I have been reading people's post for a long time here.
I decided to contribute my quota.
Life was hard for me as a dentist in Nigeria. i decided to leave 2016.
I was earning 90k per month as a dentist combining with another locum earning 40% per case treated. I researched all developed countries as per practicing dentistry there.
The obstacle were numerous. Exam fees, low pass rate, tuition for re -enrolling.
I opted for African countries. Ghana was 1st option; exam fee was $700. I dropped the idea. I tried Sierra Leone, Liberia and Gambia.
Gambia was were breakthrough came.
I was offered a job of 1k usd as a full time dentist from Nigeria.
I migrated 2017.
I'm still in Gambia.
if you are a dentist hoping to leave. Try African countries. Migrating as a dentist is hard.

sorry about my write up.
i scribble, i'm no writer.

Nice one

Impressive.

What’s life like there generally?

Asides dentistry, what other sector(s) is paying well?

Woww, nice thread, please continue your story

NGRsenate:
Impressive.

What’s life like there generally?

Asides dentistry, what other sector(s) is paying well?

life is nice relatively.
there are challenges;
like discrimination towards Nigerians
its a poor country, wages is generally low.
medical doctors and very skilled workers
teachers get paid dependent on where they teach.
international schools pay well

queengift:
Woww, nice thread, please continue your story

Sis,
Story long oo.
i no sabi write.

In 2016, I was in UCH doctors lounge with my frustration watching premier league.
Everyone seem to be celebrating their successes in plab and usmle.
A Sierra leone chipped in into their convo. He is never migrating. He is here for training, after training he heads home to help his people.
i linked up with him asap.
He told me they needed dentist in his country. He promised to help me. That was the last i heard of him.
He has already planted a seed of information
I researched all the countries in west africa.
I reached out to Gambian doctors via email.
Some responded.
A lot didn't
One responder asked for my CV.
I sent my CV.
Interview was done via Whatsapp.
I was offered a job

migrantDentist:

Sis,
Story long oo.
i no sabi write.

In 2016, I was in UCH doctors lounge with my frustration watching premier league.
Everyone seem to be celebrating their successes in plab and usmle.
A Sierra leone chipped in into their convo. He is never migrating. He is here for training, after training he heads home to help his people.
i linked up with him asap.
He told me they needed dentist in his country. He promised to help me. That was the last i heard of him.
He has already planted a seed of information
I researched all the countries in west africa.
I reached out to Gambian doctors via email.
Some responded.
A lot didn't
One responder asked for my CV.
I sent my CV.
Interview was done via Whatsapp.
I was offered a job

Is that all? Continue the story

LadySwitz:


Is that all? Continue the story

Since I knew no one in Gambia. i was reliant on nairaland. No direct flight to Gambia then.

Nairaland info guided me.
I decided to get to cote ivoire by road using "young shall grow" motors.
"Young shall grow" handled the customs. no hassles
from cote ivoire, i flew into senegal using kenya airways.
from senegal, i took night bus into gambia
Senegalese scammed me at the border whilst trying to convert my BTA to dalasis.
He shortchanged me. I detected early so i got my complete money

Going through customs and immigration was easy.
i paid 5000 cfa at senegalese border and 500 dalasis for gambia border.
the sojourn started.
lost my job after a month.

3 days later.
i started work in another clinic.
new clinic pays on commission basis.
30% per case treated.
Fortunately for me, Dental problem is prevalent in gambia.
With God and hardwork and Nigerian spirit.
My income got to 1k usd and started exceeding.

After 2 years of earning commission, i was able to raise capital and i started my clinic.
Clinic is still new. Slight patronage is encouraging.
summary
It was not easy.
learning culture as a Nigerian is integral to success in Gambia
knowing what you want the most
more importantly, stay hidden in plain sight

True Nigerian spirit in action and not the yahoo yahoo nonsense everywhere

Kiddos, success... But aren't they religiously bias in the Gambia

migrantDentist:


Since I knew no one in Gambia. i was reliant on nairaland. No direct flight to Gambia then.

Nairaland info guided me.
I decided to get to cote ivoire by road using "young shall grow" motors.
"Young shall grow" handled the customs. no hassles
from cote ivoire, i flew into senegal using kenya airways.
from senegal, i took night bus into gambia
Senegalese scammed me at the border whilst trying to convert my BTA to dalasis.
He shortchanged me. I detected early so i got my complete money

Going through customs and immigration was easy.
i paid 5000 cfa at senegalese border and 500 dalasis for gambia border.
the sojourn started.
lost my job after a month.

Senegalese always scam at der airport

Hmm nice.
So have you been to juffure?

darfay:
True Nigerian spirit in action and not the yahoo yahoo nonsense everywhere

Kiddos, success... But aren't they religiously bias in the Gambia

Depends on where you roll. Tourist region is secular. Core part is religious

okeyben10:
Hmm nice.
So have you been to juffure?

No oo
No be tourism carry me comot naija.

migrantDentist:

No oo
No be tourism carry me comot naija.

Oh ok
Dont know if you know the story of kunta kinte, that name Juffure has bn on my mind since i saw the movie.

Care to share why you left your first job after a month?

okeyben10:


Oh ok
Dont know if you know the story of kunta kinte, that name Juffure has bn on my mind since i saw the movie.

Care to share why you left your first job after a month?

I watched root too that year.
Reason:
My village people followed me. My co-workers were saboteurs. I got blamed for it.

@Poster
How old are you and are you married ?
1000Usd is like Naira360K thats not a lot of money except if the naira is devalued further.
Are you sure you wouldnt earn far more than that if you were to still be in Nigeria ?
Lastly, it is almost unbelievable that Dentists earn that low in Nigeria.
Thats kinda crazy.

calgaryFriend:
@Poster
How old are you and are you married ?
1000Usd is like Naira360K thats not a lot of money except if the naira is devalued further.
Are you sure you wouldnt earn far more than that if you were to still be in Nigeria ?
Lastly, it is almost unbelievable that Dentists earn that low in Nigeria.
Thats kinda crazy.

He could earn more in Nigeria if he gets a job in a government hospital, but how many Drs can or would get a job in a government hospital?

calgaryFriend:
@Poster
How old are you and are you married ?
1000Usd is like Naira360K thats not a lot of money except if the naira is devalued further.
Are you sure you wouldnt earn far more than that if you were to still be in Nigeria ?
Lastly, it is almost unbelievable that Dentists earn that low in Nigeria.
Thats kinda crazy.

Not married yet.
360k isn't a lot. Truly
Some Dentists earn less than 100k presently.
When I was an House officer. I was earning over 1k usd. Then buhari happened. Value reduced to 500 usd. Govt jobs are not easy to get anymore. Travelled 5 northern states if I could secure a job. No one was recruiting. I got frustrated the more. My friends with primaries had no residency placement. Primaries wasn't an option anymore

While I was earning 90k as a dentist. My medical colleagues in the same hospital were earning 180k. I went to the MD to complain about the disparity. He laughed. Told me. My cert isn't worth much. I'm not a money spinner. Dr's are money spinners. As an House officer. We got same treatment. In Govt hospital. It's same pay. I was shocked a senior colleague would say that to me. In gambia. My cert is worth more than my medical colleagues.

Here in Nigeria, people don't take dentists serious like other medical doctors.

migrantDentist:
While I was earning 90k as a dentist. My medical colleagues in the same hospital were earning 180k. I went to the MD to complain about the disparity. He laughed. Told me. My cert isn't worth much. I'm not a money spinner. Dr's are money spinners. As an House officer. We got same treatment. In Govt hospital. It's same pay. I was shocked a senior colleague would say that to me. In gambia. My cert is worth more than my medical colleagues.

Hi! Am a Dentist too! Sorry about your work experiences in Nigeria! Congratulations on your Gambia practice! I want to also suggest some stuffs to you but it’s better said in private as per the colleagues we are.
Kindly reply my message if you would want me to send you a pm.

LadySwitz:


Is that all? Continue the story

Congratulations OP . Your writing skills don improve. Reason why I was urging you on.

Never say Never!

Izzyovercomer:
Here in Nigeria, people don't take dentists serious like other medical doctors.

I took them serious in 2016 when i had to extract one 'devil like' looking tooth...jeez!

Madlov3:
Hi! Am a Dentist too! Sorry about your work experiences in Nigeria! Congratulations on your Gambia practice! I want to also suggest some stuffs to you but it’s better said in private as per the colleagues we are.
Kindly reply my message if you would want me to send you a pm.

I'm interested in your suggestion

LadySwitz:


Congratulations OP . Your writing skills don improve. Reason why I was urging you on.

Never say Never!

Thank you

Madlov3:
Hi! Am a Dentist too! Sorry about your work experiences in Nigeria! Congratulations on your Gambia practice! I want to also suggest some stuffs to you but it’s better said in private as per the colleagues we are.
Kindly reply my message if you would want me to send you a pm.

Doc I'm still waiting for your suggestion please

migrantDentist:

life is nice relatively. there are challenges; like discrimination towards Nigerians its a poor country, wages is generally low. medical doctors and very skilled workers teachers get paid dependent on where they teach. international schools pay well

How is electricity in Gambia, does most locals speak english

ralphyoung123:
How is electricity in Gambia, does most locals speak english

Nawec is way better than Nepa.
there is electricity most times except there is a problem.
locals speak english in urban region

migrantDentist:


Nawec is way better than Nepa.
there is electricity most times except there is a problem.
locals speak english in urban region

OK, am thinking of relocating with a student visa