In a remarkable turn of events when many Nigerians are fleeing the country in search of a better life, (Japa) some are returning.
This is the story of a Nigerian associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, Dr Julius Oni, who returned to his homeland after spending 25 years in the United States of America.
In a trending video on social media , Oni shared details about his decision, saying, “I reverse Japa from the U.S. to Nigeria 6 weeks ago,” referencing the popular Nigerian term ‘Japa,’ which means to flee or emigrate in search of better opportunities.
“I relocated from the U.S. to Nigeria. I took a leave of absence from my job at Johns 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 stated.
Oni, who took a leave of absence from his role at Johns Hopkins, returned to his home country with a mission to transform healthcare and provide quality orthopaedic care to Nigerians.
He admitted that his choice might raise eyebrows.
“I know at this point some of you may call me delusional or even crazy, but I’m neither. I’m just a man full of conviction,” he said.
In a recent Instagram post, Dr. Julius Oni showcased the milestones achieved since establishing DOC Medical Nigeria. These accomplishments include successfully performing inaugural surgeries and conducting complimentary medical clinics in collaboration with partner organizations.
Additionally, he has provided consultation services to patients globally.
Oni, who is also the CEO of a private equity firm, XCITE Capital, disclosed that his return to Nigeria was driven by a deep belief that Nigerians deserve access to world-class healthcare.
I happen to believe that Nigerian patients deserve great care too,” he stated.
As part of his mission, he has launched DOC Medical Nigeria, a facility focused on providing high-quality musculoskeletal care.
“Part of my effort is to provide access to care so that people do not have to travel to access high-quality orthopaedic surgery,” Oni explained.
According to him, his efforts are already yielding results.
“I am humbled to say that people are coming from near and far, from as near as Ghana and as far as the UK,” he said, adding that many patients who would have otherwise travelled abroad for surgery now have access to top-tier orthopaedic care within Nigeria.
