Ugochi Onyekwere, née Ogwuma, has been in the health care system for 29 years, having practised as a nurse in the United States of America for 15 years. She is furthering her career through an online graduate school for a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) programme, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track.
Recently, she clocked 50 and the registered nurse, who has been residing in New Jersey for 22 years, shared some lessons young people migrating to work as nurses or in other professions should be mindful of. The Abia State-born mother of four, in this interview with Sunday Sun recently, spoke on what makes her tick in the US, her success story and lots more.
Congratulations on your 50th birthday. Tell us a bit about yourself, for the benefit of people back home…
Thanks so much for congratulating me. I have got loads of congratulatory messages from family, friends, loved ones, colleagues, counterparts, just name it! All I can say is that I’m grateful for the gift of humans. I am blessed and I feel so blessed. To those back home, I just want to say that dreams really do come true and through. One can be just anything they work towards becoming and achieve all they envision with time and process. Turning 50, to me, is a milestone and I can’t thank God enough for the privilege of celebrating in grand style.
When did you get into America and how were your early days in the US?
I relocated to America in 2000, 23 years ago, precisely. Just like every newly migrated individual, as expected, there were the very rough and down times as common with the foundation and building stages of life and most things generally. Amid the storm, I was filled with hope and belief in what my tomorrow held. I moved to this country with my family as a young woman with so much vision and ambition. I went in pursuit of everything I could only dream of back then. I put in the work, I took the necessary steps, I made the required efforts and, like the proverbial and biblical tales of “sowing and reaping,” the seeds I planted years back have yielded many results that are evident in and around my life.
What were your initial struggles before your career triumph?
Frankly, there were a whole lot of them, a handful, if I must say, ranging from accommodation to schooling and then jobs. I managed to juggle motherhood, studies and work just to be established. I can’t say the burden was light because the struggles were real. My early years in pursuit of my career required a lot of patience, or a woman who was looking at the bigger picture. Bearing in mind that the goal was to get to the very peak of my nursing career, I knew and understood that it required more than the usual, and then I knew I had God on my side. So, let’s just say he came through for me, blessing me with so much wisdom, inspiration and insight.
What advice do you have for young Nigerians in America and those planning to migrate to the US?
I must first say that relocating to America was the best decision I ever made. I have no regrets whatsoever. My being in this country is the reason I have come so far in life. I am pretty sure if I hadn’t migrated to America, my life would definitely have turned out differently, maybe not as beautiful as what I have now. So, to young Nigerians who are here already, the advice is that you need focus. There are a lot of factors that could pose as distractions, but, if you are one with the intention of becoming the best version of you in academics, career, marriage and life in general, it is more than possible. Being here avails you the privilege of getting things done with a certain level of ease because of the extent the government has gone in being responsible for us. Also, if anyone over there in my home country, Nigeria, at any point has an opportunity of relocating to America, then they must grab it with both hands because, in my opinion, it is a point of turnaround. There’s no comparison between being in Nigeria and America. Talk about a working system, talk about good governance, talk about health care, talk about the educational system, talk about lifestyle. Coming to America is an “answered prayer.” But while you are hoping to be here, just know that it takes high discipline, morals and value to enjoy your stay.
Is life in America a bed of roses, if not, why?
Of course not. Any sensible and reasonable human knows that nothing or nowhere in life is a bed of roses, neither is it a walk in the park. If you must have it, then be ready to work for it. America is definitely not a bed of roses, but if one is willing to do all it takes in the right direction, then you will personally experience good life beyond your imagination. Being in America is one thing and staying law-abiding is another. Anyone who is eager and willing to win in this country has a major job role, which is, whatever you choose to do, be it schooling or working, do it with all diligence and loyalty.
Finally, what is your advice to the Nigerian government and people back home?
Wherever one goes, no matter how long or far away, home is home. Nigeria is my root, nothing changes that. It’s quite unfortunate and such a pain that the government has failed us, even though we have not completely given up; but while we stay hopeful in ourselves, not minding the failed system of government, anyone who is back home should try as much as possible to survive. Good a thing that the Nigeria of today values skills and craft, entrepreneurship, too. These options might not be easy but if it’s all they are left with, why not? Another thing to consider is relocation, every now and then people make efforts to help their family and loved ones migrate to countries with better opportunities. This option is a good one for those people who are lucky enough because, many times, most people who have little or nothing going for them in Nigeria find their feet with more ease in these foreign lands, so long as they are not lazy. Let me wrap up by saying, a better Nigeria is possible but no one wants to die in the face of an almost hopeless situation. So, to Nigerians in Nigeria who Nigeria has failed, don’t give up, keep pushing as much as you can. Let’s trust that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
