Do Not Run Away From Nigeria To Countries With More Problems, College Of Medicine Provost Tells Desperate Emigrants

Frank Oshanugor

As more Nigerians leave the country in droves (japa syndrome) to other countries in search of good life, the Provost of College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) Prof. Ademola Oremosu has advised such Nigerians particularly the youths to be less desperate in migrating out of Nigeria as the condition of life in the foreign countries they are relocating to, may be worse than the economic hardship here.

Speaking on Saturday at the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI), Eminent Persons dinner, in Yaba Lagos, Oremosu whose speech largely centred on the testimony of his personal life, noted that some people were never mindful of God’s plan for them before they took some arbitrary decision as a result of what has been generally considered as economic hardship in Nigeria.

He advised such desperate Nigerians to see their country as a good place where God can do great things for them if only they can spiritually connect to Him by being obedient to his commandments.

Recalling his early days in life, the 60-year-old Provost began by saying that “there are certain situations that change one’s life trajectory,” explaining that initially he was attending church but was never a serious Christian until the day a cousin of his, took him to Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International event at one high brow hotel in Ikeja Lagos.

According to him, “I was born in Lagos into an average family before Nigeria’s civil war. I had good early education from primary to university without problems even during the war. At that time, my father was into publishing and life was relatively good for us.

“As an undergraduate medical student, I had my first car at the age of 17 years. Though I was not into smoking and drinking of alcohol but I socialised very well with girls. Even though I was born into a Christian family, I was never serious as a Christian in those days.

At 25, I became a medical doctor and things were working out for me, but there was a vacuum which was the fact that I did not have personal relationship with God until my cousin took me to the FGBMFI event at Ikeja.

“At the fellowship, I discovered that there were many eminent personalities in attendance, well dressed and very important persons. Suddenly it occurred to me that God can be represented in a higher dimension. I felt very much encouraged and enthusiastic seeing people who came to worship God in a well packaged manner.”

According to him, he realized that “there is a vacuum in everyone’s life and that vacuum can only be filled by Jesus Christ. Soon after that, I began to attend fellowship regularly and suddenly started losing interest in the ladies who were flocking around me.”

If there is one thing that has been giving the Provost, an immeasurable joy in the last three decades of his life, that thing is his marriage to a young lady whom he gave lift in his car one day after attending fellowship in the early years of being born again. He has been married to the lady since 29 years now in the most blissful manner.

Recounting his life trajectory over the years since he discovered Christ, Prof. Oremosu noted that when he opted to vie for the position of Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos some people close to him had advised him to seek some diabolical solution as there were many other contestants for the same position.

Audaciously, he had dismissed such counsel with a wave of the hand as his spiritual growth after he became born again, had made it possible for him to trust only God in such a circumstance. Eventually, he won the context and was appointed the Provost. According to him, “only God can make such a thing possible. Ever since I caught the vision, I no longer fear any challenge,” he remarked.

Speaking further, he enjoined everyone who is desirous of good life to seek God first, emphasising that “many people struggle for what God has provided free for them. You do not need to struggle for what God has provided free for you,” he advised.

The Eminent Persons dinner which held at THE GREAT FOODS Restaurant, Thornborn Street, Sabo – Yaba hada ttracted personalities from different walks of life who are professionals in their own rights.