Edo IDPs Defy Odds to Graduate from Nigerian Universities

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing at the International Christian Centre camp in Uhogua, Edo State, have shared emotional accounts of how they overcame years of trauma and hardship to graduate from various Nigerian universities.

According to iReporter Online, many of the camp residents—originally displaced from northeastern Nigeria following Boko Haram insurgency attacks—were brought to the facility as orphans a decade ago. Several among them have since attained academic milestones, including five who were recently called to the Nigerian Bar in Abuja.

One of the graduates, 25-year-old Philemon Obidiah, who earned a degree in Accounting from the University of Benin, recounted the emotional toll of fleeing Borno State after his community was attacked. Obidiah revealed that he was haunted for years by the trauma of being separated from his parents and initially failed all his subjects in school.

“Every time I sat in class, my mind drifted to my parents—where they were, whether they were alive. My first result was all F9s,” he recalled. “But through the encouragement and counseling I received from our teachers, I gradually began to improve. From there, I started competing for the top position.”

Another graduate, 41-year-old Esther Maloko, shared how she had given up hope of ever receiving formal education. She resumed learning at the camp, progressed academically, and later gained admission to Western Delta University, where she studied Business Administration. Now a graduate, she plans to work in the business sector and help others who have suffered similar hardships.

Alhaji Yusuf, who fled Borno State at the age of 15, is now a graduate of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering. He expressed a strong desire to return to his community and contribute to rebuilding its telecommunications infrastructure. Yusuf noted that his time at the camp helped him develop a passion for education. “Initially, I just wanted to be safe—no shooting, no guns,” he said. “Now, I want to give back, especially to the science school here, which lacks essential laboratory equipment.”

Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, the founder of the IDP camp, disclosed that over 180 displaced persons have graduated from universities, with hundreds more currently enrolled in institutions across the country. “We have over 400 students in different universities. Some are in rural areas trying to survive due to rising costs and food shortages,” he stated.

He also noted that beyond formal education, some residents are involved in farming and skill acquisition to support themselves. “A few months ago, five of our students became medical doctors—four boys and a girl. We also have over a dozen nurses and midwives, and one of our engineers is now working in Chicago.”

Folorunsho acknowledged the increasing challenges in sustaining the camp, which houses a predominantly child population. He appealed for support from government agencies and the public to continue providing food, education, and essential services for the growing number of displaced children.