By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
When his original medical certificate was withheld over a disputed tuition debt, many would have seen it as the end of the road. For Dr. Usman Yz, it became the beginning of an extraordinary journey.
Born and raised in Sokoto State, Nigeria, his path into medicine started at the College of Nursing Sciences, Sokoto, where he qualified as a Registered Nurse. Driven by an insatiable desire to serve humanity through healthcare, he pursued higher education with the support of the Sokoto State Scholarship Award.
But what should have been a stepping stone became a major setback.
According to Dr. Usman, irregularities in the handling of his scholarship payments left his university tuition unresolved, resulting in the withholding of his original medical certificate over a debt he insists he never owed. He says repeated efforts to have the issue resolved, including appeals to the Sokoto State Government from 2024 to date, have yet to produce a solution.
Yet, rather than allowing disappointment to define him, he chose determination.
“They can hold my certificate,” he says, “but they cannot hold my destiny.”
That determination carried him thousands of kilometres away from home to Russia, where he enrolled at Irkutsk State Medical University—one of Siberia’s oldest and most prestigious medical schools. There, he completed his medical education, graduating in 2023.
His academic excellence soon earned international recognition. Dr. Usman emerged as the overall winner of the prestigious Open Doors Russia Scholarship, securing admission to pursue a PhD in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Prenatology at Sechenov University in Moscow.
Today, the young man who once struggled to access his academic documents has achieved what many only dream of. He is fully licensed by the Russian Ministry of Health as both a General Therapist and an Obstetrician-Gynecologist & Prenatologist. He also serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Sechenov University, one of Russia’s leading medical institutions.
Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Usman says his greatest lesson is that circumstances do not determine destiny.
Coming from what he describes as a humble background, he recalls being made to feel that people like him—”Dan-talakka”—were not expected to rise to positions of influence. But he believes faith, perseverance and hard work can overcome even the toughest barriers.
“My story is proof that obstacles are temporary,” he says. “With sincerity of purpose and trust in Allah, impossible doors can open.”
His message resonates beyond Nigeria and Russia. It is a message to every young person facing rejection, injustice or hardship: your dreams remain valid. Keep moving. Keep believing. The journey may be difficult, but the destination can be greater than you ever imagined.
He said, “Today, I am fully licensed in the Russian Federation as both a General Therapist and an Obstetrician-Gynecologist & Prenatologist under the Russian Ministry of Health. I also serve as an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Sechenov University.
“My story is not about revenge. It is about resilience.
To every young Nigerian and every international student from a humble background who has been denied opportunities, betrayed by a system, or told their dreams are impossible, remember this: setbacks are not the end of your story. Keep working. Keep believing. Keep moving forward.
“With sincere intentions, hard work, and faith in Allah, doors can open where none seem to exist.”
