When God says no (the job interview) Week 10, 2017

He was the best resident among his set in Plastic surgery and a Christian too. Consistently he had earned the commendations of the consultants in all the units he had worked in and as a result had been given a letter of commendation by the residency training committee for consistent hard work. He was both skilful and easily knowledgeable, and had represented the hospital in presenting her work in Europe. In the exit examinations (in the words of a senior examiner) he shone like a million stars. Not surprisingly when my opinion was sought as to which resident to retain as a consultant I pointed to him even though I requested for all the two that passed the exit examinations from our centre.

Eventually after more than 6 months later we advertised for the post of consultant Plastic surgeon amongst others; and I gave him a good recommendation along with others. When the mandatory six weeks of advert was about rounding up I was invited for the short listing of candidates to present for the interview. I was deflated when for a technicality he wasn’t so much as shortlisted to present for the interview. Uncharacteristically I pleaded specifically for him and was roundly rebuked. Leaving the employment of the hospital suddenly became very desirable.

He didn’t take the news kindly. I got called by a former medical director and state medical association chair on the matter which didn’t change a thing. The interview held without him. He told me “I am still terribly aggrieved by how I was treated by the management. I may not be able to leave the matter like that. I will go all the way to press home the fact that I was unjustly excluded from the interview. All I seek is justice.” To which the reply was “Eye hath not seen... ear has not heard... neither has it entered into the heart of Orthopaedic (or other) what God has planned for you who love Him. It is IMPOSSIBLE  for man’s injustice to thwart God’s plan for you. Think over these. Understanding is yours.” But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him1Cor 2:9(KJV).

Well 18 days later he sent me a text “Join me in thanking God I have been appointed at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi. God is always faithful.” Not only had he been appointed, but he was place on a grade level higher than we were offering. That’s not all. His wife lectures at Okoh which makes Nnewi a better choice for the home than Enugu where he had felt so humiliated at the exclusion. He has since started work. When God says “no” He certainly has a much better package in waiting. That’s not all; it has been over 2 months the Enugu interview took place. None of those interviewed has got an appointment letter, started work or earned any pay from us just yet. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Rom 11:33(ESV) 

When God says no Week 44, 2015

The interview lasted all day and had been grueling. A written paper eliminated many of us and the oral interview was challenging as well. This was a centre for Plastic surgery training which I had been seeking. My friends within the institution had warned it would be tough and I had put in prayers and lots of hard work to get in. Places were very competitive, and applicants were in multiples of the available vacancies. Surely God would answer now and I would be taken! But no: when the intakes were announced that 2012 at Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu I was not among.

Never doubt God’s faithfulness or His ability: His plans for you are beautiful and to bring you to a perfect end. LORD, my heart is not arrogant, nor do I look haughty. I do not aspire to great things, nor concern myself with things beyond my ability.  Instead, I have composed and quieted myself like a weaned child with its mother; I am like a weaned child. Place your hope in the LORD, Israel, both now and forever Ps131:1-3 (ISV). I graduated from medical school Enugu campus in 2009 and was on the merit list, so naturally my House Job was at UNTH. My youth service was at the Ebonyi State teaching hospital Abakaliki. I wanted to specialise in Plastic Surgery so I had my life and plans well laid out. After my internship I sat for the primary fellowship in surgery and passed after my 5^th attempt in October 2011. I had applied to Enugu State University of Technology Teaching Hospital that year with the intention of starting residency after my national youth service but by the time I passed there was no vacancy.

I sought to get a place to begin my training in surgery and attended interviews at the federal hospitals in Abakaliki , Nnewi and Enugu without success. I had worked hard and prayed for each of those interviews. I tried desperately to get into UNTH that 2012 even though there was no official interview at that time; all to no avail. In the interim I worked at the Memfys hospital for neurosurgery from May to October 2012. There God exposed me to the spirit of discipline and excellence. It was a life changing experience. Eventually the big federal centres in Enugu, Umuahia, Owerri and Nnewi took residents and there was a mass exodus from ESUT-TH Park lane. Not only was it a State teaching hospital that paid least, her residency programme in surgery was very new and not well structured. The accreditation was only at part 1 level yet no one had passed part 1 from there. I was offered employment there and I began in October 2012 and met senior colleagues who groomed me. A person plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps Prov 16:9(ISV).

At a time I was tempted to leave but my plans were foiled; I was blind to the opportunity God had presented me with. The residency training began to take greater shape and I got qualified to take the part1 exams. I didn’t succeed in the NPMC part1 in May but sat for the part1 WACS this October ever before those who were taken at Orthopaedic could, and passed! I and another resident are the first senior residents produced there. I was asked by the provost to apply for a job as a lecturer in anatomy, a position offered when part 2 has been crossed. 

 Nonso Jac-Okereke is a senior resident in ESUTTH