Tada Ayuba’s life was upended in 2014 when he was displaced from his community in Borno State by the Boko Haram insurgency, losing his mother in the process. Left homeless and traumatised, his fortunes changed when he found refuge at the Home for the Needy Foundation in Uhogua, Benin City, Edo State.
At the foundation, Ayuba received free education from primary to secondary school and went on to study law at university, graduating with First-Class Honours in 2025.
His story mirrors that of Amos Ishaku, a 27-year-old former internally displaced person (IDP), who also rose above adversity to achieve academic excellence.
Ishaku graduated with a First-Class degree in Chemical Engineering from Edo University, Uzairue, in November 2023 and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Illinois, Chicago, in the United States.
Recounting his ordeal, Ishaku said his education was disrupted in 2012 when Boko Haram fighters attacked communities including Michika, Lasa, and Bile in Borno State.
“They burned, looted, and attacked our school. We had to jump over the fence and flee into the bush, where we spent the night. The school was shut indefinitely, halting my education,” he recalled.
He later fled to his hometown, Poko, but continued to encounter violence, including an attack that forced passengers to abandon their vehicle and run for safety.
He also described how residents fled to the mountains, where they lived in caves for months amid persistent threats and blocked escape routes.
With limited options, many attempted dangerous crossings into Cameroon, while others moved through mountainous terrain to safer areas.
Ishaku eventually arrived at the Uhogua IDP camp in Edo State in 2014, after being out of school for more than three years.
These experiences reflect the journeys of many displaced persons currently supported by the Home for the Needy Foundation.
The founder and coordinator of the camp, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, said more than 400 IDPs under the foundation’s care are currently studying in universities across Nigeria.
“Today, we have over 400 students in various universities studying courses such as Medicine, Law, Engineering, Accounting, Nursing, and Philosophy,” he said.
According to him, the foundation has produced more than 185 graduates, including medical doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, and accountants.
He added that five law graduates were recently called to the Nigerian Bar, while 11 medical doctors and several nurses have been certified in their respective professions.
Folorunsho highlighted Ishaku’s academic success, noting that he graduated with top honours and multiple awards before proceeding to pursue a PhD abroad.
Other notable alumni include Dawa Yusuf (Business Administration), Alhaji Yusuf (Electrical and Electronic Engineering), and Ayuba (Law), all of whom graduated with First-Class Honours. Ayuba also received several academic awards at the University of Benin.
Folorunsho explained that the foundation, established in 1992, was created to cater to vulnerable members of society, including orphans, street children, children from broken homes, widows, and the poor.
“We started with just four persons, and within a few months, the number grew to 700,” he said.
He noted that the insurgency in the North-East triggered a massive influx of displaced persons into the camp from 2012, many of whom arrived deeply traumatised.
“We provided shelter, food, clothing, healthcare, emotional support, and access to quality education from kindergarten to tertiary level,” he said.
The foundation has also produced a magistrate and a senior state counsel in the Edo State Ministry of Justice.
Its students consistently perform well in national examinations, with some scoring 300 and above in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Despite these achievements, Folorunsho said the foundation faces significant challenges, particularly in funding.
“We care for people across all age groups, including infants, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and traumatised individuals. This requires substantial resources,” he said.
He added that several students in tertiary institutions are struggling to pay school fees, with some unable to sit for examinations.
Folorunsho, however, commended Eghogho Okpebholo, daughter of the Edo State governor, for assisting one of the students by clearing outstanding fees, enabling him to graduate.
He also cited the story of Luka Bamayi, a physically challenged and abandoned child who found refuge at the camp and is now a 400-level medical student.
“Every child carries unique potential, even those who arrive broken and without hope. With the right support—food, shelter, education, and care—they can thrive and contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.
