“I Refused to Give Up”: From a War-Torn Childhood to a University Dream – By Usman Abubakar

I remember the night my world changed forever.

I was just a child when the echoes of gunfire shattered my village in Borno State. The air was thick with smoke, the cries of terrified families filling the darkness. In that moment, everything I knew—my home, friends, school—was gone.

I didn’t know the future, but I knew one thing: I had to run.

My family fled to Lagos, hoping for safety and a fresh start. But instead of relief, I was met with a new kind of struggle. I was supposed to be in school, chasing my dreams. Instead, I was stuck—unable to read or write properly, forced to start again from Primary 4 while kids younger than me moved ahead.

I felt ashamed. I felt hopeless.

I asked myself over and over again:
“How will I ever catch up? How will I ever make something of my life?”

But deep inside me, a small voice refused to be silenced.
“Keep going, Usman. Just keep going.”

A Second Chance at Life
Then, in October 2016, I found the Ovie Brume Foundation, and my life changed forever.

They didn’t see me as the boy who had fallen behind. They saw my potential—something I had stopped believing in.

They helped me improve my reading and writing through engaging literacy programs. They introduced me to taekwondo, teaching me not just self-defense but discipline and resilience. ICT classes opened up a world I never knew existed, and I discovered a passion for coding and graphic design.

And just when I thought my education would be cut short again because of financial struggles, the Foundation stepped in and sponsored my secondary school education.

For the first time in my life, I could focus on my studies without the fear of being sent home.

From the Ashes, I Rose
With their support, I thrived.

I competed in the Lagos State Current Affairs Competition and placed second.
I joined Project iCommunity and secured another second-place win.
I attended a Tech Workshop Camp, where I won a brand-new laptop.
I entered the IT competition organized by Axon Analytics and emerged as the top performer.

At school, I wasn’t just a student—I became a leader. I served as Class Captain and later as Head Boy of both Junior and Senior Secondary School.

I competed in the NTA Work It Out Mathematics Competition and placed second.
In 2020, I received the Bright Star Award.

Every achievement reminded me:
I was not a victim. I was a survivor.

Today, I stand as a proud student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), studying Biomedical Engineering.

I am on my way to becoming the first graduate in my family.

“No Child Should Have to Struggle Like I Did”
My story could have ended differently.
I could have been just another statistic—a child whose dreams were stolen by war, poverty, and hopelessness.

But because someone believed in me, I got a second chance.

The Ovie Brume Foundation is changing lives, just like they changed mine. But the truth is, there are millions of children in Nigeria who are still waiting for their chance.

They want to learn. They want to succeed.
But like me, they don’t have the means.

That’s why the Foundation launched Project No Excuses—a mission to make sure every child gets the education they deserve.

Will You Be Someone’s Hero?
I was lucky. I found help when I needed it most.

But so many children are still out there, waiting, hoping, praying for someone to believe in them.

That someone could be you.

By sponsoring a child’s education, you are not just giving them books and school fees.
You are giving them hope. You are giving them a future.

Join the Ovie Brume Foundation in making sure no child is left behind.

Together, we can turn more stories of despair into stories of triumph.

With gratitude,
Usman Abubakar