President of the American Academy of Optometry, African Chapter, Dr Uchechukwu Osuagwu who resides in Australia has adduced reasons many Nigerians who reside in the country find it difficult to visit their home country.
Dr Osuagwu, who had his education up to tertiary level in Nigeria, migrated first to Saudi Arabia before moving to Australia, the country known as “Down Under” – because of its location in the Southern Hemisphere, below most other major landmasses and countries that people in the Northern Hemisphere were familiar with.
He (Dr Osuagwu) shares his experience:
Why did you choose to relocate to Australia?
I tell people that any place outside Nigeria is fine because you still have to board a plane. Australia was not a destination many of us considered while growing up. What happened was that I first travelled to Saudi Arabia, where I spent about five years. I worked in a private clinic, then at a university, where I started working as a research assistant. During that time, I enrolled in a master’s programme in the United Kingdom, which I completed at Aston University.
From that point, I started thinking about what I could do after my master’s. I was writing papers, publishing, and teaching. I had very good clinical skills and academic knowledge. I later got a scholarship in the UK to pursue a PhD, but it was only partially funded. After discussing it with my wife, we decided it wasn’t a good move.
Then I got a fully funded PhD scholarship in Australia. I had already paid part of the PhD fee in the UK, which I lost because the school said I had pledged to study. We had a friend in Australia, and when we told him about the opportunity, he convinced us that it was a great place. We thought it through and moved. I’ve never regretted it for one day because this place is so peaceful. There are opportunities here, the education system is of good quality, and the people are very kind. It’s a great place to raise a family in a decent environment.
What do you have to say about the myth that Nigerians who relocate to Australia forget to come back?
It’s not a myth, it is real. It’s not that you don’t want to come back, but I’ll give you an instance.
If you want to travel from Australia to Nigeria on a return ticket, you’d be looking at about $8,000. That’s just for the ticket. Whereas, if you’re travelling from the UK to Nigeria, you may need about £190 for a ticket, depending on the time of booking. But here in Australia, it’s a decision you have to consider carefully. The distance is quite far, as you could have cumulative flight hours of 36 to 48 hours, depending on the route you take.
It’s not just the travel to Nigeria. Beyond the flight ticket, you’d also need to budget around £10,000 to £15,000 for family expenses. Every Nigerian here wants to go back home at least once in a while, but again, the cost is substantial. If you have to save close to $20,000 or $30,000 and spend it on just one trip, that’s a huge commitment.
Added to that, our country isn’t treating us well. If Nigeria were getting better and people were seeing opportunities and a future there, they would come back. I understand how it is, it’s not a myth, it’s a reality that people weigh carefully.
What are the first-hand opportunities for the Nigerian community in Australia?
I think there is a wide range of skill sets for Nigerians to explore in Australia. The country has diverse needs and is looking for professionals in various fields. They are in need of doctors, nurses, car painters, electricians, automobile engineers, mechanics, chefs, physiotherapists, and radiologists. If certain requirements are met, such as age and English language proficiency, then anyone can apply. So, it’s open to people from all over the world.
Also, professionals in IT and healthcare are in high demand, as well as those in managerial roles like business analysts and accountants.
What is the real reason behind staff shortages?
Australia has a massive landmass. As a result, there are many unoccupied or remote areas, and people live in locations with limited access to healthcare. They’re finding it difficult to service these areas effectively.
Beyond that, the population is ageing, and manpower is being lost as people retire. So, there’s a need for younger people to fill the workforce gap. That’s one of the main challenges in Australia.
Another issue is specialisation. Many migrants come with PhDs to work as lecturers and contribute to knowledge development. Meanwhile, many locals are already well-off. Some receive government support even without working, so they may not have the same drive as migrants. And as the country continues to grow, migration numbers are increasing.
How do Nigerians cope with snakes and reptiles that visit their homes?
I think every environment has its peculiarities. It’s part of living in a particular society. So, when you move here, you know what to expect. You have to adjust your mindset and behaviour to suit the community.
Here, there are crocodiles, snakes, and scorpions. But since 2014, when I moved here, I’ve never seen any in my home, though I have seen them outside. It depends on where you live. Some areas have more snakes than others.
Interestingly, some reptiles here are kept as pets. Some people build small enclosures to keep pythons. However, brown snakes are dangerous. If you see a snake, you don’t kill it, you call the snake catcher. They’ll come and return it to the bush. They don’t even kill them because snakes play a role in the ecosystem; they help control other animals that may be more harmful than they are. That’s how they preserve the environment.
Snakes are around, but none of my family members has ever had a snake bite. Some people have had encounters, but it’s not as bad as people say. The weather here is also a factor. When it’s hot, snakes seek cooler spots, which is how they sometimes enter homes.
Punch.ng