Relocating from Nigeria to the UK: Chidinma's story

A new beginning 

Chidinma Ulu is an Optometrist who relocated to Bristol from Nigeria back in 2021. She’s excited to share her journey, from her education in Nigeria to becoming a fully qualified Optometrist in the UK. 

Education and realisation

In Nigeria, Chidinma completed a six-year Doctor of Optometry course in, followed by a years internship. It was during this time that she realised she needed more from her life and career. She remembers lying in bed one night, thinking about the opportunities beyond her country. “I didn’t know how to make it happen,” she recalls, “but a friend suggested that the UK might be a good option.” 

The search for opportunities 

She started looking for Optometrist jobs in the UK and was amazed by the number of opportunities available. However, she quickly realised that she needed to register with the General Optical Council (GOC) to practise in the UK. Despite her initial hopes for an alternative route, it became clear that this was the only way forward. “I found the international page on the GOC website and began the process, though it felt like a distant dream,” she says. 

The turning point 

To her surprise, just two weeks later, she received an email from the GOC with instructions on how to convert her application. “It still didn’t feel real,” she admits, “and I kept thinking that something would stand in my way. But nothing did.” She successfully completed the process and was accepted onto the scheme of registration. 

A new start in Bristol

In 2021, Chidinma reached out to Katie at Specsavers Recruitment Services, who supported her in relocating to a location that suited her best. And the rest was history! She started at Specsavers Bristol in 2022, where they supported her with sponsorship, and she began her pre-registration period.  This was a challenging time, as she faced a significant cultural shift and struggled with imposter syndrome. “I often doubted myself, despite all my years of study, which made my pre-reg exams (OSCEs) quite challenging,” she explains. “I needed to learn to believe in myself again. I had all the knowledge I needed, but for some reason, in exam settings I’d forget it all!”. However, after working on building that confidence, in February 2024, she passed and became a fully qualified Optometrist in the UK.  

Cultural shocks and adaptations 

One of the biggest shocks was realising that the UK was not the same as Nigeria, despite the deep historical ties. “I genuinely thought it was going to be almost exactly the same! I didn’t even think to google the weather and was shocked by how dark it got in winter!” she exclaims. Another challenge was the difference in communication styles, “This took a while to get used to, but over time I got there!”.   

Specsavers' support 

Specsavers played a crucial role in helping Chidinma navigate her pre-registration period. “They were incredibly supportive,” she says. “From providing resources to offering mentorship, they made sure I had everything I needed to succeed.” This support was instrumental in helping her pass her pre-reg exams and gain confidence in her abilities. “I couldn’t have done it without their help,” she adds. 

Looking ahead 

This is just the beginning of Chidinma’s story. She looks forward to sharing more about her experiences and the next steps in her journey…. stay tuned!