‘Visa rejection became turning point in my life’ – US Army health specialist

By Boye Oyeyemi –

Oyinkansola Alabi, a Behavioral Health Specialist in the U.S. Army and Africa’s first female founder of an Emotional Intelligence Academy, has disclosed how a rejected UK student visa in 2015 became a pivotal moment that reshaped her life and career.

In a post on her verified Facebook page, Alabi, also known as The Emotions Doctor, explained that her plans to pursue a Master’s degree in the UK were abruptly halted due to a technicality in her financial documents.

“My visa was rejected because my funds hadn’t been in my account for the required 28 business days,” she wrote. “I had moved money from an investment account to a savings account, so it wasn’t ‘seasoned’ enough to prove ownership.”

The rejection left her feeling not only disappointed but “homeless,” as she had already dismantled her life in preparation for the move.

The day after the denial, while at Maryland Mall in Ikeja, she prayed for guidance and in a moment of clarity, heard a name that would change her life forever.

This moment inspired the creation of Emotions City, her global Emotional Intelligence Academy, which has since trained over 100,000 professionals across 40 countries and certified 384 specialists in 18 nations.

Emotions City’s success opened international doors for Alabi, earning her a U.S. Green Card within six months, citizenship in two years, and her current role as a Behavioral Health Specialist in the U.S. Army.

“What began as rejection has become redemption,” she said. “That single ‘No’ was God’s way of saying, ‘I have something bigger. Just wait.’ Now, I live a life that no longer needs a visa.”