JANUARY 11, 2015 BY PETER OKEUGO 0 COMMENTS
Philip Obaji
Philip Obaji is the founder of 1 GAME Campaign and Global Youth Ambassador for A World At School. He talks about his passion for education
What fuelled your passion for helping poor children?
In 2009, I traveled to Ogoja, where I was born. On arrival, I was greeted by a group of young boys and girls at the bus stop, who rushed at me, begging for money. They were ‘Almajiris’ from Northern Nigeria who had followed a lorry transporting goods from Maiduguri in Borno State to Ogoja. I was overwhelmed by the presence of so many out-of-school children and could not stop thinking about their plight and how to solve this crisis. Thereafter I founded 1 GAME Campaign in June 2010, to assist the ‘Almajiris’ to enroll in and complete their basic education.
Were you discouraged from starting the foundation?
Yes, I was. I was just 24 years old when I started 1 GAME Campaign. Because of my age and background, many people did not take me seriously, especially when I told them we were going to focus mostly on the north-east region, where there is poor access to education. I remember having a conversation with a woman I had met before I visited Maiduguri. I told her about my plans, and she said I should forget my idea of campaigning in Borno, that I wouldn’t achieve anything because I was too young to change anything about Nigeria. She said I could get killed by Boko Haram militants and advised I looked for a job in the civil service because I have a bright future ahead of me.
How do you generate funds for your foundation?
We are a not-for-profit organisation, so we raise funds through public donations.
How challenging is it to run a foundation?
It is quite challenging. A lot of people in this field complain more about funding than anything else. Though I believe funding can be a big issue, I also think that dedication and commitment, especially from the people you collaborate with are more vital. For those of us working in hard-to-reach areas, it is even more challenging to get work done. The insurgency in north eastern Nigeria has made it so difficult to reach many out-of-school children. Even if we could, schools are not safe for learning. Boko Haram is targeting not just students, but teachers and education workers. Two years ago, a 12-room shop belonging to a 1 GAME Campaign project coordinator was burnt down in Maiduguri by Boko Haram, presumably as retribution for working in education advocacy.
You were a presenter…
Yes I was, but the nature of my job as an education campaigner didn’t allow me time to carry on with radio and television presenting. I had to temporarily quit the role.
What difficult situations have you faced?
When we started 1 GAME Campaign in Calabar, it was hard to get funds and to get people to volunteer. Just a few people agreed to volunteer. The more we sought help, the more difficult it was to get one. Later, the few volunteers we had told me they were quitting – that they had worked for so long and had nothing to show for it. I thought about it, and considered giving up too. But at that point, I looked outside and saw some young boys roaming the streets begging for alms. I turned to the volunteers and I talked to them. After my speech that day, one by one, the volunteers decided not to quit.
Are you not afraid of the insurgency in the North?
We are kept alive by God. I have refused to give up campaigning in the North-East because I know that education is the only tool that can deal with the insurgency and poverty in the region. During my trip to Maiduguri last October, I got funny phone calls from strange numbers, and when I told my friends and colleagues about those calls, they warned me never to continue with my campaign. I knew it was safer and smarter to stay at home and hope that, one day, the insurgency will come to an end. But somewhere in my heart, I also understood that these people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe were my brothers and sisters; that what was happening was wrong and I had an obligation to make it right.
What change would you like to see in the country?
It is my wish to see every child in school and learning. It is not just my responsibility alone. The goal of providing education for all in particular for vulnerable children in Nigeria, requires the synergy of policy makers, non-governmental agencies, international agencies and the civil society, in order to check child labour, child trafficking, protect orphans and provide the educational infrastructure needed for the attainment of these goals. Many organisations and individuals are already making huge sacrifices for children and Nigeria needs all its children in school.
Kindly shed light on your background?
Growing up wasn’t too rosy, but I got a fair education. I was born in Ogoja, Cross River State. I am the third child in a family of six. I took my name after my dad. My family moved to Ikom from Ogoja in 1988 and that was where I began my schooling. We later moved to Calabar in 1990 after my father, a medical doctor by profession was transferred from Ikom to Calabar. I studied Marine Biology at the University of Calabar.
How do you measure success?
I do not believe one is successful based on the number of titles or assets he or she has only. I believe success includes being able touch the lives of others with the little you’ve got. I look to politicians in government at all levels to place the people before politics. That is how success comes – when everyone does his part without fear or sentiments.
How has running an NGO affected your life?
It has made me understand more about life, people and places. I have met people from different race, class and background. I have met children who have been affected by war and those who have been torn by poverty and disease. Running 1 GAME Campaign has made me cultivate a deep sense of empathy. I used to think that people who slept in the streets and begged for food got there because they were lazy; that the innocent people being slaughtered and expelled from their homes in northern Nigeria were somebody else’s problem to take care of. Also, I realised that I am where I am today because I was given the privilege that many in this situation long for, that I do have an obligation to those who are less opportune, and that our individual salvation depends on collective salvation.
How do you unwind?
I play football and I spend most of my time reading, mostly political magazines.
source:PUNCH.
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