40 under Forty

40 Under Forty Award Winner

Matthew Okebiyi
Founder/Executive Director
African-American Planning Commission Inc.
Brooklyn, NY
Age: 39

Matthew Okebiyi, 39, is the founder and executive director of the African American Planning Commission Inc., a New York-based non-profit organization, which works to develop affordable housing, economic development and employment programs for the community at-large.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Okebiyi, a son of a diplomat, spent most of his early childhood and formal school years in various parts of Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

It was during those years that he witnessed abject poverty and homelessness, first hand. Those incidents had a profound effect on his life.

Okebiyi settled in Brooklyn in the early 1980Õs and attended college on a full-time basis while working two jobs. He looks back at those days with mixed emotions.

ÒThose were some very difficult times in my life, financially, scholastically and emotionally, but God being so good, I made it.Ó Okebiyi said.

He earned a bachelorÕs degree in communication arts from Saint Francis College and pursued advanced studies, earning mastersÕ degrees from Long Island University in urban planning and in political science. Okebiyi also completed mental health training at Hunter College School of Social Work in New York. He is now a doctoral candidate at Fordham University in two disciplines—international relations and African-American studies.

He attributes his success to his family: ÒMy father made a lot of sacrifices for us so that we could become anything we wanted to be. He instilled within us a strong work ethic,Ó Okebiyi said. ÒMy mother always told us that we could accomplish anything as long as we always remembered to put God first.Ó

Okebiyi said that while accolades and recognition are nice and look great on a resume, they are not the motivating factors in his life. His motivation is helping others.—ST

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