In 1966, Chuku Difu Nsofor Eugene graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University with a degree in General Medicine. He dedicated his life to medicine with its daily risks defying circumstances and the laws of nature.

In this interview one of the first graduates of UDN (1966), Chuku Difu Nsofor Eugene recalls the University, his career in medicine and what difficulties a foreigner and a young doctor had to face.

I came to the USSR in the winter of 1960. Upon arrival, I met students from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Each of us represented his/her own culture, traditions, language and religion. It was like a UN Organization, uniting young people craving for knowledge and education. In my year at the Preparatory Faculty, I made friends with guys from Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon.

At the beginning of the new academic year 1961, we began doing preparatory courses of the Medical Faculty. I remember that there were over a hundred students at that department. We were divided into groups with no more than ten students in each. Almost all of us made it to clinical departments in two years.

Clinical courses were very exciting. Teaching hospitals were located throughout Moscow.

It was in Moscow that I first saw the snow. For me, a tropical zone inhabitant, Russian winter looked harsh and frightening. Another scary thing was the necessity to learn Russian. But Russians are very friendly which helped me adapt in a very short time. In just a few weeks, I was already trying to write and speak Russian.

My studies at UDN began with a course of Russian at the Preparatory Faculty. I would like to express my gratitude to my Russian language teachers — Lyudmila Vasilievna and Lyudmila Alekseevna for their help and excellent knowledge.

In 1966, nearly 100 young doctors earned their MD degree from the UDN Faculty of Medicine, including ten Nigerians. In July 1966, all of us plus one Nigerian dentist from Kiev returned home.

I began my career as an intern at Lagos University Hospital.

In December 1966, I returned to Eastern Nigeria to work at Enugu General Hospital.

In 1967, a civil war broke out in Nigeria. I was called up as a doctor in the army of Biafra. I worked at the forefront, saw many military operations unfolding, got injured several times. I saw people dying, our doctors dying.

In 1970, I had to re-open and re-equip a regional hospital in Mbano. This helped enlarge my medical experience and develop my managerial skills. In 1971, I left Mbano to enroll in the orthopedic department of the newly opened University of Nigeria Training Center.

In 1972, I moved to Kano to join the staff of Ahmadu Bello University Orthopedic Hospital. There I gained a lot of experience in traumatology and orthopedics.

In 1975, I left Kano for the city of Aba in southeast Nigeria to start my own medical practice. We were doing surgery, orthopedics and therapy. I worked there for more than thirty years, until I retired in 2010.

Now I live in my hometown of Oguta in southeast Nigeria.

When I was not practicing medicine, I actively participated in social, civic and religious life. I was among founding members of Social Culture Union in my hometown and a member of the Committee for Land Use and Distribution.

Now I am a member of the Nigerian Medical Association, and Enugu and Kano Sports Clubs, and participate in the Aba City Advisory Council and several church organizations.

You know, after so many years, I understand that I’m lucky. I was lucky to live in Russia and study at UDN. I received an excellent education and was up to the task as a doctor. I want to wish today's students to appreciate the opportunities that the University gives them, take their chosen profession very seriously and fulfill their duty with skill and honesty. As a student I only had one goal — to save lives and help people.