Small by Small: A Nigerian Doctor’s Story (Main)

A young man’s medical education in 1990s Nigeria: a deeply personal memoir that provides a window onto ordinary Nigerian lives at a time of political turmoil.

As he works his way through his medical training, Ike Anya’s grandmother reassures him, saying:

Everything worthwhile is achieved small by small.

It’s the 1990s, a turbulent time in Nigeria’s political history, and a young Ike Anya embarks on the journey to qualifying as a medical doctor. In a story that charts the triumphs and failures of his student days through to his first demanding year as a house officer, Anya’s sharp wit, gentle humour and abounding curiosity presents a medical memoir unlike any from the West. Recalling the vibrancy of tempestuous 1990s Nigeria – the political unrest, social change and worsening economy – Anya also celebrates the friendships, minor rebellions and hard graft of student days.

Small by Small is a deeply intimate memoir imbued with determination, compassion and a love of storytelling.