Nigerian Nurse Who Dropped Out of Medical School to Pursue Nursing Dream Shares Career Updates
Published: 02:34 PM BST, Thursday, June 19, 2025
Abalu Uthman, affectionately known as Nurse Investor on X, formerly known as twitter has shared his career journey which serves as an inspiration for nurses across Africa, particularly those within the Fellow Nurses Africa community.
Hailing from Saki, Nigeria, Uthman’s journey from a budding medical student to a thriving mental health nurse in the UK is a powerful narrative of resilience, determination, and community support that every nurse can draw inspiration from.
Uthman’s story began after graduating from school of nursing with a RN diploma, determined to study medicine, he went back to write JAMB and began a promising start when he received an admission letter from Bayero University, Kano in 2019, offering him a place in Dentistry/Dental Surgery.
However, his plans took an unexpected turn due to external challenges. In a heartfelt 2023 X post, he explained:
“I was already a Nurse and in 100l medical school then, Covid and ASUU strike combined happened, that was when it became apparent, when I will graduate is not certain and this will affect my entire plan so I decided it was time to leave and thankfully that align with God’s plan too.”
The COVID-19 pandemic and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike created significant uncertainty, prompting him to step away from medical school.
Reflecting on his initial choice, he added:
“Some years ago after graduating from Nursing school and I got admission to medical school but I was confused whether to go or just focus on Nursing because of the number of years it will take to graduate from med school. This particular advice in same wordings is what a mentor told me and I made my decision to go to med school. How it ended is another story.”
This pivotal moment, influenced by mentorship and unforeseen circumstances, steered him back to his nursing roots.
The turning point came in 2020 when a spontaneous epiphany reshaped his future. Lying in his room in Kano, Uthman felt a sudden calling to pursue his nursing dream abroad.
He shared:
“I could still remember around this time in 2020… I just woke up and decided it’s time to write IELTS and that I’m ready to travel out, it was as if something talked to me on that sleep . I just followed it through ASAP… By October, everything was set and got my first offer in Dec, 2020.”
With remarkable resolve, he secured his passport in two weeks, prepared for his IELTS in the same timeframe, and landed his first job offer by December 2020.
Less than a year after arriving in the UK, he became a Band 6 charge Nurse, a testament to his exceptional nursing skills and adaptability in a new healthcare environment. Shortly after this, he enrolled for his Bachelor’s degree program in Mental health nursing.
Uthman’s personal life blossomed alongside his professional growth. He married a fellow nurse now practicing in the UK, forging a supportive partnership rooted in their shared dedication to healthcare.
This union not only strengthens their personal bond but also amplifies their influence, inspiring other nurses with their collaborative spirit and commitment to the profession.
On June 18, 2025, Uthman marked a significant milestone, posting:
“Alhamdullilah, the journey ended well. I just completed my final placement. BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing.”
Reflecting on his five-year journey, he added:
“A lot happened in the last 5 years but Alhamdullilah, dropped out from University to pursue Nursing fully. I’m grateful it worked out well for me.”
His specialization in mental health nursing addresses a critical and growing need, aligning with global efforts to enhance mental health support—a vital focus for nurses in Africa and beyond.
His faith-driven perspective,
“sometimes when God say it’s your time, everything will just be going smoothly with little effort from you,”
offers a source of strength and optimism for nurses facing their own challenges.
Uthman’s generosity further elevates his impact. In 2023 and 2024, he paid JAMB registration fees for students from his Saki village who scored above 300, empowering the next generation of scholars and reflecting his commitment to education and opportunity.
This act of community support underscores his role as a mentor and role model, encouraging nurses to give back to their roots.
His story encourages nurses to embrace specialized roles like mental health nursing, where demand is rising, and to find strength in community support, as exemplified by his JAMB initiative.
As Nurse Investor, Uthman continues to share valuable insights on nursing, personal finance, and life abroad on X, inspiring a growing global audience.
Whether he pursues clinical leadership, advocacy, or entrepreneurial ventures, his future holds the promise of further influencing the nursing profession.
For Fellow Nurses Africa, Abalu Uthman stands as a shining example of how determination, strategic career shifts, and a commitment to community can turn a nursing dream into an extraordinary reality.
Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support the nursing profession.
