After spending 48 years in Canada, renowned professor of heuristic education, Amos Mabayomije Ishola Awodiya, has returned home to Nigeria in his early 80s — alone, with no wife, children, or material wealth.
In a recent interview with a cleric, Prof. Awodiya opened up about his journey, revealing that despite his decades abroad, he came back empty-handed.
“I left for Canada full of dreams, but life didn’t go as planned,” he said with a calm tone, reflecting on the choices and circumstances that shaped his life.
Awodiya recalled returning briefly to Nigeria in 1995 but faced challenges reintegrating into society and securing stable opportunities.
Despite his academic achievements and experience, he found himself drifting between locations, disconnected from both the academic world and family life.
Now settled back in Nigeria, he hopes his story serves as a lesson to the younger generation. “It’s not always greener on the other side. Don’t lose yourself chasing illusions,” he advised.
His return has sparked conversations about the struggles of diaspora returnees, especially those who left with high hopes but faced unfulfilled promises abroad.
Still, Prof. Awodiya remains composed, relying on faith and community support in his later years.
By Kenyans