My Life and Work: An Autobiography of Matthew N. O. Sadiku

By Dr. Matthew N. O. Sadiku

In this book, Dr. Matthew Sadiku has shared the amazing story of how he rose from his humble beginnings in Nigeria. He described how he was raised in a Muslim home. After his conversion to Christianity, his drive led him to relocate to the United States for advanced degrees. He has provided a text that is lively from beginning to the end. The book provides a good understanding of his life, thought, and work. You will learn about what it takes to be a mover and shaker for God as you see Sadiku traverse the nation rising to success in the academic and publishing worlds. The book is an essential reading for those interested in the genesis of greatness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Mar 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781490781358

Dr. Matthew N. O. Sadiku

Matthew N. O. Sadiku is a professor emeritus at Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, Texas. He is a man of many talents with a broad experience in writing, publishing, education, theology, counseling, and engineering. He is the author of over 1,000 professional articles and over 100 books including Secrets of Successful Marriages, Enemies of Your Marriage, and commentaries on all the books of the New Testament Bible. His books are used worldwide, and some of them have been translated into Korean, Chinese, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Janet O. Sadiku studied nursing science from 1975 to 1980 at the University of Ife, now known as Obafemi Awolowo University. She has worked as a nurse, educator, and church minister in Nigeria, United Kingdom, and Canada. She is presently retired with her husband in West Palm Beach, FL.

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Copyright 2017 Matthew Sadiku.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-8134-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-8136-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-8135-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017903546

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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CONTENTS

Preface

1. Birth And Parentage

2. Childhood

3. College Life

4. Life in America

5. Life In Philadelphia

6. Life In Transition

7. Life In Houston

Appendix A — My Work

Appendix B — My Photos

Dedicated to

my daughter, Ann Sadiku, who suggested that I write this book

PREFACE

My daughter Ann convinced me to write my autobiography. Since I have never written a book like this before, I had to read the autobiographies of Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Mohandas Gandhi, Malcolm X, Malala Yousafzai, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, and other related books before writing mine. I have divided this book into to seven chapters, with each chapter addressing different stages in my life. Appendix A has all my works. It is essentially a modified version of my full resume. Appendix B is a gallery of photos.

I believe that this book provides a good understanding of my life, thought, and work. It may serve as a source of inspiration for those who read it. I would like to thank my wife Kike and my brother Moses for going over the entire book and making some corrections.

CHAPTER 1

BIRTH AND PARENTAGE

I was born on Tuesday, May 17, 1955. The year of my birth marked the beginning of free education in Western Nigeria. My birthplace was Shagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. I spent most of my childhood at the home owned by my parents located at 10, Odi-Olowo St, Makun, Shagamu.

The Sadikus belong to the Ojogiri family. Although we lived in Shagamu, we had our own Ojogiri village, where we went for farming.

I was born into a Muslim family and my name at birth was Nojimu, which means star. My maternal grandmother gave me my middle name Olanipekun, which means honor has no end. I used to be physically sick on regular bassis until I became a Christain. Since then, I became an extraordinary healthy child. My Christian name is Matthew, which means gift of God.

My Father

My dad grew up as a pagan and his name was Ogunneye, indicating an interest in Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron. He later became a Muslim and his Muslim name was Sadiku, which means a honest person. In 1965, he became a Christian and his Christian name was Solomon. His full name was Solomon Sadiku Ogunneye Ojogiri.

My father was prudent and self-confident. In his days, people of the same age formed parties. My dad was the leader of his party. The party met at our house once a month. They contributed money and helped each other when in need.

Like his peers, my dad was a polygamist. He had the following wives and children in order of their seniority:

1. Shikuola:

Michael Kayode

Joseph Adeleke

2. Ayisatu:

Matthew Nojimu Olanipekun

Moses Abubakare

David Dauda Olayinka

James Olugbenga

Julius Olusola

3. Abigail Tinuola:

Mary Serifatu

Comfort Adijatu

Johnson Adebayo

Kolawole

4. Elizabeth Falilatu:

Agnes Sekinotu

Victoria Raliatu

Patience Temitope

Janet Oluyemi

Peter Oluwafemi

Daniel Adewale

5. Olufunmilayo:

Oluwakemi

Temidayo

All the children (ten boys and eight girls) belong to my father except Michael, who is my uncle Raimi Ogunyemi’s son. My mother Ayisatu was the first wife my dad married. When my uncle died, my dad was asked to marry my aunt Shikuola, who was senior to my mom.

In Africa, we do not make distinctions among relatives as practiced in the West. We do not have cousins, nephews, half sisters or half brothers. My mother’s sister is my mother. My half brothers are my brothers. My uncle’s sons are my brothers. My brother’s children are my sons and daughters.

My father used to say, I am like a barber trying to shave your head. If you cooperate with me, I will do a good job. If you do not cooperate, I can’t help you.

My dad got involved in all kinds of businesses including farming, bicycle repairing, selling kolanuts at the market, etc. His main occupation was farming. On Saturdays, the children including me would go to the farm with my dad. Sometimes we cut the grass, but most of the times, we helped in harvesting and peeling kolanuts. We put them in baskets and carried them to the market in the evening for sale. We divided the kolanuts into two—the small ones and the big ones. The big ones belonged to my dad, while the small ones belonged to the children. We got some pocket money by selling the small ones.

Sometimes, my dad would only ask me to go the farm with him. The two of us would ride on a bike. I did not enjoy farming. I did it only to please my dad.

When anyone was sick, dogoyaro was the cure-all medicine we used. The leaves from the dogoyaro tree were boiled in a pot and we were given this herb to drink, as one drinks tea without milk or sugar.

The thing I admire most about my dad was his wisdom. My dad was always called to settle quarrels for families in trouble. He never hesitated to speak his mind and tell the truth. Later in his life, he was made a chief. He died on March 21, 2001.

My Mother

My mother, Ayisatu, was a hardworking and prudent woman. She too was the leader of her party. Her party met once in a month at her house, built at the back of my dad’s house.

I remember one day when my mom called me and my brother Moses together for a serious talk. She told us that we should focus on our studies because she was willing to sponsor us to any level. She used to say, Wherever you place yourself is where people will place you. My mom cared for us and wanted us to have the best.

My mom had many children (at least ten), but only five boys survived and I am the first of those five. Whenever my dad could not help us financially (because of having too many kids), my mom was always there to help.

My mom was a kolanut trader. She was diligent in her trade. Typically, she would go to the market in the evening, buy some kolanuts, and hire some people to carry the kolanuts home. We the children had to fetch water from the public tap and fill two or more drums with water. When my mom returned from the market, she would pour all the kolanuts into the drums. The following morning, when the kolanuts had softened, my mom would hire people to peel the kolanuts. My mom would either sell the kolanuts at Sabo market in Shagamu or take them to northern Nigeria (e.g. Kano or Jos) for sale.

Although kolanuts are produced in the Western part of Nigeria, the Yorubas do not eat it as much as the Hausas and the Ibos. Among the Ibos, a kolanut represents wellbeing and goodwill. It was the focal point of all social ceremony and no