🌍 BREAKING MEDICAL NEWS! 🌍 Researchers in Australia have reportedly discovered a cure for HIV/AIDS — a breakthrough that could change millions of lives globally! 🧬💉 But here's the twist: ⚠️ Something similar was discovered years ago in Africa, yet it was ignored... Why? Was it the location? The politics? The prejudice? Now that it's gaining recognition from the West, the world is finally ready to listen. 🔥 It's time we start valuing African innovations just as loudly as we celebrate others. 💡 Talent has no continent. 💛 Let’s give credit where it’s due — and respect the minds behind the cure, no matter where they come from. 📢 Share this if you believe every discovery deserves a global stage — not just when it comes from the 'right' place. #HIVCure #MedicalBreakthrough #AfricaMatters #GlobalHealth #ScienceForAll #EndTheBias

“All over Africa, you will find a mine owned by foreigners, Europeans, Americans, Canadians, Chinese & Australians. They mine our resources in the morning and give us loans in the night. It’s like someone steals your cow, slaughters it and donates intestines to you. And then you welcome them as donors & investors for giving you intestines from your own cow" ~ Ibrahim Traore Your thoughts on this ...

*SOME NIGERIAN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES+, 09/06/2025* FG declares June 12 public holiday History as indigenous firm exports first oil from Otakikpo onshore terminal Confusion As Farmers, Herders Are Ambushed, Killed In Plateau Scam Alert: SEC warns Nigerians against investing in punisher coin Petrol subsidy removal yields $84bn gain, 40 roads – Report Dangote refinery should sell petrol below N800/litre – Marketers Miyetti Allah alleges 1,000 cows rustled in Benue Matawalle, Zamfara gov face off over defection plot NGO donates over 2,000 sanitary pads to 500 Imo schoolgirls Trump deploys 2000 troops to Los Angeles amid protest over immigration raid AU body tackles Fitch over Afreximbank downgrade Ground rent: 34 embassies risk closure Tuesday US jails Nigerian five years for $2.5m fraud ------------------------ *DID YOU KNOW?* * The tradition of exchanging gold wedding rings began in ancient Egypt. Couples would give each other rings to symbolise their never ending love. This tradition was adopted by the ancient Greeks and Romans. * Kopi Luwak, or civet coffee, is a type of coffee made from beans that have been partially digested and excreted by civets. ------------------------ Tinubu receives Sanwo-Olu, GAC members in Lagos Tinubu to address NASS joint session on Democracy Day Mining marshals appeal ruling barring access to Nasarawa site Troops arrest 43 oil thieves, destroy 27 illegal refineries NDLEA intercepts drugs disguised as tea at Lagos airport FEC approves revised urban development policy FG Set To Revive Ajaokuta Steel Plant Viral video: FG investigates FMC Abuja emergency unit FG to provide free housing for IDPs, vulnerable Nigerians FG partners Australian varsity to train mining professionals NiMet forecasts thunderstorms, rain for three days Why FG’s linking Nigeria to Niger by rail — NRC MD 59,786 inmates captured in ongoing NIN registration – NCoS 3,012 kidnappings, 3,584 killings recorded in 15 months – NHRC Pollution: NDDC launches tree planting campaign in 9 states FERMA chief gives Tinubu kudos on road infrastructure Ojude Oba 2025: FG vows to harness culture for national prosperity Kano demands reparation from FG over Durbar cancellation UNIPORT demands probe into killing of 300-level student by security personnel Implement welfare packages for teachers, NUT urges Tinubu Enugu agog as Tinubu’s wife visits Monday ACF blasts Tinubu for prioritising 2027 campaign over national issues Ogoni group faults FG over commissioning of incomplete Eleme section of East-West road Akume not silent on Benue killings, SGF’s aide counters Alia’s claim I did not point firearm at anyone, Paul Adefarasin addresses viral video Barau donates N200m gadgets to victims of Kano phone market inferno Naira to stabilise at N1,600–N1,650/$ – Rewane Discos raise bills 107% despite poor power Cornerstone grows profit to N25bn Bankit MFB offers free transfers, biometric security features Klinserv secures $100m development deal for cleaning project Palton Morgan unveils twin towers in Lagos Firm, military join forces for Ondo waterways safety Ganduje receives Enugu LP Reps member, others into APC 2027: Katsina PDP faction plans coalition to oust APC Delta APC endorses Tinubu, Oborevwori for 2027 re-elections APC kicks as PDP alleges Aiyedatiwa abandoned Akeredolu’s projects Atiku’s ally, Segun Showunmi, visits Tinubu in Lagos Tinubu saved Nigeria’s economy from collapse – Ohakim Ibas calls for collaboration, unity to return democratic governance Sanwo-Olu lauds Tinubu as Blue Line Rail gets new trains Sokoto Gov splashes 1,000 Riyals each on 3,200 pilgrims as sallah gift Bayelsa gov urges joint action against ocean rise threat There will be steady power supply in Ndokwa land, says Delta D/Gov Kara Fire: Property worth ₦191m lost as Kebbi Dep Gov donates ₦10m to victims Ondo, Bauchi, three others drive 90% of Lassa fever surge Delta approves N6.7bn UBEC fund Kano to establish circular economy hub for plastic waste recycling Massive police deployment on Delta communities to stem kidnapping – CP Ondo Amotekun arrests 170 anti-open grazing law violators Ondo community panic as land owners paste fresh demand notices Ooni lauds Tinubu’s Forest Guard initiative Why we buried my father 24hrs after his death – Mike Ejeagha’s son Aggrieved women protest alleged disappearance of 26 children in Delta community Ogun mob kills suspect accused of stabbing female trader to death ------------------------ *TODAY IN HISTORY* * On this day in 1934, Donald Duck made his film debut in The Wise Little Hen. The duck typically wearing a sailor suit is one of Walt Disney’s most famous cartoon characters. Donald’s first book appearance was in The Adventures of Mickey Mouse, which was published in 1931. ------------------------ All good thoughts and ideas mean nothing without action. – Mahatma Gandhi Good morning *Compiled by Hon. Osuji George [email protected], +234-8122200446*

A man and his wife never føught for 25 years of their marriage. A friend asked him how he had managed to make it possible. He narrated: "We went for our Høneymoon in Australia 25 years ago and while riding on a horse, My wife's horse jumped and my wife fell down. She got up, patted the horse's back and said "This is your first time" After a while it happened again. #Laughingboi She patted the horse again and said: "This is your second time" The horse did it again the 3rd time, she brought out a gūn and shøt the horse dēad. I was so shocked and shouted at her. . . . . . . ."Are you crāzy! What's wrong with you? Why did you kīll the horse?" She smiled at me and said "This is your first time" Since then. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . My Mouth Pim.🤐😂 __________ Kindly follow 👉 LauLaughing boii.

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A man and his wife never føught for 25 years of their marriage. A friend asked him how he had managed to make it possible. He narrated: "We went for our Høneymoon in Australia 25 years ago and while riding on a horse, My wife's horse jumped and my wife fell down. She got up, patted the horse's back and said "This is your first time" After a while it happened again. #Laughingboi She patted the horse again and said: "This is your second time" The horse did it again the 3rd time, she brought out a gūn and shøt the horse dēad. I was so shocked and shouted at her. . . . . . . ."Are you crāzy! What's wrong with you? Why did you kīll the horse?" She smiled at me and said "This is your first time" Since then. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . My Mouth Pim.🤐😂 __________ Kindly follow 👉 LauLaughing boii.A man and his wife never føught for 25 years of their marriage. A friend asked him how he had managed to make it possible. He narrated: "We went for our Høneymoon in Australia 25 years ago and while riding on a horse, My wife's horse jumped and my wife fell down. She got up, patted the horse's back and said "This is your first time" After a while it happened again. #Laughingboi She patted the horse again and said: "This is your second time" The horse did it again the 3rd time, she brought out a gūn and shøt the horse dēad. I was so shocked and shouted at her. . . . . . . ."Are you crāzy! What's wrong with you? Why did you kīll the horse?" She smiled at me and said "This is your first time" Since then. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . My Mouth Pim.🤐😂 __________ Kindly follow 👉 LauLaughing boii.

*University of Melbourne Human Rights Scholarship in Australia 2025 | Fully Funded* *Host Country:* Australia 🇦🇺 *Eligible Country:* All Countries *Benefits:* * Full Scholarship with $43,500 Per Year * $3,000 Relocation Grant *Click here to apply >>* https://www.scholarshipregion.com/melbourne-human-rights-scholarship/ *Deadline:* October 31, 2025 *🎙️SOURCE: Scholarship Region*

*SOME NIGERIAN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES+, 20/05/2025* UTME resit: JAMB to release results of 379,000 candidates Wednesday NAFDAC confirms temporary lifting of ban on sachet alcohol Borno residents observe one-day fast over Boko Haram menace Gunmen kill soldier attending strippers’ party in Anambra INEC recgonises Abure faction’s nominee for Anambra gov poll APC, PDP trade blame over Osun LGs three-month shutdown Trump govt to pay family of woman killed during Capitol riot $5m Britain, Canada, France warn Israel over ‘egregious actions’ in Gaza Pope’s offer to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks, receives global backing BASA: Nigeria, UAE allow ticket sale in foreign currencies Nigerian teenager’s corpse recovered from Ireland river Nigerian boxers rage as Oluwasegun’s corpse remains in Ghana NiDCOM facilitates return of actress Jumoke George’s daughter from Mali ------------------------- *DID YOU KNOW?* * Since 1924, it has been made compulsory for Australian citizens over the age of 18 to vote in federal elections, by-elections and referendums. * There’s an ant species unique to New York City. Called ManhattAnts, biologists found them in a specific 14-block strip of the city. ------------------------- Southeast Reps Caucus demands outright cancellation of 2025 UTME Alleged defamation: Natasha petitions IGP over ‘Prof Mgbeke’, Akpabio Delta opts out of suit against Rivers emergency rule Court dismisses Shaibu’s N50b suit against ex-Governor Obaseki, others N6.9bn fraud: I’ve no case to answer, Fayose tells court N76bn fraud: Lawyer’s absence stalls AMCON ex-MD’s trial EFCC arrests 120 over ‘internet fraud’, seizes ‘26 exotic cars’ in Lagos DSS Nabs Another Kidnap Kingpin Going For Hajj Army storms bandits’ camps in Benue, destroys kingpin’s hideout Army probes ‘assault’ on detective by soldiers in Ebonyi Navy inducts new aircraft to boost counter-terror operations Joint security team rescues three kidnapped victims in Kogi forest NAFDAC busts fake healthcare providers in Rivers, arrests one FG lists rising revenue, lower debt as reform gains Capital market is anchoring $1tr economy target, says Edun Nigeria’s economic reforms on course, Bagudu tells World Bank Keyamo proposes single African air transport market FG pays Nasarawa N9.7bn for Lafia airport takeover Upgraded Oyo airport begins operations 2026 Fed Govt to deploy 90,000 km fibre optic to boost Internet connectivity NITDA to drive digital inclusion with 1,600 ICT centre NELFUND pays April upkeep allowance to loan beneficiaries Nigeria’s banking system resilient, safe, says CBN FG promotes 18 to Assistant Corps Marshal in FRSC CAC, NIBSS unveil API to deliver specialised services FRSC vows crackdown on fake driving schools Speak your language to your children, Soyinka urges Africans Bauchi varsity gets NUC accreditation for 17 courses EKSU, others secure NUC accreditation for 31 courses Tussle Over VC Deepens In Katsina Varsity As Aspirant Writes Minister Manufacturers kick as TCN awards $100m contract to Chinese firms PETROAN alarmed over prolonged Port Harcourt, Warri, Kaduna refineries’ repair Brewery sector rebounds with N1.9tn revenue Insurers begin campaign to enforce third-party policy OPS presses for rate cut as MPC convenes today Naira-for-crude deal caused reduced petrol prices – Dangote Marketers import N436bn petrol amid row with Dangote Aside poverty, fanaticism also driving insecurity in the North – MBF Compulsory voting bill violates Nigerian constitution – Falana Shadow govt: Lawyer hails DSS for challenging legality in court Tinubu’s 2027 bid: APC courts opposition govs with high-stakes offers Oyebanji’s second-term endorsement divides Ekiti APC Coalition: Obi remains with Labour Party – Obedient Movement Obi: I’m not desperate to run for office Mutfwang swears in five perm secs in Plateau Kano gov swears in new commissioner for internal security I’m laying foundation for good governance in Rivers – Ibas Sanwo-Olu swears in heads of education, power, electoral commissions Sanwo-Olu inaugurates two housing estates Gov Idris mourns ex-EFCC boss Bawa’s brother Aiyedatiwa revives abandoned Ondo children’s parliament Edo Deputy Speaker Oligbi-Edeko resigns Kaduna council re-endorses Tinubu, gov for second term Bauchi deploys fresh strategies to bolster security LASG resolves Okun-Ajah, Mayegun land dispute Lagos builds 61 roads, repairs over 1,000 Ekiti boosts water infrastructures with solar-powered facilities Kaduna urges Miyetti Allah collaboration to foster peace Ibadan, Ogbomoso monarchs reject Alaafin as permanent council chair Emir Sanusi turbans Ganduje’s nephew as village head Itsekiri youths denounce INEC’s ward delineation report, hold peace walk in Warri Police grill officer for assaulting Lagos Uber driver Niger police arrest ex-soldier, two others for abducting students Suspected Ogun ritualist nabbed for cutting baby’s head Gombe stepfather risks life jail over rape of two-year-old daughter ------------------------- *TODAY IN HISTORY* * On this day in 2006, the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest power station, was officially opened in China. Despite its benefits, the project remains controversial because it flooded archeological and cultural sites and displaced some 1.3 million people. * On this day in 1873, blue jeans were patented. Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis invented the garment, which today represents one of the most popular types of trousers worldwide. ------------------------- If people aren’t calling you crazy, you aren’t thinking big enough. – Richard Branson Good morning *Compiled by Hon. Osuji George [email protected], +234-8122200446*

*THIRTY-ONE(31) SILENT FACTS ABOUT THE RAPTURE*...🔥🔥🔥 1. It is going to be the next greatest event that will shock all the continents of the world. 2. It is going to take place suddenly, abruptly, unexpectedly, without warning and without prior notice. 3. There shall be no second version of the event. 4. A greater percentage of Christians may be taken unawares. 5. Careless Christians who miss the event will have no other similar gracious opportunity. 6. The event shall have no regard or respect for ecclesiastical titles or church leadership positions. 7. It shall be a day when the sheep shall be separated from the goats. 8. The day shall differentiate between the Broad Way Christians from the Narrow Way Christians. 9. The day shall separate sincerity from hypocrisy. 10. The day shall differentiate between those who harbour secret sins from those who abhor secret sins. 11. The day shall separate those whose lives are hidden in Christ from those who are hiding in the church. 12. The day shall show a glaring, clear, conspicuous, demarcation between Christians who walk on the path of holiness from those who walk on the path of worldliness. 13. It shall be a day of double emotion: joy for some and unimaginable, indescribable, uncontrollable regrets for others. 14. It shall be a day of surprises- some “Big names” may miss the flight while some “Less known” may be on board. 15. Another surprise may be that a man or woman who had faithfully served the Lord for many years may defile his or her garment a few minutes before the sound of that summoning trumpet and miss the flight while a notorious sinner may surrender his or her life to Jesus within the same time frame and go to heaven. 16. This event may happen now, today, this week, this month, this year or next year! 17. Wise Christians, like the five virgins that took extra oil, are expected to get ready, yes, to get prepared. 18. After the event, all those who are bitter against one another, malicious, unforgiving, jealous, arrogant, haters, hypocrites, drunkards, fornicators, adulterers, adulteresses, murderers with weapons and murderers with tongue etc, shall have enough time to continue in their trade. 19. When the event is over there shall be revival among those who have chosen to stay behind not because there will be a second chance, no, but because the reality of the event would have struck them like a thunderbolt. But they will have to pay with their own blood. 20. When the event is over, those who are left behind shall no longer be safe to worship in their gigantic, fanciful and multi-billion Dollars/Cedis cathedrals. Instead they shall seek safety in caves, bushes and abandoned and dilapidated but hidden structures. 21. When this great event is over, each time those who will miss their flight manage to gather for worship, they will pay attention to only one sermon- whether they gather in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North or South America; the sermon will only centre on “How to Meet the Divine Standard and Join the Other Saints”. 22. It is also worthy to note that those who will be left behind will never have any business with comedians at their altars anymore. No! There shall no longer be gatherings for entertainments. Whenever, they manage to gather, it shall always be for serious religious business only. 23. The prayer pattern of those who will be left behind will also undergo a radical change. They will not be praying for things anymore. They will only be praying for strength to withstand the tortures of the Anti-Christ and die bravely to join the other saints. None will be praying for jobs, marriages, etc. 24. It is equally worthy of note that some of those who will miss their flight will not be able to endure the torture of the Anti Christ. They will receive the mark of the beast and thereby be doomed forever. 25. When the ready saints are gone, all our denominational walls of partition will collapse. The man or woman who use to worship in Deeper Life, for instance, will hide in the same place with those who worship in Christ Embassy, Church of God Mission, Assemblies of God, Word Aflame, Action Chapel, Winners Chapel, Lighthouse Chapel etc and nobody will remember to claim superiority anymore because then they will be facing a common enemy. 26. When this event is over, each time believers who will miss their flight manage to gather anywhere for worship, there will be an atmosphere of sobriety. This rowdiness we witness today shall be no more. ‬ 27. There shall also be a radical change in the attitude of those who will miss their flight towards Bible study. What we have now is an attitude characterized by a high degree of nonchalance and indifference, but when the ready saints are gone, those who will be left behind will begin to take their bible study seriously. 28. All the teens and youths who come to church to please their parents will repent after this great event; yes, they will begin to seek God for themselves. 29. When the event is over, all those who will do any form of business in the schools, hospitals, banks, etc, will have to bear the mark of beast (666) or be hunted down and killed like common criminals. 30. One of the gains of this reminder is that there may be someone reading this piece today who will take a firm decision to ensure that he/she gets on board that celestial flight travelling to glory. 31. However, one of the greatest tragedies of this reminder is that there may be someone too who is reading this piece today but who will see no need to heed this warning. A tragedy! @highlight Wake-up Channel Africa #viralpost2025シ2025 #istandwithpastorchris #yourloveworldspecials #PastorChris #everyoneシ゚

Dia fada🖕🖕🖕sins I no see Waka emoji I gas use son tin express Mai frastrasion NIGERIA, OTHERS HIT AS UK ENDS FOREIGN CARE WORKER RECRUITMENT BY: AGENCY REPORT Date;11th may 2025 The United Kingdom will stop recruiting care workers from overseas this year, a move expected to significantly affect countries like Nigeria that have supplied a substantial portion of the UK’s care workforce. Several countries, including the UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the USA, have specific visa programmes that allow Nigerian citizens to work as caregivers in their healthcare systems. These programmes generally necessitate a job offer, appropriate qualifications, and proof of English language skills, and often provide a route to permanent residency. The annual salaries for care workers in these nations vary based on the country and experience level, ranging from approximately £14,000 to €64,000. However, the UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, on Sunday, announced the country will end the programme, stating it forms part of a broader crackdown on migration. “It is time to end that care worker recruitment from abroad,” she said in a BBC report, adding that care firms will instead be required to hire British nationals or renew the visas of migrant workers already residing in the country. The Labour-led government is set to unveil a comprehensive immigration reform plan on Monday aimed at reducing net migration, with projections indicating the reforms could cut up to 50,000 lower-skilled and care worker entries over the next year. The decision follows rising political pressure to curb migration numbers, which peaked at a record 906,000 in June 2023 and remained high at 728,000 last year. While the full details of the immigration White Paper are yet to be released, Cooper explained that the threshold for skilled work visas will increase to graduate-level qualifications. Temporary shortage visas will also be narrowed, and additional requirements will be introduced for employers to invest in domestic training. Related News Nigeria's roads in shambles despite N1.1tr foreign Sukuk debt Nigeria’s leadership crisis calls for return to regional government – Lekwot Nestle Nigeria invests $1m in regenerative agriculture “These measures are part of a fundamental shift in our immigration system. We are setting up plans for a substantial reduction in net migration,” Cooper said. However, she stressed that no numerical targets would be set, arguing they “undermined the credibility” of previous government policies. The government will also impose stricter standards on universities admitting international students. “We are making some changes, particularly around the standards and the compliance for universities,” Cooper said, citing issues with non-completion and visa overstays. According to the BBC, the decision to end overseas recruitment for care workers comes after a sharp drop in Health and Care Worker visa applications, from 18,300 in August 2023 to just 1,700 by April 2024. That decline followed the government’s earlier move to bar applicants from bringing dependents and its April 9 rule requiring firms to show evidence they had tried to recruit domestically. Under the new measures, care providers must now recruit from within the UK, including from a pool of over 10,000 care workers whose sponsorships have been cancelled. Cooper also pledged to introduce a fair pay agreement for care workers to improve recruitment within the UK, saying the goal is to make the sector more appealing to domestic workers. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, while agreeing with the plan to end overseas care worker recruitment, argued the Labour proposals did not go far enough. “This is too little. We need an annual migration cap,” he said, noting that the Conservative Party would press Parliament to vote on such a cap this week. Liberal Democrats social care spokesperson Helen Morgan criticised the move, calling it insufficient to resolve ongoing staff shortages. “The government is tinkering around the edges yet failing to properly tackle the crisis in our social care,” she said. Labour’s announcement has also been linked to political pressure from Reform UK, which gained ground in the recent local elections. Reform leader Nigel Farage claimed the proposed immigration laws were a reaction to his party’s surge in the polls. “This new legislation is only happening because Reform is leading,” he said, warning Labour’s approach would fail because it did not fully address the issue of assimilation. © 2025 GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BIG LESSON TO LEARN BEFORE TRAVELLING TO  AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 .....                        THE NEWS President of the American Academy of Optometry, African Chapter, Dr Uchechukwu Osuagwu, speaks with BIODUN BUSARI on his life journey from Nigeria to Australia How would you describe your growing up? I grew up in Aba, in the South-East of Nigeria. My parents and younger siblings are still there. After completing my primary education, I moved to Port Harcourt for my secondary education. Then, I travelled again to pursue my university education at Abia State University. After my internship in Akwa Ibom State, I went to Taraba State for my National Youth Service Corps programme. I relocated to Lagos to start working after the service year. Growing up in Nigeria was interesting for me, and it was where I learnt persistence and resilience. I grew up in an environment where giving up wasn’t an option. My parents were middle-class—my dad was a businessman, and my mum was a teacher. My family consists of five boys and a girl. I remember that my dad could only afford to buy a new pair of shoes when we were on school holidays. He wanted to ensure that we all went to school. When I returned from school, I remember the first pair of shoes I bought for him. He said it was the first time he had worn new shoes in the last three years. Another thing that helped me was music—I played music for quite a while. During my university days, I was playing professionally. I performed with some big names in the music industry in the East. I travelled to different places on weekends to sustain myself financially, so I wouldn’t depend too much on my parents. It was all a struggle, but those moments built me. My siblings and I are products of ancient values. What inspired you to study optometry? I didn’t dream of studying optometry initially. I had always wanted to be a medical doctor. My dad felt the same way. However, I found it difficult to gain admission into medical school despite my brilliance. I wrote my first exam and didn’t get the desired points. I took the second exam and still didn’t meet the cut-off mark for medicine, so I was offered botany. After one year in botany, if I had a good GPA, I could switch to medicine. While in my first year studying botany, I was able to get someone to help me switch to optometry before the year ended. That’s how my journey in optometry started. I fell in love with the course, but my dad still pushed me to study medicine. I told him I liked optometry, and the rest is history. Why did you choose to relocate to Australia? I tell people that any place outside Nigeria is fine because you still have to board a plane. Australia was not a destination many of us considered while growing up. What happened was that I first travelled to Saudi Arabia, where I spent about five years. I worked in a private clinic, then at a university, where I started working as a research assistant. During that time, I enrolled in a master’s programme in the United Kingdom, which I completed at Aston University. From that point, I started thinking about what I could do after my master’s. I was writing papers, publishing, and teaching. I had very good clinical skills and academic knowledge. I later got a scholarship in the UK to pursue a PhD, but it was only partially funded. After discussing it with my wife, we decided it wasn’t a good move. Then I got a fully funded PhD scholarship in Australia. I had already paid part of the PhD fee in the UK, which I lost because the school said I had pledged to study. We had a friend in Australia, and when we told him about the opportunity, he convinced us that it was a great place. We thought it through and moved. I’ve never regretted it for one day because this place is so peaceful. There are opportunities here, the education system is of good quality, and the people are very kind. It’s a great place to raise a family in a decent environment. What do you have to say about the myth that Nigerians who relocate to Australia forget to come back? It’s not a myth, it is real. It’s not that you don’t want to come back, but I’ll give you an instance. If you want to travel from Australia to Nigeria on a return ticket, you’d be looking at about $8,000. That’s just for the ticket. Whereas, if you’re travelling from the UK to Nigeria, you may need about £190 for a ticket, depending on the time of booking. But here in Australia, it’s a decision you have to consider carefully. The distance is quite far, as you could have cumulative flight hours of 36 to 48 hours, depending on the route you take. It’s not just the travel to Nigeria. Beyond the flight ticket, you’d also need to budget around £10,000 to £15,000 for family expenses. Every Nigerian here wants to go back home at least once in a while, but again, the cost is substantial. If you have to save close to $20,000 or $30,000 and spend it on just one trip, that’s a huge commitment. Added to that, our country isn’t treating us well. If Nigeria were getting better and people were seeing opportunities and a future there, they would come back. I understand how it is, it’s not a myth, it’s a reality that people weigh carefully. What are the first-hand opportunities for the Nigerian community in Australia? I think there is a wide range of skill sets for Nigerians to explore in Australia. The country has diverse needs and is looking for professionals in various fields. They are in need of doctors, nurses, car painters, electricians, automobile engineers, mechanics, chefs, physiotherapists, and radiologists. If certain requirements are met, such as age and English language proficiency, then anyone can apply. So, it’s open to people from all over the world. Also, professionals in IT and healthcare are in high demand, as well as those in managerial roles like business analysts and accountants. What is the real reason behind staff shortages? Australia has a massive landmass. As a result, there are many unoccupied or remote areas, and people live in locations with limited access to healthcare. They’re finding it difficult to service these areas effectively. Beyond that, the population is ageing, and manpower is being lost as people retire. So, there’s a need for younger people to fill the workforce gap. That’s one of the main challenges in Australia. Another issue is specialisation. Many migrants come with PhDs to work as lecturers and contribute to knowledge development. Meanwhile, many locals are already well-off. Some receive government support even without working, so they may not have the same drive as migrants. And as the country continues to grow, migration numbers are increasing. How do Nigerians cope with snakes and reptiles that visit their homes? I think every environment has its peculiarities. It’s part of living in a particular society. So, when you move here, you know what to expect. You have to adjust your mindset and behaviour to suit the community. Here, there are crocodiles, snakes, and scorpions. But since 2014, when I moved here, I’ve never seen any in my home, though I have seen them outside. It depends on where you live. Some areas have more snakes than others. Interestingly, some reptiles here are kept as pets. Some people build small enclosures to keep pythons. However, brown snakes are dangerous. If you see a snake, you don’t kill it, you call the snake catcher. They’ll come and return it to the bush. They don’t even kill them because snakes play a role in the ecosystem; they help control other animals that may be more harmful than they are. That’s how they preserve the environment. Snakes are around, but none of my family members has ever had a snake bite. Some people have had encounters, but it’s not as bad as people say. The weather here is also a factor. When it’s hot, snakes seek cooler spots, which is how they sometimes enter homes.