- A Nigerian professor of heuristic education, Amos Mabayomije Ishola Awodiya, is back home after 48 years in Canada
- In an interview with a cleric, the man in his early 80s confirmed he returned empty-handed with no child or wife
- The academic recounted how he returned to Nigeria in 1995 and what became of him after his time in North America
An academic, Professor Amos Mabayomije Ishola Awodiya, has returned to Nigeria after 48 years in Canada.
A cleric known as Agbala Gabriel interviewed the professor, who will be 81 in June 2025, about his situation.
Agbala Gabriel published his interaction of over 40 minutes with the returning academic on his Facebook page.
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The cleric's post was captioned:
"He spent 48 years in Canada without NOTHING. HE IS BACK HOME WITH NOTHING. NO WIFE. NO CHILD. NO HOUSE. He needs our HELP. 0705 490 0751."
Speaking with the preacher, Amos, who claims he is the first professor of heuristic education in the world, recounted how he first returned to Nigeria in 1995 when he was appointed a minister.
"I was a senior special adviser to Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon (Commander of 4th Battalion of the Nigerian Army from August 1965 to February 1966) on secret intelligence information," he said.
Professor Amos said he is an author and lecturer and wrote the book, Nigerian Encyclopedia. He noted that he was married previously, but his wife passed away without bearing a child.
During the interview, the professor and cleric mostly communicated in Yoruba.
Reactions to Nigerian professor returning from Canada
Abimbola Olayera said:
"It is a lesson to everyone of us,we should have good relationship with our family, no matter how family is bad, you have one person that have good heart in the family, we should close to our God. God provides for him and me.i give him long life."
Olalere Taofeeq said:
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"That means no land is special or area for wealthy,there is bless of God in every where.i saying this like advise for you people have highest mind to travel to abroad by all means."
Stan Jwealth said:
"He is a wizard, meaning a professor that only him can do what he knows, no one can do it. It affected him and he can't move on. Loosing over 80M is not what one should just move on as if nothing happened."
Obimuyiwa Ayowale Ay-wallex said:
"He make a covenant with the wizard in Canada u have to understand this man very well. The money he was dupe for was not his money and can be affected wizardly... So the only thing he need is to publish that book and go back."
Olabiyi David Abayomi said:
"This man studied the mistery of the world, the world that's really spiritual, there are spirits to fight back, we need prayer in this world we live in."
Awodiya Damilare Cpm said:
"I think I saw one of this man's books (dictionary) in my dad's house ooo. I will make findings more as he is looking like my dad's younger brother but from another mother."
Dfauzy Fabrics said:
"Try to locate his Family in Nigeria. That he doesn't have a wife or a child does not mean he doesn't have relatives in Nigeria."
Could the professor be suffering from dementia?
Though the professor did not state the circumstances surrounding his return to Nigeria, losing his wife at childbirth may have been the reason why he was back.
A person, Abbey Adalikwu, suggested he may be suffering from dementia. This could be the case as he claimed he is the president of Nigerians in diaspora. Information online showed that was not true.
Nigerians in diaspora have different branches. For instance, Micheal Adeleke, is the president of the Europe, Belgium and Luxembourg chapter.
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian man had returned home with nothing after spending 30 years abroad
Expert speaks on psychological cost of returning with nothing
A licensed clinical psychologist, Samuel Atilola, said returning home empty-handed after decades abroad can have a severe psychological impact.
“If returnees have nothing to fall back on at home, no one to give them a soft landing, and no concrete plan or means to resettle themselves, this is likely to trigger depression and, in extreme cases, thoughts of su!cide," he told Legit.ng.
Atilola added that mental distress associated with this transition “is similar to grief" because it involves a major loss of livelihood and status, which may lead to "shame and social withdrawal.”
Man returns from Qatar with nothing
Legit.ng also previously reported that a 27-year-old man had returned with nothing after years of working in Qatar.
The man, who lost his job abroad, said he felt lost despite reuniting with his mother after a decade of being apart.
He lamented finding out that his girlfriend had been unfaithful and his friends still relied on him to pay their bills.
Joseph Omotayo, the HoD of the Human Interest Desk, contributed to this article, fact-checking a part of the professor's narrative.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a licensed clinical psychologist for this report.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
