A sad story about a Nigerian man named Professor Amos Mabayomije Ishola Awodiya is touching many hearts. He is 78 years old and just came back to Nigeria after living in Canada for almost 50 years. He says he is the first professor in the world for something called heuristic education, which is about learning by solving problems. But he returned with no money, no kids, and no wife. This shows how hard life can be for people who live far from home for a long time.
People learned about his story from a video interview by a popular pastor named Agbala Gabriel. The pastor posted the video on his Facebook page, lasting more than 40 minutes. In the post, he wrote: “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.”
Professor Amos was born on June 19, 1947, in Ilesha, Osun State. He turned 78 in June 2025. In the interview, they mostly spoke in Yoruba. He talked about his work. He said he is a writer and teacher. He wrote a big book called the “Nigerian Encyclopedia.” It has 2,000 pages about Nigeria’s history and culture, all written by hand.
He also shared about his past jobs in Nigeria. He came back once in 1995 to work as a minister. He was a special adviser on secret information to Brigadier General Tunde Idiagbon. That was during General Muhammadu Buhari’s time in power from 1983 to 1985. “I was a senior special adviser to Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon on secret intelligence information,” he said.
On his personal life, he told the pastor he was married before, but his wife died while giving birth. They had no children. He did not say much about why he came back now. But he mentioned losing a lot of money – over 80 million naira – in a scam when he tried to print his book. That left him with nothing.
Some people doubt parts of his story. A post on Facebook said he might have lied about having no family. It claimed he has wives and kids, not like what he said. This has made people argue about if he is telling the truth.
He also said he is the president of Nigerians living abroad. But that is not right. The real group called Nigerians in Diaspora Commission is led by Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa. There are other leaders for different parts, like Micheal Adeleke for Europe, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Because of this mix-up, some people think he might have memory problems, like dementia. One person named Abbey Adalikwu suggested that.
The video has got many comments from Nigerians online. Abimbola Olayera wrote: “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: “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.”
Some talked about magic or spirits. 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 added: “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 wrote: “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 shared: “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 suggested: “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.”
A doctor who knows about mental health, Samuel Atilola, talked to Legit.ng about this. He said coming home with nothing after so many years can hurt your mind a lot. “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 suicide,” he explained. He said it feels like losing someone you love, because you lose your job and place in life. It can make you feel ashamed and want to hide from people.
This story reminds us that life abroad is not always easy. Many Nigerians do well there, but some feel alone and lose everything. People are talking a lot online, and some want to help. The pastor gave a phone number for anyone who can support the professor.
Stories like this show we need better help for people coming back home. Things like mental health care and ways to fit back into life here could make a big difference. That way, hard work abroad does not end in sadness when you return.
