We Got Home Office Letter to Leave UK in 60 Days But I Didn't Give-up | Dr Godwin Eton – DOSI S1 E3

Don't compare yourself so [music] fast

to people have been here for you don't

know the story they've gone through

>> you know I always dream of staying

abroad

>> okay

>> you know I mean it was always my passion

so because of that um passion that drove

me to applying to all sort of

scholarships common way scholarship PTM

scholarship you know and then finally I

got PTM scholarship

>> oh

>> which took [music] me you know

>> to the UK

>> to the UK and then the first few lessons

I was struggling didn't understand. I

will go back and ask myself who do they

wish me to come here. [laughter] I was

out of work for like 10 months

>> with a PhD with two children or three.

Actually, that at that point my third

child will be born already.

>> Out of work for 10 months.

>> 10 months was I wouldn't wish any of my

enemies to go through that. But while I

was studying, I think I used to clean

for a company called Fenic. Just

>> Was that your first job?

>> That was my first job cleaning. I used

to

>> Yeah. clean the toilet and then go for

lectures and get £6 per hour.

>> Oh wow.

>> And it got to a point where we got a

letter from home office a very very

horrible letter and said um we

understand all your three children were

born in the UK but [music] we we are

convinced they will have a better life

in Nigeria your home country. You need

to leave in 60 days.

>> Wow. How did you navigate your finances

within that thing?

>> Diary of successful immigrants.

>> Hello there. Thank you so much for your

support thus far uh on this podcast. Uh

please continue to like, continue to

subscribe, continue to comment and also

if you're interested in sharing your

story, please get across to us um just

by using um the contact details you can

see on the screen at the moment. Um this

is diary of successful immigrants and

the aim is to continue to share success

story. It's not about the politics, it's

about the journey to success.

>> Dr. Godwin Eaton is a highly respected

chartered [music] geotechnical engineer

and engineering geologist. Dr. Eaton has

an exceptional [music] track record in

ground investigations and overseeing

projects. Since relocating to the United

Kingdom in 2005, Dr. Eaton has made

significant [music] contributions to the

engineering profession.

>> Yeah. So, um I'll just bring it back to

the first time I met you. Um, I remember

when we first moved to the UK, you were

one of the first people that approached

us and was just like, "Yeah, so you have

a PhD, you're a professor [laughter]

and this and that." And then you were

just like, "Um,

so take my number. If you need anything,

you're going to help." And I don't know

if I'm permitted to say your age, but

the first thing that blew me away about

you was your age, actually. And then

later I got to know that you're you're

like you're a doctor. you kind of do

this this and that and like I was

telling you before we came on set I

didn't even know what what geotechnical

engineering was that much all about I

didn't know you were I was always

thinking you an electrical engineering

so if you don't mind [clears throat] um

if I start from there for somebody that

is just doesn't know much what is

actually geotechnical engineering what

is this all about what do you guys do

and stuff I mean what was it

>> all right Um I'll just try and make it

very simple. Um geotechnical engineering

is the interplay between geology and

civil engineering.

>> Oh okay.

>> And if you look at a typical civil

structure like a building let's say you

are the church building or your house.

>> Yeah.

>> Um the first thing that you will see

will be the whole structures is this.

>> Okay.

>> But a couple of hidden element that

people don't tend to see and that is a

foundation. M

>> without the foundation being the right

condition, this building is useless.

>> So anybody that deals with everything

from the ground level below, those are

the people that we call geo technical

engineers.

>> You know, in other words, they inform

the ground conditions,

>> tell us what sort of foundation it

should be that will support that

particular structure.

>> Okay.

>> So that is sort of thing that we do. But

so we work hand in hand with the

structural engineers, architects.

>> Okay.

>> And other civil, you know, discipline.

Yeah.

>> That's interesting. I'm just wondering

if that is done everywhere around the

world or it's just a niche or some

specific country because um I think we

shared the same home country you get it

before you migrated and um is this

something also is it a common practice

back in our home country?

>> Yeah. Um I mean I practice as a engineer

in Nigeria before I moved down here and

should I say move up here

>> and um is as I said it's an offshoot of

civil engineering.

>> Okay.

>> You know so in in Nigeria or Africa you

look at it

my people within my field.

>> Okay.

>> Okay. They'll be involved in bridges.

>> Oh okay.

>> Involved in um highways.

>> Okay.

>> And also a little bit of railway.

Railway wasn't very prominent in Nigeria

back then.

>> But it it's a field that I mean for

instance when I was in Nigeria then

>> we were involved with a lot of

foundation design for MTN towers. See

all those massive m you only see the

>> signal the radio signal but you don't

know what happened below that. So for

instance some of them could be

>> on a swampy environment on a you know

>> um

very soft ground. So we have to make

sure we spec specify

>> what sort of foundation that will be

used for that sort of structure and what

depth it should be at.

>> Oh,

>> so let's say for instance you have a

typical

>> on the surface you have a very soft

ground like a swampy environment and

then below that you have loads of clay

and [snorts] then sand and then maybe 10

m below that you have a very solid rock

which is typical what you see most

places. So as as engineers in my field

we have to advise the civil engineers

and tell them okay for this sort of

structure you and this sort of weight

you know in consideration

you need to

design foundation to about 10 m.

>> Oh okay that's that's interesting. So um

now let's talk about [clears throat]

uh the journey because this is diary of

successful immigrants

>> and what we discuss here is actually

about not just like where you are at at

the moment

>> we discuss the journey the process and

one of the things we're hoping to do is

actually to inspire and to encourage

somebody out there that no matter which

phase you find yourself you get it it's

a process.

>> Yeah. You get what I mean? You would you

will get there at the end of the day.

There there a lot of part of your story

that I want to pick up on

>> but I I I'll just start from why did you

leave? You get what I mean?

>> What prompted that move? You get what

prompted it for you? Yeah. Because I as

I know you finished with the first class

in the university.

>> No, 21.

>> 21. Yeah. But you finished as the best.

Am I

>> second best?

>> Second best. So in those days I mean in

your days when people even go to

university it's automatic like big life

let alone now.

>> Let's calm down.

>> Yeah.

>> Which days are you referring?

>> No no no in your time to be honest in

your time it's it's yeah. So it's it's

now let alone now like finishing with

very very good grades you get the

minimum you would get is a civil service

thing back then. So why what prompted it

for you?

>> I think it was still difficult. I mean I

feel I finished in um

>> 2000 or or thereabouts. So that's 25

years ago.

>> Yeah.

>> Things was were as difficult as it is

now.

>> Okay.

>> All right. Okay. So I will just go

straight to that point. So I always

dream of staying abroad.

>> Okay.

>> You know I mean it's it's always my

passion.

I when I finish and I I work in a oil

company briefly

I don't know for some reason I just had

this feelings all my dream was about you

know working in a foreign country not to

spend all my time here

>> I I recently I was going through my

diary with my last daughter who is 12

and I was showing her what I wrote down

>> and one of the part the thing that she

was shocked said daddy I can't believe

this I showed her on specific date that

I had a dream I was being interviewed by

white people.

>> Oh, I said, "Daddy, really?" I said,

"Yeah." And also had a dream where I

wrote down, saw myself, I've just won a

scholarship to go to United Kingdom and

I was dancing in the rain.

>> Okay. So, she was surprised. And then

towards the end of that diary, my

journal, which I I keep all the time,

and I wrote down there, my passion is to

get trained in a foreign country, US,

Canada or the UK. spend five years get

up to highest qualifications PhD come

back and start a technical company in

Nigeria.

>> Oh wow.

>> And I actually drafted down the name of

the company with the structures the

various division of the of the company.

>> So that was the passion I had. I think

all my friends knew about that that God

wasn't really motivated by Exom Mobile

or Shell or all those top companies.

>> So the vision was there. I was very

passionate about it. So

>> So when did you have this vision? Was it

more like when you were in secondary

school, primary school or just

university?

>> I would say it really developed when I

was doing NYC worry.

>> Oh, okay.

>> That was a time I had a quiet moment to

myself. You know, university was very

rigorous, you know, live with parents

and all sort of things. So at that

point, I started you know having that

independent life where I could think and

reason.

>> So I just felt that um this is where I

supposed to be

>> and this is what I need to do. M

>> so because of that um passion that drove

me to applying to all sort of

scholarship common scholarship BTM

scholarship

>> you know and then finally I got PTM

scholarship

>> oh

>> which took me you know

>> to the UK

>> to the UK and then

>> which university

>> so I

I went to University of Newcastle

>> but that's not what I chose because the

government to be honest till now I don't

know where the visa offices are in

Nigeria because they just asked us to

send our passport.

>> Oh,

>> and then go write the exam and once you

discover that you passed the exam, the

next thing was that okay, send us your

details. We source for university. So

one day I just woke up and I saw my

email used to go to cyber cafe then

>> I said welcome to University of

Newcastle your mission blah blah blah

this god what is going on is it is it

one of those guys trying to

>> play scam me and I discovered that after

a while someone called me and said I saw

your name in the newspaper I think you

want some want something. So what is it?

>> Oh,

>> so I rushed down from the office where I

was working and then I got there and I

saw I bought the newspaper, Guardian

newspaper. I saw my name. Um the few

student used to be thousands of students

in those days but only 100 student will

be taken

>> taken

>> from the whole country and so when I saw

I said wow this is good this really

align with what I've been looking for

>> of Newcastle engineering geology then

and I said wow that's great cuz I

thought I would end up doing petroleum

engineering or petroleum geology. So I

end up working for oil company later on

>> but then

>> um I don't know if I should say this

during the phase when I was really

concerned about what I need to do for my

life. I think I had a dream and I was

working for a technical company then

>> but then I had a dream where I saw very

prominent people I don't want to mention

their name but global figures and then I

just

>> you can you can mention them

>> when Kofian arms and journey we haven't

meeting discussing

>> so I said okay god really wanted me to

pursue this career because as you be for

in you don't even know about your

technical engineering Nigeria that means

a lot of people were not aware of it

wasn't very high paying then

>> the dream of most geologist which was my

first degree was to work in oil

companies which I didn't wise I worked

for a few years in oil and gas offshore

going offshore so so at that point when

I got that scholarship to go and do

engineering geology and I was you know

just contemplating should I take it

should I not take it is it the right

thing for me to do I want to get

scholarship for for for oil and gas

related course

>> but when I had that dream God just told

me that this is the right thing for you

to do

>> and in hindsight I can look back and I

can say all my friends that got that

scholarship to do petroleum geology.

They've all retrained now because the

job has gone.

>> It's going down. You know, the world is

moving.

>> Most of them went to Yeah. Yeah. And so

I think it was the right decision I made

which was God

>> God was there. God was um directing me

and had their assurance.

>> Yeah. So let's let's move it forward,

right?

>> No, [laughter] no, no, no. It's it's

good. The the the main the main part of

this conversation is actually the

process.

>> The process. It's really

enjoying [clears throat] the

conversation. But let's move it ahead.

You all of a sudden found yourself

>> in the UK now.

>> You get what I mean? What was the first

cultural shock for you? I I like asking

this kind of question.

>> Oh my god. So, okay. So, [laughter]

it's really funny because as I said, I

went to Newcastle. That was the first

from from from London. Then the plane

took us to Newcastle airport. So the

first land city I landed in the UK was

Newcastle.

>> Newcastle. Was it winter or summer?

>> Ah that was October around I think

actually around this time October 12 or

so. So it's going to be 20 years October

12.

>> All right. So the first thing shock I

had was that I thought everyone in the

UK speaking proper English. I hope this

is right to say this but they were using

they were speaking Jordi accents in

Newcastle. Regional accent is different.

So it took me a while to understand what

they were saying and I was really

struggling. I go to shop bad. Say that

again. Say that again. Say that again.

[laughter]

>> That was the first shop. So the second

one was that I didn't come with any

winter jacket. Newcast is a very cold

area.

>> So I just came with my normal shirt. I

stayed there for a while when I came to

>> and I stepped out of my hotel then and I

said, "Hang on, what is going on? This

place is very cold." I didn't buy I mean

so I started asking people um please

where can I buy winter jacket? I just

want to put I'm very cold and I need to

go back. I need to go to for lectures by

11:00. And I stood up at 9:00. I look

outside and um it was very cold and I

had nothing just very light shirt

typical of Nigerian environment. And the

funny thing was that they kept on

telling me just uh which shop are you

on? Is it budget or you want to buy

high-end designer soft just the cheapest

one? the guy I see one person and say

just walk 20 minutes walk there just not

far from here but I end up walking for a

very long time

>> the description of it's not far was not

what I thought was going to be

>> and then finally I got to a shop in the

city center and I bought myself

>> winter jacket pull off the labels and

put it on and then rush back to the for

lectures

>> and then the first few lessons I I I was

struggling to understand I will go back

and ask myself who bewish me to come

here you know But but God helped me and

I say finished at the best graduation

student.

>> Wow. In in the in the in the uh in the

course in the course. So

>> and I actually went I started quite late

because the federal government did not

release our phone on time. So

>> I went like a month plus late. So I

would say God was faithful from

beginning.

>> Okay.

>> Yeah.

>> So um just to just to take up the

conversation to the next level. Uh so

you finished at the best graduating

student. Was this something of like

those days that the moment you finish

you have to go back

>> direct after 60 days of graduation or

what?

>> No. So at that time there was this post

study something [clears throat] similar

to what is called post study visa which

is 2 years but then it used to be one

year 12 months which you can get

automatically once you finish. But I as

I said I was on scholarship then I was

being sponsored but the federal

government

>> there was no bond attached to that

scholarship. So if you want to stay you

are free to stay. The the idea behind

the scholarship which I was on was that

you know the plan was that let them get

trained become fully equipped

>> at any time they willing to go back home

they can go back.

>> So when I finished the federal

government even gave me later the home

office to apply for extension

>> for my post study visa. stud.

>> So I did that but I didn't stay in that

visa for a very long time because

>> um I got a job within 5 months. So I

switched to

>> what is what used to be called in those

days um well permit 5 years.

>> Okay.

>> And that took me to London. So I worked

there for like 12 months or so and then

I got another scholarship. I was asked

to come back to do another interview for

PhD by the federal government. So flew

to Abuja

>> and when the result was out and I was

told it was successful. Okay. H what do

I need to do?

>> I just have to resign and go back and do

PhD.

>> Wow.

>> So I started in Newcastle for

did 12 months 10 months in Newcastle and

then my supervisor had to resign and

come over to lead or something.

>> Okay. So you followed him?

>> I followed him otherwise the fatherless

profession academic fatherless what

whatever I call it those days.

>> Okay. Yeah. Now it's it's looking very

much like like [clears throat] your what

was it called your own story is quite

smooth in terms of like it was just p

this you know just get it just study

hard and you would get something sorted

but can you put in cont what was

[clears throat] the first job you did in

the UK?

>> All right I know it sounds as though it

was smooth. Okay. And the reason being

that I think sometime I used to tell

myself I think I paid the price a little

bit in Nigeria. It was a bit tough

trying to get the right job and doing

all sort of things.

>> So when it was time for me to come here,

I felt that God just orchestrated

everything. As I said, I didn't have to

queue up to go and do visa.

>> I don't even know where the embassies

are in Nigeria, you know.

>> So, but while I was studying, I think I

used to clean for a company called

Fenic. It's just

>> Was that your first job?

>> That was my first job cleaning. I used

to

>> Yeah.

>> Wow.

>> Am I supposed to say that? [laughter]

>> No, you are. Yeah.

>> Yeah. Yeah. I used to wake up early in

the morning 6:00 to 9. That was my job

before going for lectures at 9:00.

>> Wow.

>> So I go and clean. We don't have that

shop here in late but in Newcastle it

seems just like the same kind of setting

as Max and Spencer.

>> Oh, okay.

>> They sell everything. It's t typical

like um Max and Spencer setting.

>> Okay.

>> So clean the floor, wipe everything,

clean the toilet, and then go for

lectures and get six pounds per hour.

>> Oh wow.

>> That was the minimum wage back then.

>> I don't know. No, I think it was around

that. I mean that was 2005 2006.

>> Oh,

>> I can't recall. [snorts] Maybe it was a

little bit more but it's not like 12.

It's not 12 hours that you have.

>> Yeah. Yeah. But I tell people that um

I've done a sort of things. So cleaning.

>> Yeah. So um going back to your PhD

journey I would assume when you you also

finished as maybe the one of the best

students

>> during your PhD. Am I right?

>> There was no source classification but I

think I did I did I did well.

try my best.

>> So, walk me through it. I've heard you

mention something about the fact that um

you you had 60 days to leave at one

point, but let's not get there first.

>> How was PhD for you?

>> Um I think um [clears throat]

I would say it was tough. I had lots of

experiences that I'll have to write down

in my books.

>> Wo,

>> you know.

>> Can you give us a bit of snippets?

[laughter]

First of all, after like um

I would say the first 6 months, I

started asking myself questions. So

bewish you to resign. I mean Harry Pop

made very fantastic job in London after

my masters, one of the leading

consulting companies. So

>> there was no reason for me to resign and

be on stipen from the federal government

£450 a month where they paid my all my

accommodation everything. But I had a

job that would have taken me straight

away to um settlement after 5 years. So

I just paused that

>> and then after a few months I just

discovered that I thought you a

brilliant student. Why is you looking so

confused? [snorts] Who be with you? You

know, but thank God I read a book called

How to Get a PhD by something pew and a

guy set one of the chapters that's going

to get to a point where you get up there

and discover that you're almost blank.

>> Yeah. You don't know anything.

>> You don't know anything. You thought you

smart. No, you are not. But just fight

and get through that phase.

>> Once you break through that, you have

you have your own breakthrough.

>> And I actually had friends that actually

stop at third year. They said, "No,

enough with this madness. Meet again."

>> So that was one. The second part was

that because I started in Newcastle

>> and then

because of what I said before, my

supervisor,

>> okay,

>> resigned to start and take another

position in leads. He he was the head of

um vice president of instead of civil

engineering. He was a top figure in

>> if I mention his name in my interview

people say wow you you know that guy. So

I just felt it was the right thing to

say

>> to do to just you know follow him here.

So that means I lost like a year cuz

when I came to leads

>> University of Lady say you have to start

from all over design your rig your

testing or your lab

>> you know setting everything have to

design you know from

>> from scratch and so on. So that cost me

about one year.

>> So my scholarship finished um the

funding that I had finished a year

before I finished.

>> Oh okay.

>> So it was tough. That was very tough.

>> So So

>> I was living on credit card.

>> Were did you get married?

>> Yeah, I was married. Yeah. My my my

first my my daughter was born when I was

in London. So I had a child was just one

year when I moved to start PhD.

>> Okay.

>> And then my son was born when I was time

for me to write start writing my my

thesis. Okay.

>> So, I had two children, a wife and two.

>> While while you were doing

Well, how was it like?

[clears throat]

>> It wasn't

>> like like So, you you are only able to

work 20 hours additionally and

>> I wasn't even working because it was so

demanding. The only thing I was doing

was just supporting in the lab. You know

what you call what typical assistant,

>> you know, mask script for undergraduate

student do demonstration in the lab and

teach once in a in a while. I didn't

have any job outside the uni. Maybe

supervised examinations. It wasn't like

a constant

>> salary that was coming in.

>> Wow.

>> So at the point where I was I needed the

time to write my thesis and that was

when the scholarship stopped.

>> So I had to go get credit card. So was

actually withdrawing cash for

>> credit card.

>> Credit card to pay rent.

>> Wo.

[snorts]

>> So how did you keep the credit card kind

of

>> Oh that that really messed up my credit.

Seriously. I didn't know anything better

at that point. I didn't know that that

is not that's not good.

>> Okay.

>> I just feel I just need to get over is

that either send my family home and stop

this madness

>> or I just find any way to finish.

>> Yeah. So before we leave this PhD game

thing because I want to pick up on you

on why you decided

>> well everything is all sorted. I mean

once I finished I got a job and I better

off. So

>> yeah. Why obviously you will [laughter]

you didn't. So um what what I wanted to

pick up. I once heard I once heard

[clears throat] you mention something in

a gathering where we were together and

you said there was a point in your life

that you and your wife you kind of

always exchange your children at like

bus stop because somebody was going to

work and then the other person was

returning back from work and then you

just you just kind of like maybe hand

over and then be like yeah we'll see you

later. What was what was the season

like? Was it during your PhD also?

>> No, I I don't really think that I don't

think that is really accurate

>> for me. Maybe it was you.

>> Yeah. Okay. Maybe I got that mixed up.

>> I when I was studying, my wife was

working.

>> Okay.

>> Okay. And um she was just she working in

the banks a normal job 9 to5.

>> Okay.

>> I mean she was driving then so I had to

get that car. So she'll drop me at the

uni and then I

>> if I need to walk back home I can walk

back she can come back. So it wasn't

that

>> we didn't go through that phase of

exchanging kids.

>> That's mostly when two people are

working different of job not.

>> Yeah. For a PhD student you're not

working. You're basically going to uni.

>> I spend most time in the uni actually.

Sometimes sleep in the office.

>> Wo.

>> Yeah. Yeah. Mostly university lives in

my office

>> or in the lab sometime to finish.

>> Seriously,

>> that's the only thing. But not like I

was going to

>> not like Yeah. Oh, that makes sense. So

now the typical thought process

especially in the UK is that if you have

a PhD

>> you are actually by default um planning

to go into academia.

>> Yeah.

>> You get it? So for you what actually

brought about this um what brought about

uh what's it called? leaving academia

because I've I've interacted with the

environment a bit and what I felt is

everybody that had

>> PhD

>> they just categorize you directly that

yeah just go and look for

>> something like that. So what

>> I I think what what I noticed personally

there cuz I had loads of friends where

>> um in their previous life they were

lecturers in academia so they they join

us to do a PhD. So by default, I just

felt that they go back to where they

were.

>> Yeah.

>> I was in the industry before,

>> even though my long-term goal was to get

a PhD, be the best in that field, and

then when it's time for me to start

leaning towards retirement, then I'm

going to the academia to end up there,

have easy life there.

>> But I've always been passionate about

the industry such that I did my viviver

on the 14th of um December and I got my

job on the 15th, basically the next day.

So when I start to work the following

month, so there was no time for me to

start thinking about

thinking about um you know looking for

something within academia.

>> Oh, okay.

>> But to [clears throat] be honest, I

think I've always been passionate about

the industry.

>> The industry. All right.

>> Yeah. Um

>> I would end up going in academia later

on. Yeah.

>> This is Diary of [music] a Successful

Immigrant.

This episode is proudly sponsored by

Kofa Juice, rooted in culture brewed in

honor. All right, welcome back to Diary

of Successful Immigrants and um this

podcast is about sharing the success

stories

um of people that have moved from one

country to the other. Yeah. So, let's

quickly get into it. I've I've gotten a

lot of rejections this year trying to

kind of switch from academia to uh

what's it called to industry. How I know

obviously you've had a taste of industry

a lot.

>> Was it like your first job that that

>> No, no, not at all. I mean when I when I

finished masters um

I made loads and loads of applications

and the typical response and we regret

to inform you unfortunately and all that

sort of thing and

>> and at that point I was really worried

and concerned [clears throat] what is

going to happen if I need to go back to

my country. Uh I think that's a phase

everybody tend to fall into and

>> I know this a bit more spiritual now

because of my faith and I remember

>> one of those nights I was really worried

I went to church and I came back I was

asking myself what's going to happen a

lot of my friends involved I mean we

used to share flat after masters so we

we rented a flat with other postmaster

student and just everyone left and I was

in the house alone and

just to tell you how worried I was then

at that point cuz the future was looking

very bleak. You know, I don't know

what's going to happen the next month.

Am I would I ever get a job? And I and

as a Christian, I started just singing,

you know, praising God. I just was just

singing some praise. I was I've never

I've never been in that mood of praising

God before, you know. I was just singing

all over the house, moving from one room

to the other because my other flat mate,

they've left home. So, I could just walk

into their room. I was just singing and

just praising God and just shout things,

singing songs I've not sang for a very

long time. I think

>> I don't know if something just came on

me to do that and God just want to tell

me forget about this worry. You know, it

was to the point that

>> I mean I got I didn't tell you about

that. I got married um in September of

the the year I left.

>> Okay.

>> Sorry. I got married in July and I left

in October. So I have a wife that just

left after 2 months of marriage. Yeah.

So I wanted her to come here. You got

married before your masters or before

the PhD?

>> I got married before I I came here for

masters.

>> For masters. Wow.

>> Yeah.

>> That's the leap of faith.

>> So I just I got the scholarship and I

said before I leave the country I need

to sort this thing before story will

change you know.

>> So I got married straight away just made

arrange the whole thing within 3 months

and I left and then my wife came to

visit me when I was writing my my MSE

thesis.

>> Okay.

>> And then she got pregnant with my our

first daughter.

>> Wow. So I knew that somebody my wife is

pregnant there she needs to come over

here.

>> Yeah

>> about 7 months then I need to get a job

as soon as possible. So it was a very

very overwhelming period and as I was

saying so I was just singing so just

praising God. Then I was just think oh

God what is going to happen

>> and then got to a point where I just

went to my lap my printer and I pick up

two A4 plain paper. I just said father

thank you so much for this job you've

given me.

>> I was just singing. I said just thank

you for this job. I was like almost like

crying oh thank you for this two job and

I woke up following morning I had call

from recruiters that have been rejecting

me in the past do you want to come to

London for interview that's fine I'll do

that they'll pay for your transport and

I went and another one called do you

want to come for for another interview

>> this [snorts] a top leading consulting

firm in my in my field best in the in

the country

>> okay

>> and I got that job and then the second

one say if you want to leave this other

people we're going to give you £2,000

golden handshake just say no to the

offer

>> it was [clears throat] that that's just

a very big miracle. So that's why I got

the first proper professional job in the

UK. Yeah.

>> Even though I see after a while I had to

resign.

>> Yeah. And then you went back but after

PhD was another different story which

was

>> Can you can you share that can you share

that one with me like

>> All right. Okay. So um this is this was

a very defining moment for us as a

family because I as I said I got after

PhD um exam we call viviveror I got a

job the next day and I started the

following month and um

I think um 18 months or 12 months sorry

1 year 11 months into the job the

company went bust

and that was the company that sponsored

my visa [snorts]

and then I was out of work. I mean, you

just went to work and then someone just

told you, "Sorry, the company's gone

boss. They gave you brown envelope. We

have to go home. That's the end.

>> 15 minutes. Get out of the office.

They're going to lock up.

>> The liquidators are coming to take over

the place." So, it was it was very, very

tough.

>> Like nothing from your manager, no

briefing from anybody.

>> Well, as a Christian, I knew it.

>> Okay.

>> Cuz I walked to my manager on Wednesday,

on Monday of that week, and they say, "I

had a dream that the company was like a

ship floating. It just went down." And

then what does that mean? Are we

struggling? He said, "No, he just look

at me. What do you mean?" "No, we're not

struggling."

>> And then on Wednesday, he called us. So

he was surprised that I had that dream.

So I knew that God told me that was

going to happen. But just cut the story

short.

>> I was out of work for like 10 months

>> with a PhD with two children. No, three.

Actually, that at that point, my third

child was I've been born already.

>> Out of work for 10 months.

>> 10 months was really really I would I

wouldn't wish any of my enemies to go

through that.

>> Wow. Oh,

>> you know, and it got to a point where we

got a letter from home office, very,

very horrible letter and said, um, we

understand all your three children were

born in the UK, but we we are convinced

they will have a better life in Nigeria,

your home country. You need to leave in

60 days.

>> Wow.

>> So, my wife didn't even give me the

letter initially. It was after a few

days. She was just crying. So, but thank

God at that point, I've just gotten

another offer just at that period.

>> Wow.

>> But assuming I didn't get that job, that

means would have been a terrible face.

I've been in How did you navigate your

finances within that 3 months because I

can't I can't imagine people not

working.

>> Yeah. I can't imagine people not

working.

>> I mean my wife was working. I mean

sometime we do one or two things you

know just to you have to cut down a lot

of things.

>> Yeah. But

>> to be honest a lot of my friends did not

know

>> that this happened.

>> Maybe a part of my church probably know

but a lot of my friends did not happen.

>> No. Wow. And the good thing is that I

know this will bring marriage into this

now because my wife was a superhero at

that period.

>> Neighbors, people even know what was

happening.

>> W

>> because she was she just took on that

responsibility support as much as she

could and we went through that phase.

>> Wow.

>> That's what I said when God helped me,

I'm going to spoil her. So

>> yeah, I know you're already spoiling,

[laughter]

>> you know. So So those are the story

>> met her in person.

>> Yeah. You know, that's the sort of thing

I tell people that just arrive. I said

don't compare yourself so fast of people

have been here for you don't know the

story they've gone through

>> you know when people see us now and say

wow you seem to be doing very well in

the UK everything but

>> tell them the story behind that

>> that it came to pass that's my

philosophy

>> I mean

>> whatever you go through in life only

comes to pass it go

>> you know

>> you know not to cut you short but the

first time I entered your house I was

really wild I mean I've not entered a

lot of houses in the UK and I'll be like

wo they they they took a bit of time to

really plan the aesthetics in this in

this living space and all sorts

>> you get. So which is which is something

like I'm really really like I'm I was

really really impressed about and now

getting to know like

>> some of these things is amazing. I mean

it's it's really amazing. So for

somebody out there, I mean you you

you've just had it. If you've not if

you've been out of job maybe for 3 4

months, it's not the end of the world. 5

months, 6 months, just maybe you just

look into the camera there and just and

just tell them something. If somebody is

in that situation at the moment,

>> yeah, that is true. It's not the end of

the world. No matter what you're going

through right now, it's only come to

pass. You know, people have gone through

that phase before. But I would advise

make sure you have a very strong faith.

you know if you don't have something you

can hold on as an anchor that's when you

start you know

>> struggling but if you have God you know

with you can that will be a very

powerful support you have and also have

people around you support system good

friends

>> yeah I think if if I can look back and

see one thing that's really helped us as

a family we have good support system

good friends you know people were

like-minded friends who were

>> who were people that love God have the

same philosophy that we had you know cuz

I know one in this country if you if

you're unfortunate to fall into the

wrong set of friends derail you up your

future. Yeah. So it's good to have that

good support you know system in place.

>> Yeah. Let's let's take this conversation

to the next level. So how did you get

into your next job and now move to

because I was reading your current your

profile. You're a chartered geotechnical

engineer like um you have over 25 years

of experience. How did you now move into

like this current trajectory and is it

the same organization you've been

working with for for a while now?

>> All right. The current um work

organization I'm working now been there

for 10 years plus. It's going to be 11

years in November.

>> Wow.

>> Actually next month is 11 years I've

been with them.

>> Wow.

>> And um because of you know typical

Africans like Nigeria really want to be

the best.

>> So I studied the system. I know that for

people like us,

>> if you want your voice to be heard more,

you want to have more relevance and

>> be able to scale through the hurdle,

>> typical order that will face us, you

know, certain things you need to get. I

know, okay, I already have

>> I've gotten to the senior of my academic

career. No one is going to challenge me

and say you are not educated.

>> What else do I need? that need to be

chartered

>> in that field because chartered means

you have been peer reviewed by your

colleagues and you know that you're

qualified to to do that job

>> to do that job.

>> So I had I first of all I got the

charted um geologist and then charter

scientists and then this what we call UK

grand engineering professional you're

registered within the UK to practice

>> as a ground engineering professionals

and then

>> European geologist as well. So that

alone makes I don't know if I should say

this but people once you talk they know

that you you know what they're saying

you've paid the price you get to that

point

>> and then that remove any ceiling that

you will be there normally

>> um if you don't

>> but you don't need to have all those to

get to the top but what I mean it makes

your life a lot

>> easier there's a pattern I'm noticing

just interviewing like successful people

in this in this in this podcast one

thing I've noticed actually is they are

constantly upskilling Exactly.

>> You get what I mean? With one uh

professional certification being

chartered in this and being chartered in

that.

>> Uh one thing I wanted to just pick up on

is how much does it cost a lot to become

chartered also in your field.

>> Now in terms of um in terms of um

financial commitment in that it's

>> it doesn't cost you a lot more because

most of the time your company will pay

for it.

>> My company paid for it but it's a price

is a It's a commitment

for you to sit down and write those

reports and then document everything in

front of the the the reviewers and then

pass. That is a challenge which a lot of

people felt that I mean I've seen a lot

of people have gone even ahead of me and

they say no I can't stand the stress

it's too stressful going to do another

masters or PhD. So

>> but it's worth it at the end of the day

once you've done it.

>> Yeah. So um just bringing it to the

present day now you get um if you if you

were meant to kind of look back at some

of those things and compare it to this

present day like some of the things

you've been through what are you going

to tell yourself like um do you just

tell yourself relax I'm going to it's

going to be all right or you just tell

yourself it's you need to work harder

>> do you want to rephrase that question

make sure you So looking like looking at

currently how you are now and looking

back at those period you had a bit of

struggle you get it if you if you knew

that you would be where you are today

why you were having those struggles

>> you just relax

I think yeah apart from having that kind

of mindset for me as I said before

>> my philosophy is it came to pass

>> okay

>> the moment I put my mind in that kind of

mindset I mean it's [clears throat]

difficult for that situation to

overwhelm me beyond reasonable extent.

>> No matter what it is I'm not saying we

don't have challenge right now still

expecting something more higher or

thereabouts. So

>> I just tell myself it came to pass.

>> Yeah.

>> And

>> this face has surely come

>> surely come to So how do how do you kind

of build this resilience? How do you

become so resilient against all these

trials, all this troubles and stuff?

>> What

>> I think first of all I would say it's

God.

>> Yeah.

>> I don't know the audience how many

people will be leaning towards that but

I think it's God. M

>> and I will say

I remember when I was going through that

phase in my PhD and funding finished and

another thing I didn't say my mom who

was the backbone of my academic

achievement whatever sponsoring from

first degree before I got scholarship to

masters and PhD she visited us when I

was about when I was doing my PhD.

>> Okay.

>> And she came say what what is it doing

in this country this four years now

you've been studying. So she was really

passion anxious to see me finish. Yeah,

>> that very month that I submitted my

thesis, that was the month she passed

on.

>> Oh,

>> so that add up to the weight of why did

I do this? So

>> and I was sharing with my my one of my

lab um

>> mates

>> not lab mates one of the guy who was

responsible for the lab I was working

university of lates and it's a caucasian

man British man um about 50 something

about to retire actually

>> and I was sharing what I was going

through at that point and he started

shedding tears

>> wo

>> yeah yeah I was literally crying in

front of him said me how do you go

through this and you're always smiling

the office wow how do you [snorts] go

through this and same thing as well when

I after I I about I was about to do my

my defense my viviveror

>> and I had a colleague as well the

Chinese lady she's gone back to China

she just went in for for a viviveror a

week before me and she came out

>> with 18 months

>> extension basically what that means you

failed

>> you failed

>> 18 months and she was so she was crying

really bad I sat her down I said

>> I've been through a lot of tough you

know time in life and and God has helped

me

>> and she she look at me said God when

when I started telling all the thing I

was going through at that period

>> he said really and you're always smiling

the office like this

>> I thought it's God it's a God in me that

is a factor that's really helped me

>> and I know this not meant to be

religious

>> no no no

if if God has helped you then you

shouldn't you shouldn't say less of it

>> you get what I mean when you meet people

that they used strategy they would tell

you that the strategy work

>> you get what I mean so God has helped to

it's it's you.

>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I was just I'm just

trying to tell you the the the thing

that's really helped me, you know, the

substance that's helped me to be what I

am today. And I was telling the girl,

>> um, is is Jesus in my life that's really

helped me? And he said, "Wow, what do

you mean?" So, it took me time to

explain the concept of God to her

>> to understand and then God and Jesus and

how you can be saved. But things that at

the end of the day, she says she's going

to surrender her life to Christ. And we

prayed together which was a tough order

for me to do at that point to say you

can do that in the office. We pray

>> she we came back the following morning

and she was God oh it worked it worked.

I said what work I slept so well I'm so

I have so much peace.

>> Wow.

>> And then she went to L city center and

bought herself a Bible. She left the

country as a Christian.

>> Wa.

>> So what am I saying in a sense that if I

did not have God maybe I would have

there were time that I felt maybe

suicidal.

>> There was no God in my life would have

[clears throat] been it was tough. So

you mean you were depressed and all?

>> I didn't understand the cause of

depression. I didn't it wasn't my I

don't know depression but I think maybe

that's what I was going through. You

know it was a time I went through I went

to lead's hide park.

>> Yeah.

>> And I was um I was just walking through

I was walking in the park. I just asked

myself why did you resign to come and do

this nonsense?

>> And I was just worried. I was just

thinking why did I do this? Why did I do

this? And then the song starts singing

my heart. He who began a good work in

you.

>> Okay. said I put and I said oh I think I

should sing this song to 10 years ago.

So I rush back to my office and I put it

in the YouTube and the lyrics

>> came out

>> said that

>> if do you [clears throat] think that you

are almost at the end of the journey

that nothing's going to happen you feel

so dank and all sort of things he that

started a good work in you will take you

to the end this was God talking to my

heart

>> so in every step of the way every phase

of my life when it felt very

overwhelming I always resort you know to

that from God

>> yeah thank you so much so we're going to

finish this podcast with four quick fire

questions. You get it? Um just uh four

four very quick fire questions and then

with that we're going to wrap up. The

first one is what strategies or habits

help you stay focused on your goal?

>> Mhm.

>> Like what helped you stay focused on

your goal?

>> All right. Okay. I don't have it here

but but I used to have a card. I put it

in my wallet. You know nowadays we have

phone but that wallet I put there.

>> I'm an extra mileer. Oh,

>> I'm very determined. So, I really used

to read it to myself. I'm an extra

mileer. I'm very determined.

>> I'm very Yeah. Yeah.

>> For how many years?

>> I think just when I stopped using

wallet, I just it's still there in my

one of my own wallet. So, it is a thing

I read to myself

>> apart from God's helping me. But I have

been I I I I didn't I didn't I come from

a very humble background in a way. So,

>> I from the beginning decided that if I

need to get out of that level, I have to

work extra hard. You need to stay

positive and

>> I have to be positive. I have to

determine to be successful.

>> Yeah.

>> I have to work to to I have to be so I

had four Ds I used to talk about you

know I have to be disciplined. I have to

be determined. I have to be diligent. I

have to be

>> um I have to decide. So those four was

my like my pillars right from primary to

secondary school

>> and that has helped me throughout. I

mean coming to this country finish you

know you know coming very late for

masters makes me the only black guy in

the office and say coming at the best

student.

>> Wow.

>> When I used to tell my colleague in in

the office I used to read from 10:00 to

2:00 every day. [snorts] Said God no

that's not good. It's not good for your

brain. It's going to damage [laughter]

your brain.

You know so nothing comes by main

process of chance. Okay. You need to pay

the price for it. You have to have a

mental picture for what you want. And

that is one thing I read by from this

book, the power of positive thinking by

Dr. Norman Vincent P. And he said that

create that mental picture of yourself

or what you want to be.

>> Stamp it indelibly in your mind. Don't

let it fade. No matter what comes your

way. Don't let it fade.

>> Don't let it fade.

>> And I read that short before I enter

university and that's what been helping

me.

>> Yeah. So one needs to stick. Let me just

go. The second question is what legacy

are you building? What do you want to be

remembered for?

>> Uh, that's a tough question.

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah. I I want to be a person that when

people look back in my life, they can

see positive influence.

>> You know, I've left. I want to be

somebody that um

>> first of all, I want to be as get to the

top of my career and be able to

influence and support other people to

get there. M

>> I also also leave a lasting impression

in people that when people look back at

my life they will see that this person

has contributed positively in their

upbringing.

>> That's why even in my professional

setting I'm very passionate about

developing people geno engineers around

me. They know it very clearly.

>> I know people play office politics

sometime but I don't want to be part of

that. I want to make sure that

>> whoever is working under me is have

opportunity to develop and go to the

best.

M

>> thank you very much.

>> I don't know if that sort of question.

>> Yeah. Yeah. It is it is it is now um the

last one which I'm going to finish with

is and I think I ask almost all the

guests that I have I I almost ask

everyone is if your story were to become

a headline you know like all those front

page on the Guidian or like a front page

on maybe like the Daily Sun. What would

what would you say it is? What would you

like it to be like?

>> A man who was able to make it against

all odds.

>> Against all odds, a man who was able to

make it against all odds. Thank you very

much for coming around. It's It's been a

pleasure. So, um, we round it off um by

I I want you to look into the camera one

more time

>> and just say something to somebody out

there. you know this especially this

season there are people that have kind

of migrated from one country to the

other not just maybe to UK not just

moving from Africa to other countries

there are people that have moved from

Europe to US there are people that moved

from the US to Europe and different

movement and maybe some of them are

going through a tough time at the moment

I just want to give you maybe like 10 to

one minute as long as you want just

encourage [clears throat] somebody and

tell them speak something speak life

into them and then we're going to wrap

it up there.

>> All right. Okay. That's that's easy. Um

I don't know who is listening at the

moment, but I just want you to realize

and come to that understanding that no

matter what you're going through right

now,

>> especially immigrants, I mean, it's a

very very challenging time for

immigrants with all the news you are

hearing. But I want you to believe that

it will surely come to pass.

>> God has done for others. He will also do

it for you.

>> Do all you can within your power.

Convince yourself you have given you are

giving the best of your ability to get

there.

>> It's not good to compare yourself. Your

story is different from others. You know

don't compare yourself with other

people. The fact that someone has gone

ahead of you doesn't mean you will not

get there in the next few years.

>> But convince yourself that you're doing

the right thing. Convince yourself you

are giving the best of your ability.

Have a mental picture what you want to

be. Life will not deliver to you what

just come by process of chance. You need

to be determined. You need to be

focused. You need to have a clear

picture of what you want to be in life

in this country and God will surely

surely deliver it to you. But very

important, don't be depressed. Don't be

dankas.

>> Yeah.

>> Don't allow the news of today to

overwhelm you with a lot of people have

fallen under the weight of this news. It

to be okay.

>> Don't allow the news of today to derive

you and to deprive you of the joy of

tomorrow.

>> The joy of tomorrow. Yeah, that's one

thing I wanted to kind of just pick out

from this conversation with you.

>> If I [clears throat] had to round off, I

would say that don't allow the news of

today, don't allow the story of today to

deprive you of the joy of both today and

tomorrow. It's been a pleasure having

Dr. Godwin Eon in the in the studios

with me today. Um, I would say thank you

very much for coming and just I would

say this is diary of successful

immigrants and what we do here is to

share stories of people that have gone

through the process and um they are they

are now at the top of their game or

almost at the top of their game in terms

of their career. And um just to close

out today, I'd say thank you very much

for actually watching. Please do like

and subscribe um on any platform you're

watching this from or you're listening

from. Um hope to see you next time. Um

any final words from you?

>> No, nothing at the moment. Thank you

everyone for listening and I hope you

learn one or two thing from this and use

it to fire your life to where God you to

be.

>> All right. Thank you.

>> Thank you very much. And I know um Dr.

Godwin also is planning to write a book.

Um, I don't know if he's almost done,

but um, if he's done with his book by

the time this podcast is out, what I'm

going to do is I'm going to buy three

copies and I'll send it to three random

people that liked this video,

subscribed, and then engaged with the

content. So, um, let me know if you want

that. Just signify if you want that kind

of book in the in the comment section.

Thank you very much. See you next time.

Thank you. [music]

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