A Nice Bio of Our Yodaai President from the Nigerian Association's Newsletter

This is an edited excerpt from the current Newsletter from the Nigerian American Association in Montgomery, to which many of us belong.  It honors one of Yodaai's sons - our esteemed President!

This is a belated posting - My apologies!!

Member Profile

The Adediji Family:

Dr. Oluyinka Adediji hails from the village of Adigun in Ibadan, Oyo State. It was in the village which up till today remains a large settlement of extended family members, where he was raised by his parents. His father- Joseph Akanmu Adediji Olagbenjo was until his death in 1994 the Baale of Adigun village. His mother Alice Toyosi Adediji and other relatives still live in the village. 

His primary education began at St. Luke's Primary School Adigun, and later completed at IMG Primary School, Agugu Ibadan. Secondary education was also fragmented. It began at Methodist Modern School Elekuro, Ibadan and completed at Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan in 1984. He enrolled at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan where he bagged MBBS in 1990.

Mrs. Olaitan Rakiya Adediji was born to the family of Late Gabriel Owolabi Adeniyi of Ile Arole, Oyo. She relocated with her family to Kano where her father taught in many secondary schools until his retirement. She was raised, educated, and lived in Kano until fate brought the Youth Corper from Ibadan to Kano and what followed has become history. 

Moved by the need to pursue professional excellence, Dr. and Mrs. Adediji decided to explore opportunities in the United States of America.

 In January 1996, while expecting their first child, Dr. Adediji left Nigeria for the USA. He was later joined by his ‘love’ and a new baby boy Oluwatomilayo (Tomi) two years later in the fall of 1998. 

He completed Internal Medicine program at Columbia- Presbyterian University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital in June of 2000. The family relocated to Pine Bluff, Arkansas but for only a couple of eventful years as their youngest child - Femi was born in November 2001. 

When an opportunity opened up to practice in central Alabama’s medically underserved area in Montgomery, Dr. Adediji seized the opportunity and relocated to Montgomery in February of 2002. He worked as a primary care physician at Autagaville Family Medical Center where he served until April of 2007. Since arrival in Montgomery, Dr. Adediji has practiced Emergency Medicine at Jackson Hospital and Clinics Inc. 

In early 2010, Dr. Adediji and his wife opened up Ultracare Medical Center located on Winton M. Blount Loop, off Taylor road in east Montgomery. At Ultracare Medical Center, Dr. Adediji practices Adult Medicine, Disability Examination, Immigration Examination as well as Walk- Ins for minor injury and illnesses.

Mrs. Adediji pursued a career in Nursing upon arrival in the USA. She serves as an RN at their clinic and oversees administrative operations at Ultracare Medical Center.

The children are busy with school and various sporting activities in the community. 

Dr. and Mrs. Adediji are active members of the Nigerian American Association of South Central Alabama since 2002. They are also active members of the nascent Yoruba Descendants Association of Alabama Inc. (Yodaai) since 2011. Dr Adediji is the current president of Yodaai. 

The couple actively participates in various professional organizations including American College of Physicians. Mrs. Adediji is a member of Autauga Elmore Community Medical Alliance. 

Dr. Adediji is a Kellogg Fellow of Emerging Leaders in Public Health based in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is networking with others members of health care professionals in a collaborative efforts to reduce disparities in health care in the USA and globally.

Dr. Adediji’s family is committed to a life mission of empowering others which is manifested in their relationship with individuals and organizations. The family philosophy is based on the adage that blends with the Christian teaching: A good name is better than gold, and serving is better than being served.

 “We believe that, individually and collectively, we owe to our self- integrity, to others- humility, and to our country- civility"- Dr. Adediji adds. And they always encourage their children to follow this principle.

Dr. and Mrs. Adediji submit that their parents have made the greatest impact in their lives with God’s guidance. They attend church at Vaughn Forrest Baptist Church located on Vaughn road in Montgomery, Alabama. 

Socially and professionally Dr. and Mrs. Adediji continue to impact others positively through moral and material support. In addition to commercial health care services, Ultracare Medical Center has been used for many purposes including training of nurses, doctors, and allied health care professionals.

 Outside of work, in addition to attending to the children’s needs, Mrs. Adediji is a gifted seamstress and exceptional home maker “ She is the cornerstone of our family’s wellbeing,” Dr. Adediji confesses. 

Dr. Adediji writes poems and stories; participates in mentoring of prospective students in Medicine and Allied disciplines.

Dr Adediji exercises physically in the same way our fore fathers did - with down to earth farm work using tools like hoes and cutlasses. This, he says reminds him of where he came from. 

Despite almost twenty years of living in the USA, the Adedijis continue to hold their African cultural heritage in high esteem and maintain close links with their extended family and friends in Nigeria.

We salute the Adedijis and wish them well in their continuing service to the community and world at large.

Excerpted  and edited with permission from the Newsletter of the Nigerian American Association of South Central Alabama.

F. A