Losing my sister inspired me into humanitarian services – Nuhu Kwajafa

Nuhu Fulani Kwajafa, a 52-year-old man born in Lagos but a native of Borno State, is the son of a former commissioner of police, Fulani Kwajafa. A graduate of American College in London, he has been a natural giver since childhood, as he often gave out his clothes and shoes to his less-privileged friends to […]

Nuhu Fulani Kwajafa, a 52-year-old man born in Lagos but a native of Borno State, is the son of a former commissioner of police, Fulani Kwajafa. A graduate of American College in London, he has been a natural giver since childhood, as he often gave out his clothes and shoes to his less-privileged friends to make them happy and enjoy part of his privileged childhood. 

Sixteen years ago, he founded an NGO, Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care (GIPLC) which has been impacting the lives of many indigents, especially children, orphans and widows across the country.

• How Kaduna farmer drowned rescuing 8 residents
• Manarakis: A lone crusader for the survival of Nupe language

Nuhu said the NGO currently has over 4,000 children in various schools under its Educate-A-Child Project; adding that on a monthly basis GIPLC renders support to thousands of children who are in dire need of medical care, like surgeries.

According to him, the untimely death of his sister in 2003 in a car crash was the inspiration behind the initiative as it caused him to have a second thought about life. It later culminated in the birth to Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care.

He said, “During her burial, a lot came to my mind because it was painful. I asked myself, is this what life is all about? One in which we are all fighting for earthly things? Today you are here and tomorrow you are gone, and life still goes on. That was when it hit me that life is not all about you.

“Life is about giving hope to others in need. That was how the Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care came into being in 2006. That year, I told God that I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to serving humanity and putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged, and I am so happy that he has continued to answer that prayer till date.”

Speaking on the major breakthroughs the NGO recorded in the last 16 years, Nuhu said it achieved a lot which aspires him to do more for the less privileged.

“Our continuous sensitization campaigns have brought major donors like Metrix Energy, Taleveras Group, Phase 3 Telecoms among others through whom hundreds of millions of naira have been raised and applied for the treatment of numerous people, especially children.

“Presently, we have over 4,000 children in various schools under our Educate-A-Child Project; and on a monthly basis, we support thousands of children in dire need of medical care such as surgeries.

“In 2013, GIPLC raised $234,000 within 24 hours for the surgery of Okikijesu Olawuyi, the first baby ever born in this world without 50% of her skull. The surgery was done by the renowned US neurosurgeon Dr Ben Carson.

“Again, in 2017, GIPLC met Ali Ahmadu Chibok, a 5-year-old boy who was run over by Boko Haram terrorists in the night the Chibok girls were kidnapped, when he was only 2-year-old. Nigerian doctors ruled that Ali would never walk again due to spinal cord injuries, so, we contacted some hospitals in the US, UK and Dubai; and we ended up with the Dubai hospital that gave us a bill of $48, 000.

“We started a campaign ‘Ali Ahmadu Chibok Must Walk Again’, and the campaign took us to the office of the then Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki who met Ali. The meeting of the Senate President and Ali went viral, and within a few days $48,000 was raised with the help of Dickens Sanomi Foundation.

“After Ali’s surgery in Dubai, the doctors predicted that Ali might start walking after four to five weeks because of the healing process and physiotherapy.

“But by the special grace of God, Ali started walking after just 6 days. Even the doctors were surprised. Ali became a household personality globally. Even the wife of the Emir of Sharjah (UAE) sent gifts and flowers to Ali in the hospital.’’

Mr Kwajafa asked people to google ‘Ali Ahmadu Chibok’ and ‘Okikijesu Olawuyi’ to see the miracles of God. He said he lives with Ali after adopting him to give him a better life. “He will be 11-year-old this December, and we are having a Christmas/End of Year party for 2,000 orphans from 35 orphanages and Ali’s 11th year celebration on Sunday, 11th of December, 2022.”

On how the NGO is able to achieve its objectives and generate the funds it runs its humanitarian services, he likened it to the power of volume, integrity and transparency.

“If we need to raise one million naira for a sick child, we will look for 10 people and appeal to them to donate N50,000 each, or 20 people to donate N25,000 each, or look for 1,000 people to donate N1,000 each, or 2000 people to donate N500 each. So, that way, donors have their own category even if you are a poor man you can still touch a life with the little you have.

“We believe that one million Nigerians donating N100 everyday can change the lives of millions of children in dire need of medical support. We are working on various projects to realize that goal.

“In summary, in the last 16 years, we have raised over $5m using these campaigns strategy, yet we have never received a dime from foreign donors/foreign NGOs. All the money has been raised in Nigeria, showing that the problems are Nigeria’s problems, and must be solved by Nigerians.”

In 2014, the NGO stretched its humanitarian mission to war-torn South Sudan, where it raised and committed over N20m in providing food, mosquito nets and primary health care to children and widows in refugee camps.

“In 2014, as I watched the unfolding civil war in South Sudan, I was moved to tears seeing thousands of malnourished children in refugee camps looking so sad. I felt a heavy burden to help them. We wrote to the South Sudan ambassador to Nigeria, offering to execute a humanitarian mission to his country, which was approved.

“We purchased drugs, mosquito nets from Nigeria and food items from Juba, South Sudan worth over N20m which we raised from a quick campaign for funds, and left for South Sudan in March of 2014.

“While there, in partnership with the First Lady of South Sudan’s NGO, we visited three refugee camps and distributed the items and drugs we brought.

“It was indeed a fulfilling mission, and I am so grateful to God for the little support we were able to render beyond the shores of Nigeria; and hope to do more in other troubled parts of the world especially Africa as much as we can, and are enabled by God.’’

Mr. Kwajafa told Daily Trust that his ultimate goal and dream is that the GIPLC outlives him and gains global significance as a renown humanitarian giant of Africa, “with a heart of gold from Nigeria my country of which I am so proud, and I am always happy to be the NGO’s ambassador through charity work.

“I see GIPLC in a decade or less establishing a first-class General Hospital for children with health needs, where treatment of any type will be free of charge, and funded by our local and global fundraising efforts,’’ he added.

He also charged young Nigerians to key into humanitarian services. “My advice to younger people who want to get into humanitarian work is: you have to put your needs/wants aside, sacrifice a lot with dedication and commitment; find your purpose, be productive, and be good ambassadors of our great nation Nigeria, showing love to one another. These acts will define who you eventually become.”