Benin city: Tada Ayuba was displaced from his community in Borno by the Boko Haram insurgency in 2014, and in the process, he lost his mum. He was homeless, hopeless, and traumatised until he found refuge in the Home for the Needy Foundation in Uhogua, Benin City, Edo. Ayuba then attended the foundation’s school, which covered his primary and secondary education. He proceeded to the university, where he graduated with First-Class Honours in law in 2025.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ayuba’s story is no different from that of Amos Ishaku, a 27-year-old former IDP who graduated with a First-Class degree in Chemical Engineering from Edo University, Uzairue, in November 2023. Ishaku is now on his PhD programme at the University of Illinois, Chicago, U.S. Ishaku recounted his experiences with Boko Haram, which forced him to flee his home and seek refuge at the Uhogua Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Edo in 2014.
These testimonies are among many from IDPs under the care of the Home for the Needy Foundation. According to Founder/Coordinator Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, over 400 IDPs are currently studying various courses in universities across Nigeria. The foundation boasts more than 185 graduates, including medical doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Notable graduates include Dawa Yusuf in Business Administration and Alhaji Yusuf in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, both achieving First-Class Honors.
Folorunsho explained that the foundation was established in 1992 to support the needy and vulnerable, including orphans, street children, and victims of insurgency. Initially catering to four individuals, the foundation rapidly expanded to serve 700 people. It provides shelter, food, emotional support, healthcare, and education from kindergarten to tertiary level. Despite its successes, the foundation faces challenges in meeting the basic and educational needs of those it serves.
The foundation’s efforts have produced professionals, including a magistrate and a senior state counsel in Edo’s Ministry of Justice. The founder emphasized the importance of community support to continue transforming lives. He praised Eghogho Okpebholo, daughter of the Edo Governor, for assisting a student with outstanding school fees. The foundation continues to seek substantial support to sustain its mission of nurturing displaced and disadvantaged individuals into productive members of society.
Observers note that with proper support, the foundation can cultivate more professionals who contribute positively to society.