Dr. Julius Oni, a Nigerian associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, has returned to Nigeria after 25 years in the United States. In a viral video, Oni explained his decision, saying, “I reverse Japa from the U.S. to Nigeria 6 weeks ago,” referencing the popular Nigerian term ‘Japa,’ which means to emigrate for 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,” Oni stated.

Driven by a desire to improve healthcare in Nigeria, Oni took a leave from his position at Johns Hopkins and returned to provide quality orthopaedic care. He acknowledged that his decision might seem surprising to many. “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.

Oni, who is also the CEO of private equity firm XCITE Capital, emphasized his belief that Nigerians deserve world-class healthcare. “I happen to believe that Nigerian patients deserve great care too,” he stated. He has since launched DOC Medical Nigeria, a facility dedicated to high-quality musculoskeletal care, aiming to reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for orthopaedic surgeries.

“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. He noted that his efforts are already attracting patients from near and far. “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 patients who would have otherwise sought surgery abroad are now receiving top-tier care in Nigeria.

On Instagram, Oni highlighted recent accomplishments, including performing his first series of surgeries and holding free medical clinics in collaboration with other organizations. He also mentioned consulting with patients outside Nigeria.