
Relocating from Nigeria to the UK: Chidinma's story
Sign Up For Post Alerts
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!
Explore a career without borders
We've been providing affordable, accessible eyecare for over 40 years. But today, we're so much more. We're an international organisation with clinical expertise in both optometry and audiology.
When it comes to international careers, we seek the very best clinicians to join us. In return, we support applicants in moving and developing their careers internationally. Want to find out more?
Get in touch#FeelsLikeSpecsavers
.jpg)
Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/09/2025
Summary
From Optical Assistant to Dispensing Optician and now Trainee Contact Lens Optician, Kerry Berridge has spent the last decade building a fulfilling career at Specsavers – all while raising a family an

Teaser
PartnershipContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/07/2025
Summary
At 16, Charlie-Leigh Martin took a Saturday job at her local Specsavers in Chelmsley Wood. Six years later, she’s running her own store in Alcester as a director. “I was still in sixth form and thinki

Teaser
ApprenticeshipsContent Type
BlogPublish date
06/30/2025
Summary
From college to clinical tech...and beyond Ellie Long, Apprentice Optical Assistant, tells us about her apprenticeship journey so far, and how she went from leaving college to joining Specsavers wi

Teaser
Home VisitsContent Type
BlogPublish date
06/11/2025
Summary
Home is where the hearing is Aekta Patel, Audiology Director, shares her perspective on the value of partnerships in delivering audiology care through home visits. "It’s a tough gig. But it’s wo

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
06/04/2025
Summary
Jumanah's journey with Specsavers is all about finding the right support and making the most of new opportunities. Despite a bumpy start, she flourished with the help of her amazing team and her own d

Teaser
AudiologyContent Type
BlogPublish date
05/22/2025
Summary
From school leaver to Home Visits Director: A career built on care, growth, and support When Danielle left school in 2005, she wasn’t entirely sure what her future would look like - but she k

Teaser
Support OfficeContent Type
BlogPublish date
05/08/2025
Summary
"I'm passionate that leadership is for everyone!" In light of Learning at Work Week, Zoe Stebbings, Leadership Development Programme Manager for UK/ROI Retail, tells us about her career journey to

Teaser
Support OfficeContent Type
BlogPublish date
05/08/2025
Summary
"It's like watching light bulbs come on!" During Learning at Work Week 2025, Jenny Clifford, Global Learning Experience Design Lead, tells us why she loves learning and how Specsavers supports her

Teaser
DispensingContent Type
BlogPublish date
05/02/2025
Summary
Born and raised in England, Anna-Marie moved to Northern Ireland at 18, unsure of her career path. She dabbled in painting and art, but it wasn’t until she took a receptionist role at an independent o

Teaser
DispensingContent Type
BlogPublish date
04/28/2025
Summary
Verity's journey from a dedicated dispensing optician to a business owner at Specsavers shines a light on one of the several varied paths a DO (Dispensing Optician) could take with Specsavers. Here,
by
Mike Davidson
Selected jobs for you
Salary
DOE
Location
Nuneaton, West Midlands, United Kingdom
Contract Duration
Permanent
Area of Interest
Optometrist
Locations
Nuneaton
Description
Store – NuneatonPosition – Optometrist Salary: Attractive salary - DOE Hours: Full Time ideally (Part time could be considered) Join our team and be part of our success story at Nuneaton Specsavers.
Reference
sf-80662-1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001

Author
Connie Fazackerley
Author
Connie FazackerleySalary
Competitive
Location
Kings Lynn, East England, United Kingdom
Contract Duration
Permanent
Area of Interest
Optometrist
Locations
Kings Lynn
Description
Store – Kings LynnPosition – Optometrist Salary: Up to £65k + other perks discussed at interview Hours: Full Time ideally (Part time could be considered) Join our team and be part of our success sto
Reference
sf-80558-1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001

Author
Connie Fazackerley
Author
Connie FazackerleySalary
£24,264 per annum
Location
Cranleigh, South East, United Kingdom
Contract Duration
Permanent
Area of Interest
Optical Assistant
Locations
Cranleigh
Description
So, you’re a proactive people person ready to be the friendly face our stores need? Sounds like you’d be a great fit here. So, if you’ve had previous optical experience as an Optical Advisor or Dispen
Reference
sf-83318-1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001

Author
Hannah Soutar
Author
Hannah Soutar