B/Haram nearly killed my university dream – Statistics graduate

What challenges did you face while studying in Maiduguri, one of the insurgency-ravaged areas? I am Enoch Yohannah, the secretary of the New Kuchigoro IDP Camp in Abuja. I am from Goshen Village in Gwoza Local Government Area, one of the areas greatly affected by the insurgency. I am a corps member serving with a […]

What challenges did you face while studying in Maiduguri, one of the insurgency-ravaged areas?
I am Enoch Yohannah, the secretary of the New Kuchigoro IDP Camp in Abuja. I am from Goshen Village in Gwoza Local Government Area, one of the areas greatly affected by the insurgency. I am a corps member serving with a non-governmental organisation – Global Integrated Education and Voluntary Association. They sent me to this camp to teach displaced children. I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and statistics from the University of Maiduguri.
I am a victim of terror attacks and suffered the most brutal abuses from the Boko Haram sect. This is because on the 29th of September 2014, my father and his relatives were killed by the insurgents when they attacked our village. That time I was writing my final examination and defending my project. Though the attacks did not stop us from graduating, it affected my grades. I managed to graduate with second class lower instead of second class upper.
I intend to specialize in skills acquisition programmes. I want to empower people in skills and entrepreneurship. I learnt that if you have skills, you will be productive for life and can help others. You will be self-reliant and economically independent. You wouldn’t have to rely on government for a job.  Skills acquisition will reduce over dependency on government. You will contribute to the society and develop the economy of the country. Skills acquisition will reduce youth restiveness and political thuggery in the country.
I faced a lot of challenges. I struggled to pay my school fees, handout and other learning materials. I had nobody to sponsor me. My father was killed at the mountain. I nearly dropped out of school due to lack of sponsorship.
I was demoralized and lived in fear and uncertainty. I lost confidence when I was writing my project and final examination.
Everything became difficult and hectic. No food to eat, no money to spend and I couldn’t concentrate. I remember there was a time I wanted to go to my village and there was no road. Every road leading to my village was closed; I had to go through Cameroun. I had to register with the Cameroonian authorities. The registration was tedious because you have to be cleared by Cameroonian officials before you would be allowed to enter Nigeria. I suffered a lot. I trekked and was hunger stricken. When I reached my village I discovered that my father and his relatives had been killed while my mother and some of my siblings were rescued and relocated to Maiduguri. They later moved to Nasarawa State and Abuja.
Though I was able to graduate, I didn’t graduate with the grade I had expected. I narrowly got a second class lower because my CGPA was 3.3. Boko Haram insurgency really affected my study. I will never forget it in my life.
 
You have been living with displaced persons, why?
I chose to live in the camp because I want to help my people to acquire knowledge and skills. That is why I became the spokesman of the New Kuchigoro IDP camp. I take care of the people, and even take some to the hospital when they fall sick. We are facing many challenges in the camp; we want government to provide us with food and basic social amenities.