Beyond 80

Synopsis: Dr. Akinyemi, in his peculiar storytelling way, talks about how he came from Nigeria, West Africa, to the USA. He writes convincingly about his coming from a land of empty, relatively speaking, to a land of plenty, the USA. He summarized his experiences in the USA by telling the story of his life (and the achievements that he had) that could only have happened in the USA. He ends up saying it's only in America that a "NOBODY" (like him, in 1963), has become a "SOMEBODY" (five decades later). He added a caveat "If that somebody is willing to work hard and not necessarily expect handouts all the time.

Autobiography: I am Dr. John Ayoola Akinyemi. I am 80 years old. I was born at Abeokuta, the Capital of OGUN State, Nigeria, West Africa. Both of my parents were Methodist educators. I have eight siblings. All of us were blessed to have been nurtured by parents who believed in God and trained us "in all your ways, acknowledge God and HE will guide your ways."

I and my eight siblings received our elementary and high schools education attending Methodist Schools in Nigeria. I came to the USA in 1963 after graduation, in 1960 from the Methodist Boys High School (MBHS) Lagos. Nigeria. I attended Aurora University, Aurora, IL where I met my wife, the Late Agnes Ndungwa Akinyemi, to whom I was married for almost 50 years. My father was the Late Joseph M. Akinyemi. My mother was the Late Chief Marion F. Akinyemi. I hold four degrees, namely, a BS with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry from Aurora University, Aurora, IL, a Master's Degree from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, a PhD degree from Howard University, Washington DC, and a Master of Public Health degree (MPH) from the Bloomberg Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD.

I retired from the US Federal Government in 2006 after serving as a Civilian for 27 years. I am an avid gardener. I enjoy dancing, singing, and writing. I recently wrote and published a biography honoring my wife, Agnes Ndungwa Akinyemi. The title is "Coming 2 America." I am currently writing my own Autobiography, entitled "BEYOND 80."

I have two adult children, Adedoyin Akinyemi, and Olutobi Akinyemi. I have two grandsons, Isaiah Akinyemi, 16, and Joshua Skipper, 13.