Introduction Ndagi Abdullahi (December 8, 1972), one of Nigeria's most prolific writers of modern times. He is reputed to have written over 500 books most of which are serious research books dealing with highly controversial topics. His book titled 'Nupe the Origin' purported that all Nigerian tribes and ethnicities originated from the Nupe people of the Nigerian Middle Belt. His Book 'The First Tribe: Africa Is Israel' remonstrate that Black Negro Africa, and not the Middle East, is the setting of the Biblical and Qur'anic stories. His other book titled 'Genesis Africa' contend that all the races of the world descended from the Black African Negroes of Africa. His book titled '100 Reasons Why IBB Is Great' has made him a national and international figure within and outside Nigeria. His most favourite quote is John Milton's statement that, "There is no learned man but who will confess he hath much profited by reading controversies; his senses awakened, his judgment sharpened and the truth which he holds more firmly established." Early Education Ndagi Abdullahi was born on Friday the 8th of December, 1972 at the General Hospital in the city of Sokoto in Northern Nigeria. His parents are, however, both from the ancient city of Bida in present day Niger State. His father was a civil servant working in Sokoto when Ndagi Abdullahi was born. When Niger State was created in 1976 the family moved down to Minna the capital city of the new state. It was in Minna that Ndagi Abdullahi attended Chiroma Primary School from 1979 to 1984. He then attended Government Secondary School, G.S.S., Minna from 1984 to 1990. From 1990 to 1991 he attended the Federal University of Technology which is also located in Minna. He, however, left for the Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, where he read Human Medicine from 1991 to 1996. He got his 1st MBBS at that University of Sokoto. He couldn't obtain his 2nd MBBS from that university however. He later on attended a number of universities - including Bayero University, Kano; the University of Jos; University of Cape Coast, Ghana, University of Pretoria, South Africa, and even tried studying at the Washington State University, USA, etc, - but still couldn't fulfil his dream of obtaining his 2nd MBBS in Human Medicine in all these universities. Books It was around that time that Ndagi Abdullahi begun to fully concentrate on his research and writing skills and talents. He became a professional writer and author and the number of his books rapidly increased from an initial two books to thirty-nine books to over a hundred books. Today he claimed to have written over five hundred books. The most interesting thing about Ndagi Abdullahi's works is the highly controversial nature of his books. One of his earliest most controversial books is 'Nupe the Origin which, incredibly enough, claimed that all the tribes and ethnicities of Nigeria originated from the Nupe tribe of Nigeria. The American Connection The popularity and controversy of Ndagi Abdullahi's books spread from Nigeria to other parts of the world. But Ndagi Abdullahi's trully international break-through came about as a result of the introduction of his works to a group of Black American businessmen and medical professionals by Mrs. Sarah Jibrin in New York city in 2004. Mrs. Sarah Jibrin was a presidential aspirant in Nigeria during the last democratic elections. The Americans were so impressed by Ndagi Abdullahi's creative talent and the originality of his researches that some of them, attending an Africare Conference in Nigeria, went down to Minna, Niger State, to meet with Ndagi Abdullahi. After meeting and discussing extensively with Ndagi Abdullahi the Americans came back to the USA and printed Advanced Reading Copies of some of his books which were distributed among some scholars in North America and Europe. The Americans also appointed Ndagi Abdullahi as a visiting lecturer to a number of American universities. Furthermore the Americans fought for him to be conferred with a doctorate degree in African history. 100 Reasons Why IBB Is Great One of Ndagi Abdullahi's most popular books, especially in Nigeria, is the book he wrote on the life and achievements of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the former military ruler of NIgeria. The book is titled 'One Hundred Reasons Why IBB Is Great'. This book, launched on the 31st of July 2007, not only made Ndagi Abdullahi famous and recognised among national and international political and literary circles but also transformed him into a millionaire. There are conflicting stories and rumours as to the exact amount of millions of Naira Ndagi Abdullahi made as a result of the launching. The most common story is that he made close to thirty million Naira at the venue of the launching and that he later on made several other millions of Nairas given to him by General Babangida and his associates, so-called 'IBB Boys' as a gesture of appreciation for portraying the General in a positive image to the generality of Nigerians and the world. Back to School After making money and name Ndagi Abdullahi decided to go back to school to further his medical studies. He went back to the University of Jos where he completed his medical studies and obtained his 2nd MBBS in 2008. He afterwards embarked on a postgraduate medical studies at the same University of Jos. He has since worked with a number of clinics and hospitals in the Jos Plateau general area. He is also setting up his own medical centre named after his late American medical mentor Dr. Eugean Clark Van Horn, Snr. He also worked at the Van Horn Medical Centre in Washington D.C. Ndagi Abdullahi's eventual goal is to become a professor in the medical field. 'Director General, Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation' On the 1st of August, 2009, Ndagi Abdullahi was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant on Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation to the Niger State Governor. This appointment was effected by Dr. Muhammed Kuta Yahaya, the Secretary to the Niger State Government,SSG. The SSG stated that the Niger State Government is keenly interested in recruiting gifted intellectuals, in the likes of Ndagi Abdullahi, into the Chief Servants administration. So impressed with the work of Ndagi Abdullahi as an SSA to the Governor were the Niger State authorities that a year later, precisely on the 3rd of August 2010, he was promoted to the position of a Director General (Programmes Coordinator), Directorate of Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation. In this position Ndagi Abdullahi oversees all the programmes going on in Niger State and reports to the SSG and thence to the Governor on the progress and retrogression of all the programmes. Who Is General Babangida Ndagi Abdullahi has continued to write on the life and times of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. See, for instance, the Sun Newspaper, a Nigerian national daily Ndagi Abdullahi has written seven different books on General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and one book on the late wife of the General, Dr. Mrs. Maryam Babangida. General Babangida has actually confirmed Ndagi Abdullahi as his official biographer. Ndagi Abdullahi's latest book on the personality of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is titled 'Who Is General Babangida?' . This book has become a bestseller because of General Babangida's ongoing bid at participating in the forthcoming 2011 preseidential elections against the incubemt President Goodluck Jonathan. Further Writings And Ndagi Abdullahi's works have continued to appeared in literary journals and magazines. In Sentinel Nigeria, a leading literary magazine in Nigeria, for instance his critically acclaimed short story, Zhenti, is published . See also Su'eddie's critique of this essay on Su'eddie's Life In Life In Literature blog 555 Books Launching by the Chief Servant of Niger State Meanwhile the Chief Servant is launching five hundred and fifty five(555) different books written by Ndagi Abdullahi on the 12th of November, 2010, as a birthday gift to the Chief Servant whose 55th birthday falls on the 12th of November, 2010. A number of these books are available, for free-of-charge reading, copying and downloading on a Facebook page created by Ndagi Abdullahi Ndagi Abdullahi's launching of 555 books in one day is a world record in two senses. In the first context nobody has ever launched over 500 books all written by one individual in the whole history of book launching in entire world. In the second context Ndagi Abdullahi is the only Black man in the world who has written over 500 books. The Americans are also organising a world tour of Ndagi Abdullahi litany of books immediately after the 12th November of books. Errol Rodney Lewis, an American publisher and author, and Mr. Larry Williams, CEO of Lone Willow Inc., from Virginia, are the ones behind the world tour. References
