Born and raised in Nigeria, Dr. Bennet Omalu received attention for his discovery of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) which was initially dismissed by the National Football League (NFL). It wasn’t until 2009, after a number of NFL players had died, that the NFL admitted it was a problem. His story has been dramatized in the film Concussion starring Hollywood icon Will Smith and today he is a proud American. Let’s take a closer look at this incredible story of an immigrant who made an impact in the international sphere.
Omalu’s Discovery of CTE in Pro Football Players
It all began when Omalu was asked to perform an autopsy on Mike Webster, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who suffered from dementia before his death at the age of 50 in 2002. Through his research, Omalu discovered that Webster had CTE caused by repeated blows to the head as well as other physical and emotional trauma related to football. He published his findings in 2005 but the NFL initially refused to acknowledge or accept them and instead chose to discredit him.
Omalu Refused Back Down
Despite the NFL’s attempts to ignore or discredit him, Omalu refused to back down and continued to fight for recognition for his findings on CTE even though it meant facing powerful interests opposed to what he was saying about football players’ brains being damaged by repeated blows to the head. Eventually, the NFL acknowledged that CTE was a real problem in 2009 after other deaths related to football-related brain injuries occurred.
See also: Extraordinary Story: Souadou Niang, from a cleaner to 5 star hotel owner
Omalu is Now A Proud American Citizen
The story of Omalu’s perseverance against powerful interests was dramatized in the 2015 movie Concussion starring Will Smith and now he is proudly an American citizen–a true testament to what an African immigrant can accomplish with determination despite being faced with opposition from those with power and influence. He continues to be a strong advocate for protecting athletes from long-term brain damage caused by playing contact sports like football and hockey.
“When I came to this country, I had only 250 dollars in my pocket. I was eager to embrace the promise of the future, of my future, in America, a country [where] I believed I could be whatever I wanted to be. I could express myself and live my life to be its fullest, to make my own mark because this is my own stage, there can never be another me.” Dr. Bennet Omalu stated in an interview with Patheos
The story of Dr Bennet Omalu serves as an inspiring example for other Africans. His discovery not only changed how the world think about contact sports but also inspiring many people around the world and especially African immigrants—to strive.
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