Dr. Onwumelu’s story is a testament to the power of determination and hard work. Born into a family of six children, he lost two sisters to illness at a young age. Undeterred by this tragedy, he and his remaining siblings were raised with a strong work ethic instilled in them by their father, the late Chief Eddy Onwumelu.
Despite the challenges he faced, Dr. Onwumelu pursued a career in medicine, completing his higher surgical residency program at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland from 2002 to 2009. While in Ireland, he also earned higher diploma degrees in tropical medicine and musculoskeletal medicine at RCSI and an MBA from Dublin City University. In 2010, he completed a residency in family medicine in Scotland before moving to Canada in 2015.
In Canada, Dr. Onwumelu’s determination and hard work paid off. He was appointed Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary in 2016, where he has trained over 35 resident doctors in the last seven years in family medicine, psychiatry, and dermatology. He has also helped many international medical graduates, especially those from Nigeria, to get into different residency programs in Canada.
Dr. Onwumelu’s success is all the more impressive considering the challenges he faced as a Nigerian in a foreign country. Despite the negative perception of Nigeria as a country with a deficit of good leaders, Dr. Onwumelu believes that Nigeria has lost many good quality people to migration and brain drain abroad. However, he also believes that young people can make a difference in Nigeria’s political landscape by using their electoral power to elect good leaders.
Dr. Onwumelu’s achievements extend beyond his work in medicine. In 2016, he founded a medical professional corporation that he has grown into a large enterprise. His company has diversified to look after the medical needs of several old people’s homes and is also affiliated with the University of Calgary in Canada as a teaching practice.
Dr. Onwumelu’s inspiring story is proof that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Despite facing numerous challenges, he persevered and achieved success, making a significant impact in his field of medicine and beyond. His story is an inspiration to young people everywhere, especially those facing difficult circumstances, to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.