I need to tell somebody this because I'm still shaking small.
So yesterday I saw a tweet, just one of those random "check your BP" tweets we see every day and scroll past. I don't even know why I stopped this time. I work in A&E, I check people's BP every shift, but when last did I check mine? I can't even remember.
So I checked it. Just like that, for fun.
And I shouted. Like genuinely shouted out loud. My colleagues rushed to me thinking something don happen, then THEY saw the number and started shouting too. We checked it again. And again. Three times. Same thing every time.
That's when everything started making sense.
The pounding headaches I'd ignored for weeks. The blurry vision that kept coming and going. The sleepless nights. The moments I almost passed out but laughed it off as "stress."
HOW DID I NOT THINK TO CHECK MY OWN BLOOD PRESSURE?
Imagine spending your life checking patients' vital signs while completely forgetting your own.
The doctors immediately swung into action. They requested an urgent brain CT scan to rule out a bleed and started me on antihypertensive medications. Yesterday was one of the scariest days of my life.
Thankfully, this morning my BP has dropped to 140/90 mmHg. It's improving.
Then another painful realization hit me...
My grandfather died from a https://t.co/zxdKcyNhcD dad is hypertensive.Almost all my uncles are hypertensive.
I knew the risk factors.
I teach people about them.
Yet somehow... I convinced myself they could never happen to me.
I thought I was Superman.
To every doctor, nurse, pharmacist, lab scientist and every other health worker reading this:
Please don't neglect yourself while saving everyone else.
Check your blood pressure.Check your blood https://t.co/M63YHxWLIS your PSA if you're due.Check your https://t.co/IarQ0mOvPA that urine test.Stop swallowing symptoms because you're "too busy."
The patient in the next bed could easily become you.
Today, I'm simply grateful to be alive
The Farouk Controversy and the Question of Public Responsibility
One of the most talked-about public controersies in recent times is the allegation surrounding Farouk Ahmed. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, alleged that Mr. Farouk, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), spent about $5 million on the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland. He called for a full investigation and public explanation.
At current exchange rates, $5 million is approximately ₦7.5 billion. In a country with over 18 million out-of-school children — the highest number in the world — this revelation inevitably raises questions of proportionality, public trust, and moral responsibility.
Education is one of the greatest legacies a parent can give a child. No reasonable person begrudges parents for investing in their children’s future. Plato, in The Republic, reminds us that “education and upbringing are what make good human beings,” warning that neglect of education harms not just individuals but the entire constitution of society.
The issue here, therefore, is not education itself, but scale, context, and moral consequence, especially when such spending is attributed to a public official in a country with extreme inequality.
What ₦7.5 Billion Could Do at Home
With ₦7.5 billion, it would be possible to build 25 school blocks, at ₦35 million per block, fully covering construction, furnishing, and basic learning infrastructure. This amounts to ₦875 million in capital expenditure.
Each block contains 6 classrooms.Each classroom accommodates 40 students.
That means:
240 students per block
25 blocks × 240 students = 6,000 students educated every year
Each block would employ 18 teachers, giving a total of 450 teachers. At a monthly salary of ₦125,000, each teacher earns ₦1.5 million per year, bringing the total annual wage bill to ₦675 million. After construction (₦875 million) and one full year of teacher salaries (₦675 million), total expenditure is ₦1.55 billion. This leaves ₦5.95 billion from the original ₦7.5 billion.
Making the System Self-Sustaining
If the remaining ₦5.95 billion is invested in Nigerian government bonds at 19%, it would yield approximately ₦1.13 billion annually.
From this yield, allocating ₦10 million per school block per year for libraries, laboratories, utilities, learning materials, meals, and maintenance would cost:
₦250 million annually (₦10m × 25 blocks)This still leaves ₦880 million per year. From this balance:
₦675 million comfortably pays teachers’ salaries every year
Over ₦200 million remains as surplus, ensuring reserves, expansion, and long-term stability
In effect, the system becomes permanently self-funding, without touching the original capital.
A Moral Contrast (Corrected)
In simple terms, the amount allegedly spent on the education of four children could establish a self-sustaining education ecosystem that:
Educates 6,000 Nigerian children every year
Employs 450 teachers.
Ironically, Nigerian children educated abroad would benefit even more if those who remain at home were educated to comparable standards to work for them and with them when they return. An educated society produces better governance, safer communities, stronger institutions, and a more dignified nation. It is a win-win.
The Larger Question Nigeria has a population of about 240 million people. In a system described by former British Prime Minister David Cameron as “fantastically corrupt,” and by the U.S. President Donald Trump as “a now disgraced country,” it is reasonable to assume that there are at least 2,400 individuals - just 0.0001% of the population - who, like the Farouks, have access to extraordinary resources largely derived from public office.
If 2,400 individuals each sacrificed $5 million, it will achieve the following:
"The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!" - PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
Corruption in Sports: A Reflection of Nigeria’s Deeper Malaise
While we continue to grapple with insecurity, poverty, and the rising unemployment among our youths, the most heartbreaking reality remains the entrenched corruption that permeates every facet of our nation - especially in the critical sectors that could help lift Nigeria in these challenging times.
FIFA’s recent revelation about the mismanagement of funds released to Nigeria’s Football Federation for stadium development and youth talent growth is both sickening and shameful. It perfectly mirrors the broader decay in how our scarce national resources are handled. I am certain that further investigations will reveal even worse realities than what we currently know.
I recall vividly that during my time as Governor of Anambra State, I received officials from the Sports Federation who visited and informed us that Awka had been selected as one of six geographical locations for the construction of a FIFA-standard stadium to be fully funded by FIFA. We immediately allocated land for that purpose, and they assured us that the project would be executed through the Federal Ministry of Sports. That was the last we heard of it.
Believing that such a major project was underway, we channelled our resources toward constructing mini-stadiums across the state to encourage grassroots sports. We commissioned the Chuba Ikpeazu Memorial Stadium in Onitsha, as well as the Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha South, among others.
Years later, nothing came of the promised FIFA project, which prompted us to initiate the construction of the Awka Stadium ourselves. Seeing the recent news about funds released by FIFA to Nigeria to develop talent and improve youth sports, I am deeply disappointed by such blatant squandering of opportunities.
I have always maintained that those who accuse us of “demarketing” Nigeria for speaking the truth and exposing corruption are the very ones who thrive on corruption and deceit. The real demarketers of Nigeria are the incompetent leaders who have forged their way to wealth through the mismanagement and theft of public funds - resources that should have been used to provide schools, healthcare, and employment for our youths and to nurture their talents.
Since 2013, about $25 million has reportedly been received by the NFF from FIFA and CAF - funds meant for the development of football and youth sports in our country. Yet, there is little or nothing to show for it. The so-called $1.2 million stadium in Kebbi State is a national embarrassment. The structure in no way reflects the funds claimed to have been spent on it.
We cannot continue to watch our sports decline while corruption flourishes. Our youths are our most prized assets, yet we have destroyed their future and then turned around to label them “Yahoo boys,” when, in truth, the leaders who have robbed them of their future are the real “Yahoo” of our nation.
This is yet another shameful reflection of the corruption we have allowed to take root in Nigeria. If we truly desire to rebuild our country, we must begin with integrity and accountability in every aspect and sector. Until then, our nation will continue to crawl where it should be soaring.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
While Nigerians are urged to endure economic hardship "like labor pains," some governors are splurging billions on new government houses, @TheAfricaReport reveals » https://t.co/9qehFrvkVE
@BudgITng warns that "instead of funding schools, clinics, or agriculture, leaders prioritize buildings they barely use."
@cislacnigeria adds: "There is more money, little accountability, and no priority."
Such alleged lack of fiscal responsibility fuels inequality and erodes public trust.
#TransparencyTuesday
I'd always wanted to do a masters abroad, UK precisely, but it was when a mentor (first class star) went for his second masters and PhD abroad that I realized it could be a possibility. Graduated with a 2:2, got hundreds of rejections, and so, sort of resigned to being in Naija and just going for short courses and splitsite research outside. Then in 2014, things started to happen, making me spiral, ultimately accumulating to make me more determined than ever... So it wasn't really one thing
1. In 2014 and 2016, my supervisor was in charge of sending the vacancies in my department to the administration. I typed the lecturing vacancies for my department twice, and my specialization also had a vacancy. Despite being told that I have a chance by my supervisor, only the ad one for my specialization wasn't advertised both times. The politics behind it revealed a rot in the system that I'd never understand (story for another day).
I met a professor to ask what was happening with recruitment, and they told me there was an employment embargo in the university, yet many of my friends and seniors were being employed in other departments around the same time. That's when I realized I was wasting my time waiting, and that meeting with the professor made me decide never to be emotionally connected to any job. I will be loyal, but I'll move on happily if I don't feel valued.
They employed someone in my department shortly after, but I didn't even care, I was disconnected, also because of point 2 below...
2. I remembered my supervisor mentioned to me in passing that anyone working as a lecturer in Nigeria is either doing it for the love of teaching or making money from students for survival. I love academia, but I didn't want the lack that many Nigerian professors had at that time. I wanted to be financially free enough to afford basic things for myself and my family, but the salary wouldn't have made any sense.
I knew that fairly comfortable lecturers were doing business outside academia, and so I just leveraged on my skills to do other things while I looked for lecturing jobs (another crazy story). By 2017, I was already making more than twice what my lecturer friends were making. I was even borrowing a few of them money, consistently. It only confirmed that the Nigerian academia wasn't worth both the politics and the sacrifice.
3. Halfway through my Masters in 2015, I felt I was already too good for my lab in Nigeria and needed a new challenge. I knew that if I was to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in my field, Nigeria would kill that drive. When I finished, I decided to start a PhD just to apply for lecturing positions and look for research collaborations.
Professors abroad thought my ideas were awesome, even my supervisor said my ideas were too lofty and impossible to do in Nigeria. I didn't dial it down, but opportunities weren't forthcoming. I finally got a fellowship to India in 2019, and on my first day in the lab, every piece of equipment I saw made me determined to never return to mediocrity.
1, 2, and 3 made me let go of my plans of continuing my PhD in Nigeria. I took a step back to restart my PhD in the US, worked and working with some of the best - I'm glad I took the step.
4. When I returned to Nigeria, I remember meeting a lecturer at UI gate, and he was close to tears explaining how he was tired, he's being running an experiment for many months, and there was no electricity to do anything, he couldn't even fuel the generator because his salary couldn't feed and transport he and his family. He said that if he finds another job that would offer him these, he'd take it. Mehn, I was sad, and didn't even bother stepping foot in the department again. I was just weak and trusting God for my US applications worked out.
5. Early 2018, I and my partners had a farm in Ede, several hectares of land. We had just had our first harvesting season, it wasn't good, but the second planting season started well and was super super promising. All of a sudden, herdsmen would go in with their cows and feast on the crops - we saw them a few times.
One time, we heard they arrested some of them, another time, we heard they killed someone close to our farm. These made us think back to the days we would drive in the farm for close to 30 minutes and not see a single soul, and days it was just me and my fiancé (now wife) on a bike in the farm. That's how we gave up on the far and never stepped foot in there again. Several millions of naira gone.
We were just tired! All of us partners have japa now, except one person who is doing well for himself in Lagos. I think there's an extremely high chance of losing it all if you invest in Nigeria, no matter what you invest in. Maybe things will change when an empathetic government gets in power, but surely not with this class of leaders.
6. I finally gave up on Nigeria (not Nigerians) on October 20th 2020. I sat on my desk in India, watching young people get murdered at the EndSARS protest on several videos, yet the Nigerian government said the videos were fake. I gave up mostly because there were actual educated youths who also said the videos were fake.
Damn! I was livid for months, just hated APC with everything I have and knew that as long as you're a youth in Nigeria, the government has no plans for you and will kill you at will! I'm however always so proud of Nigerian youths who are doing well, especially without political connections, inside Nigeria. This was the day I told myself, "I'm done with Nigeria, God please make one of these US PhD applications work" - I had not even submitted any at that point. I put everything into the applications after that day!!! Thank God offers eventually came in!
On the flipside, I do not have hope of the country getting better as long as APC is in power. No country can make it if its leaders are corrupt. I would usually tell people around me that the things Buhari did to Nigeria will be child's play compared to what Tinubu will do. Apparently, he hasn't scratched the surface of the suffering he is still to bring on Nigerians.
7. Few weeks before I left Naija, it was reported that herdsmen were camping in the outskirt of the military barrack in our community. Amotekun was deployed in full strength, we could barely sleep! Early morning, I took my family to Oshogbo for two weeks, I stayed around UI to clear out our home. We came back one month later and packed our things, straight to Lagos, then America shortly after!
I love Nigeria, she remains home to me and my family, but I'll prioritize a better quality of life for my wife and kids, and if I have the opportunity to get that anywhere outside Nigeria at any time, I'll take it 100x over!
Deeply grateful to have couples matched #GenSurg#EM with the absolute LOML @Anthoniabc. Impossible journey without the support of our mentors and family! Looking forward to see where we end up.
We are going to Mayo Clinic!!!!
My husband and I have ‘couples matched’ to General surgery and Emergency Medicine programs at @MayoClinic
From UCH/LUTH Nigeria, the journey was arduous but we succeeded!
@mayoclinicemres@emresidents@MayoSurgery#Match2025
Grateful to the @britsocimm for this Career Devt award! Thanks to strong support from Dr Ben Allen, @Pasca_Lab, @delaroche_cruk@CRUK_CI. Looking forward to a great research visit to UMichigan this summer, studying immune hedgehog signaling during pancreatic cancer development.
I failed a drug test!
We had a huge milestone with incentives attached at work and despite being at the core of the team that would deliver the job, I failed a routine drug test.
My senior managers on site went to meet the project director. "if this guy is not on site, forget the milestone"
They told him they trusted me, and that I would never take drugs. So the director said I should come on-site and another nurse do an instant drug test.
I passed! We delivered the milestone. We later found out the failed test was poppy seeds in bread.
I want you to pay attention to this. I have been very lucky in life. I grew up in obscurity and I ended up working in different capacities on construction projects with a total value of over £1billion.
I have worked with people from all over the world. I have also visited more than 10 countries.
Nothing beats hard work.
I once worked with an Australian Engineer in London. He was hardworking. If you talk about anything on site, he will come back with a CAD sketch nobody asked for. He became a Senior engineer in no time. The last time I checked, he was back in Australia as engineering lead.
I worked with a Polish electrical project manager. This man knows his stuff like fire. When the company was downsizing, he was unsackable, because the director knew he was the one who will handle the jobs that would bring them back and he did.
Another English MEP Manager, very knowledgeable. When I heard his salary per day, I was shocked.
A Scottish PM as well, I wasn't surprised when the company paid for his flights to and from Scotland to London and his accommodation. He was that good
A Nigerian Engineer I worked with a degree in Maths before getting a First Class in Civil Engineering, in no time became a PM on another massive project.
On that project I failed the test, I was always the first to come in and last to leave. I knew more than 200 people by their first names. If anything needs doing, everyone knows that Ade will solve it.
A Project manager wrote me an email one time and said "The cream will always rise to the top"
I beg you. Please whatever you pick to do, do it so well you are the best at it. Be so good they can't ignore you.
God help us ❤️🙏
I am reading this post and the quotes and seeing a lot of people advocating for "Centralized EHR"
NOTHING could be more harmful than that. In fact I can't think of a more TERRIBLE IDEA 😔. I really hope @bosuntijani is NOT listening to that. Any expert will tell you these: