail in the United Kingdom have appealed to the authorities to review the verdict, insisting that their son was wrongly convicted and is innocent of all the charges against him.
Mr Aderinkola Akinrinola and Mrs Olayinka Akinrinola made the appeal in a statement released in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, following the conviction of their son, Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola, by a UK court on June 19, 2026.
He is currently being held in a prison in Nottingham pending his sentencing, scheduled for July 27.
The distraught parents alleged that the conviction was based largely on circumstantial evidence and their son’s association with the principal suspect in the case.
They explained that their son met Richile Vagnu shortly after resuming his studies as a first-year student at Leicester University in September 2025, describing their relationship as that of acquaintances rather than close associates.
“Our son was present at the party where the incident took place, but he was never involved in the robbery,” the parents said.
They claimed that some of the victims testified in court that Oluwatobiloba was not among those who robbed them and that he only briefly entered the room where the incident occurred, asked what was happening and left after making it clear that he did not want to be involved.
The parents further stated that investigators found evidence of money transfers made by victims to accounts linked to other suspects, but found no such transactions in their son’s bank records.
They also alleged that CCTV footage presented during the trial did not place their son at the scene of the alleged robbery, apart from showing him arriving at the party.
According to them, the police were unable to produce some of the suspects in court because they allegedly failed to honour police invitations.
The family further claimed that one of the victims testified that Oluwatobiloba appeared to be trying to assist those affected rather than participating in the crime.
They disclosed that shortly after the incident, their son came across a social media video that allegedly linked him to the attack.
Concerned by the allegations, he reportedly contacted the police voluntarily and offered to present himself for questioning.
According to the parents, officers informed him at the time that he was not considered a suspect.
Describing their son as a calm and sociable young man with no previous criminal record, the couple appealed to the UK authorities to re-examine the case.
They also called on relevant authorities, legal institutions and human rights organisations to look into the circumstances surrounding the conviction and ensure that justice is served.
The statement read in part, “Our son, Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola, was wrongfully convicted of robbery and blackmail. We are Mr Aderinkola Akinrinola and Mrs Olayinka Akinrinola, parents of Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola, who was wrongfully convicted of robbery and blackmail by the UK government on June 19, 2026. He has been remanded in Nottingham Prison pending sentencing on July 27, 2026.
“Our son is innocent of the charges against him. The police argument against him is that he is guilty by association with the prime suspect. The only evidence presented in court against our son is a picture he took with Richile Vagnu, the prime suspect, and CCTV footage showing him entering the venue of the party where the robbery took place on November 21, 2025. Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola met Richile Vagnu in October after resuming school in September as a fresher at Leicester University. They were, at best, acquaintances.
The parents’ statement added, “While our son was present at the party where the robbery took place, he was never part of the robbery. Some of the victims also confirmed this in court. As recorded in his statement, he briefly entered the room where the robbery was taking place, questioned the prime suspect about what was happening and then left, insisting that he did not want to be part of it.
“The robbery victims said they were robbed of their jackets and footwear, and none of the items was found in our son’s possession after police searched his apartment. The police said they found evidence that money was transferred by the victims to the accounts of the other suspects, Vagnu and Ayomide Ibraheem, but no such evidence was found in our son’s bank records.
“The court insists our son is guilty but allowed other suspects to go scot-free, including Ayomide Ibraheem, whom victims identified as the person preventing them from leaving the room during the robbery. In all the CCTV footage played by the police in court, our son did not appear at the scene of the crime. He was only seen entering the party. The police also failed to produce the other suspects in court, despite allegations that they received money from the victims. The police said they did not honour invitations.
“Victims testified that our son was not involved. In fact, one of the victims said he was trying to help them. A few days after the robbery incident, our son saw a misleading video online posted by a TikTok influencer linking him to the attack. He immediately contacted the police and told them he was willing to come in for questioning because he was not involved in the robbery. The police told him not to bother because he was not a suspect.
“Our son is a calm and sociable young man who has never been linked to any criminal activity before now. Please help us. We are devastated. We simply want the world to hear our side of the story. Our son is about to suffer for a crime he did not commit. His life is about to be destroyed for something he did not do. We want the UK government to review the case and ensure that justice is done.”
-
News2 days ago“I Did Not Kill Him, He Died on Top of Me” — Woman Who Was With Abacha Reveals
-
News2 days agoFour Herders, Several Cattle Killed As Gunmen Attack Ranch In Anambra
-
News5 days agoEnugu East Screens 116 Candidates for Nursing, Health Technology Admissio
-
News3 days agoPFIPC scandal: How CBN opened domiciliary accounts for phantom agency
-
News5 days agoSGF Accused of Withholding Tinubu’s Appointment Letter as Leadership Crisis Rocks BCDA
-
Politics3 days agoKwankwaso: Obi signed one-term presidency accord
-
News2 days agoAnambra LG Polls Threatened as 56 Councillors Sue to Stop ANSIEC
-
Uncategorized4 days ago