I Had a PhD…

But Almost Settled for Support Work in the UK

Winning Across Borders: From Nigeria to UK Academia – The Journey of Dr. Olalekan Adisa

In this episode of Winning Across Borders, we sit down with Dr. Olalekan Adisa, a Nigerian academic whose journey spans Nigeria, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

From starting out in a polytechnic in Nigeria to earning multiple master’s degrees, completing a fully funded PhD in South Africa, and now serving as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Programme at a UK university, Dr. Adisa’s story is one of resilience, humility, strategy, and purpose.

We explore:

• What it truly takes to transition into UK academia
  
• The reality of relocating as an African professional
  
• Working support jobs despite holding a PhD
  
• How to secure sponsorship and navigate the UK system
  
• The difference between African and UK academic cultures
  
• Why networking, mentorship, and upskilling are critical
  
• The mindset shift needed to succeed abroad
  

Dr. Adisa speaks candidly about rejection, starting from the bottom, night shifts, balancing family life, and the power of positioning yourself as valuable in a competitive system.

If you are:

• Considering relocating to the UK
  
• Interested in academia or lecturing
  
• Struggling to find sponsorship
  
• Trying to pivot from survival jobs into your career
  

This episode will challenge and equip you.

Because at the end of the day, the real question is:

What do you have to offer?

🎧 Listen now and discover how to win across borders.