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The Nigerian school with a radical idea: Teaching Boko Haram’s kids
One morning in May, Zina Mustapha stood before her 20 students and wrote two mathematical problems on the whiteboard. “To solve these, you can use the coordinate formula or the vector formula,” she said.
As the teenagers chorused the formulas back at her, the scene could have been a typical high school in Nigeria. But the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation is unlike any other in Africa’s most populous country.
In the heartland of a war that has pitched the jihadist sect Boko Haram against the government, the private Quranic school has opened its doors to Muslim and Christian children of both insurgents and government soldiers, as well as those orphaned by both groups in the brutal conflict. Even as Boko Haram extremists raze and attack thousands of schools in the northeastern state of Borno, Zannah Mustapha, the school’s founder, preaches a different kind of radicalism: love for everyone.
Since 2002, Boko Haram has gunned down some 35,000 people and displaced 2 million in its battle to carve out an Islamic state in Nigeria, and to abolish perceived Western education and influence. In 2009, the group attracted global attention when it began attacking state symbols like military posts and public schools. Five years later, insurgents abducted 276 girls from their school dormitory in a remote village called Chibok.
But some teachers continue to defy them.
“Education is … the right of every human being,” says Ms. Mustapha, readjusting her hijab. “With the gun, we can kill terrorists, but with education, we can kill terrorism.”
War on education
In 2009, around the time Boko Haram turned its sights on education, Fatima was due to start first grade. But her mother couldn’t afford it, and 6-year-old Fatima was wrestling with a crushing sense of guilt.
She believed she was responsible for her father’s death at the hands of the extremists.
Bukar, her father, left home every morning for the market where he was a trader and returned at night, never failing to bring some candy for Fatima. One evening, Fatima was disappointed he’d forgotten. “I ran to welcome him, only for him to remember that he had not bought me my favorite candy,” she recalls.
Her father stepped back outside, but Boko Haram was trailing him. “They shot him in his head,” Fatima says. “That was the end of my joy – he never came back.”
For years, Boko Haram had killed those who criticized its extremist views – including moderate Muslims like Bukar. When they targeted families, the insurgents sometimes killed the men and spared women and children, and sometimes murdered both parents. Today, thousands of orphaned and fatherless kids roam the streets of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, and refugee camps.
The loss plunged Fatima, her five siblings, and her mother – now a single housewife – into grief and destitution.
Then, in 2010, Fatima’s mother learned about a school offering free education to Muslim orphaned children affected by the insurgency. To Fatima’s great joy, the school was just a few miles away – walking distance – and her mother was able to sign her up.
“If I didn’t come to this school, maybe I would have been by the roadside hawking,” Fatima says.
“Boko Haram lawyer”
For more than two decades, Mr. Mustapha, a towering man who favors the flowing robes of Egyptian jalabiyahs, was a sharia court lawyer in predominantly Muslim northern Nigeria, where such courts operate alongside a Western-style judiciary. In 2007, disturbed by the number of haggard-looking orphaned children begging on the streets of Maiduguri during school hours, he quit his job to start the foundation. It began as a single building of two classrooms, with 36 pupils and two teachers.
Shortly afterward, Boko Haram’s campaign against education escalated. The group, whose name means “Western education is forbidden” in northern Nigeria’s Hausa language, began detonating bombs and carrying out horrific shootings and assaults on schools. Rights watchers estimate the sect has destroyed or forced the closure of around 2,500 schools in the region, killed 611 teachers, and displaced 19,000 more.
The effect has been devastating in a region that is already Nigeria’s most impoverished. Borno state, which has only a 23% literacy rate, has seen the number of out-of-school children more than triple since 2008 to 1.8 million today.
All this only spurred Mr. Mustapha. After approaching private donors and international humanitarian organizations, he expanded to 40 classrooms spread over four separate community schools.
He also began accepting children who had lost parents due to the crisis – regardless of the side for which their parents had fought. The decision sparked criticism and rejection from some parents and community members.
“A lot of these Boko Haram elements were killed. Their wives and children were cast on the street. … Society considered them taboo,” says Mr. Mustapha.
“If I said I’m going to work on orphans, are [Boko Haram members’] children not orphans? Or are we going to [judge] them for the offense of their parents or husbands?”
And Mr. Mustapha’s compassion paid off. While Boko Haram targeted other schools in the state, forcing weekslong closures, it never attacked Mr. Mustapha’s. He was able to offer uninterrupted education to some 2,200 kids even at the height of the insurgency.
Avoiding discrimination
Among Fatima’s classmates is Nur, whose father was a soldier. Like her, Nur lost both his father and uncle after they were gunned down by Boko Haram. But at school, both children found a respite from tragedy – happily busy, they rarely had time to think of it, and some of their close friends include children whose fathers were in the sect.
It helps that Mr. Mustapha gives all incoming students psychosocial support before admission – part of that includes encouraging them to see and relate to themselves and each other with love and to avoid discrimination, he says.
But despite his effort to convince some to accept an inclusive approach, he still faces criticism. He says some whisper about his intentions, calling him “Boko Haram lawyer” – a reference to his role as a go-between in securing the release of 103 of the girls Boko Haram abducted in Chibok.
Still, he is undeterred. With support from the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Mustapha also opened a center that trains widows in livelihood skills. Some of them are widows of Boko Haram members.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mustapha receives far more admission requests for his school than he has the capacity to handle. He wants to expand further, but doesn’t have the money.
His greatest pride, he says, comes from seeing the kids happy, especially girls who, as is often the case among impoverished families in northern Nigeria, would likely have been forced into child marriages to bring in a dowry. Instead, those at his school have a chance to chase their dreams.
“I want to become a nurse to help less privileged people, especially children and pregnant women,” says Fatima.
This article was produced with the support of the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture, the John Templeton Foundation, and Templeton Religion Trust. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations.
Houston philanthropist and community leader reflects on five decades of faith, family, resilience and service as friends and well-wishers prepare for her grand golden jubilee celebration on October 31, 2026.
HOUSTON, TEXAS — Turning 50 represents far more than reaching a milestone in age. It is a celebration of maturity, accumulated wisdom, personal accomplishments and the extraordinary journey through life’s challenges and triumphs. For many, the golden jubilee offers an opportunity to reflect on meaningful relationships, embrace renewed purpose and look toward the future with gratitude and confidence.
For Houston-based philanthropist and community leader Chief Oby Marcel, that milestone has arrived with excitement, thanksgiving and an unmistakable sense of fulfillment.
Chief Oby Marcel: This milestone has arrived with excitement, thanksgiving and an unmistakable sense of fulfillment.
All roads will lead to the Trinity Event Center, 8402 Howell Sugarland Road, Houston, Texas, on Saturday, October 31, 2026, when Chief Oby Marcel hosts a prestigious golden jubilee celebration beginning at 7 p.m. The anticipated all-formal gathering will bring together family members, friends, community leaders, associates and well-wishers to celebrate a woman whose life reflects a commitment to family, cultural identity, community engagement and service.
Speaking enthusiastically about her approaching birthday, Chief Oby Marcel described the occasion as a deeply personal celebration of divine grace and the experiences that have shaped her journey.
“Wow! I can hardly believe I’m stepping into the radiant glow of 50! My heart is dancing with joy, overflowing with excitement, and wrapped in deep gratitude,” she declared.
“Fifty beautiful years of God’s grace, unfailing love, abundant blessings, renewed strength, and memories that shimmer like precious jewels. Through every storm and sunrise, every challenge and triumph, every tear and laughter-filled moment, God has remained faithful.”
Beyond the birthday festivities, Chief Oby Marcel’s golden jubilee highlights her active participation in several cultural, religious and philanthropic organizations within Houston’s Nigerian community.
She is a prominent member of Gold Club International, where she holds the distinction of Lady Gold and serves as Admission Chairlady. She also serves as Treasurer of Prestige International and Assistant Financial Secretary of CWO Aquinas. Her community involvement extends to First Umuokpu Anambra USA, the Aguleri-Otu cabinet and the Omambala Cultural Association in Houston. Through these affiliations, Petersen maintains connections with organizations dedicated to cultural preservation, fellowship, mutual support and community development.
As a mother, philanthropist and community leader, she represents a generation of Nigerian women in the diaspora who balance family responsibilities with active participation in organizations that strengthen cultural bonds and promote collective progress.
The Young Shall Grow: From the Innocence of Yesterday to the Golden Glory of Today — 50 Years of Grace, Beauty, and Becoming.
The significance of turning 50 reaches beyond organizational achievements or public recognition. It represents an opportunity to embrace life with greater wisdom, confidence and optimism. According to Chief Oby Marcel, “I’m not simply turning 50; I’m crossing the threshold into a dazzling new chapter filled with wisdom, confidence, happiness, purpose, and endless possibilities.”
“I’m proud of the woman I’ve become, grateful for every mile God has carried me, and thrilled by the beautiful horizons unfolding before me.” Her enthusiasm captures the spirit of the forthcoming celebration: an occasion dedicated not merely to marking five decades but to honoring a journey defined by resilience, gratitude and enduring faith.
As preparations continue for the October 31 festivities, Chief Oby Marcel is approaching her golden milestone with a message of renewed hope and determination. “At 50, I’m not getting older; I’m blooming brighter, standing stronger, growing wiser, and becoming even more fabulous!”
And with that declaration, the celebrant offers a fitting conclusion to her golden jubilee reflections: “Cheers to my golden jubilee! My best years are still ahead of me!”
…Credits principled leadership, philanthropy, and a renewed commitment to “Unity, Love and Service” for the historic branch’s growing membership and influence.
SUGAR LAND, TEXAS — The recent growth and renewed visibility of the Sugar Land People’s Club of Nigeria International did not happen by accident. According to the branch’s Grand Patron, Ide Obinna Nnanyelugo Mbachu, its resurgence is rooted in something far more enduring than ceremonies, titles, or social gatherings: a commitment to putting the organization’s guiding principles into practice.
In an interview reflecting on the branch’s recent progress, Mbachu said the philosophy of “Unity, Love, and Service” remains central to the People’s Club’s identity and is increasingly defining the direction of its Sugar Land branch.
“Unity means recognizing that our individual differences must never become greater than the institution that brings us together,” Mbachu said. “Love means genuinely caring about one another—not only when we celebrate, but when members and their families face difficult moments. Service is where those values become action. If we cannot translate fellowship into service to humanity, then we have missed the purpose of the organization.”
Grand Patron, Ide Obinna Nnanyelugo Mbachu.
People’s Club of Nigeria International traces its origins to Nigeria in 1971 and has since expanded through branches in Nigeria and internationally. Sugar Land occupies a distinctive place in that history as the organization’s First International Branch.
Mbachu said that legacy carries responsibility.
“People’s Club is not simply a social club where people gather, celebrate, and go home,” he said. “At its core, it is a philanthropic institution committed to community welfare. Our fellowship must have a human purpose. We must be able to look beyond ourselves, identify needs within our communities, and respond with compassion, resources, and action.”
He pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as one example of that philosophy at work.
“I will never forget the COVID period, when fear and uncertainty had disrupted virtually every aspect of life,” Mbachu recalled. “Members of our Sugar Land branch stepped forward to distribute food to families struggling through that crisis. People were concerned about their own safety, yet our members understood that service was most meaningful when the community needed us most. That experience demonstrated what the People’s Club should represent.”
The branch has recently experienced renewed momentum in membership. Following its successful 2026 biannual induction, 16 new members were formally admitted, while additional community members have continued to express interest in joining.
Mbachu attributes that growth partly to greater organizational visibility, active programming, and an environment where prospective members can see fellowship and community engagement working together.
He particularly credited Hon. Prof. Chris Ulasi, Group Chairman of SLPCNI, and his executive team with helping reposition the branch.
“Professor Ulasi and his team deserve tremendous credit,” Mbachu said. “Leadership requires consistency, patience, and the ability to bring different personalities together around a common objective. The progress we are witnessing reflects considerable work behind the scenes; organizing members, strengthening participation, and ensuring that the branch continues moving forward.”
Mbachu also acknowledged PCNI National President Atty. Fidelis Onyebueke, whose leadership he said has contributed to stronger relationships across the organization.
“The National President has emphasized peace, reconciliation, and mutual respect among branches,” he said. “An international organization cannot prosper when its branches operate in unnecessary conflict. His efforts to promote understanding, dialogue, and unity across the People’s Club family have contributed significantly to the stability and renewed enthusiasm we are experiencing.”
For Mbachu, however, growth cannot simply be measured by numbers. The quality and commitment of those joining remain equally important.
“Our doors are open to reputable men and women who believe in what People’s Club represents and are prepared to contribute positively,” he said. “We welcome people who value integrity, fellowship, community service, and mutual respect. Membership should never be about what title you receive; it should be about what value you bring.”
That distinction, Mbachu argues, will determine whether the current momentum becomes lasting institutional progress.
For Sugar Land People’s Club, the formula he offers is remarkably straightforward: protect unity, practice love and make service visible. “When those three principles are genuinely lived,” Mbachu said, “the organization does not have to advertise its greatness. The community will see it.”
Following a successful induction ceremony, the First International Branch continues to attract new members drawn to its tradition of friendship, service, culture, and community
SUGAR LAND, TEXAS — The Sugar Land People’s Club of Nigeria International (SLPCNI) is continuing its membership expansion following its recently concluded induction ceremony, with Dr. Nkem Ugwu becoming one of the latest community members to join the organization.
Ugwu, a Sugar Land resident originally from Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria, is an entrepreneur and mother of three sons, a mother-in-law, and a grandmother. She describes service to others, family, and community engagement as important parts of her personal and professional life.
Grand Patron Ide Obinna Nnanyelugo Mbachu addressing the September Conference of the Sugar Land PCNI
Her membership comes on the heels of the branch’s successful bi-annual induction ceremony, during which 16 new members were formally sworn in by PCNI National President Atty. Fidelis Onyebueke. The celebration attracted national leaders, patrons, and members representing branches from across the People’s Club network.
Photo from left: Hon. Chief Sir Michael Okeke; Hon. Anaeto Okakpu “Oranwezuluaku”; Grand Patron Ide Obinna Nnanyelugo Mbachu; Hon. Dr. Nkem Ugwu ; Hon. Prof. Chris Ulasi, Group Chairman; Hon. Chief, Sir Basil Mbuba; Hon. Chief Sir Dr. Uche Egbuchuam “Akudo World Wide.”
Ugwu said joining the organization provides an opportunity to develop meaningful relationships while contributing to its mission.
“I am truly excited and honored to join the prestigious People’s Club of Nigeria International, Sugar Land Branch. I look forward to getting to know fellow members, building lasting friendships, and becoming actively involved in this vibrant and welcoming community. I am especially drawn to the Club’s tradition of fellowship, service, and mutual support, and I hope to contribute my experience, energy, and passion for serving others to its continued growth.”
Grand Patron Ide Obinna Nnanyelugo Mbachu welcomed Ugwu, describing continued interest in membership as encouraging for the historic First International Branch.
Membership Chairperson Hon. Chief Udoji Achebe and Hon. Ndidi Chidume
“When people of accomplishment and community spirit continue to identify with our organization, it tells us that the values upon which People’s Club was built remain relevant. We welcome Dr. Ugwu and look forward to the experience and fellowship she brings to our family.”
Hon. Prof. Chris Ulasi, Group Chairman, said the branch’s recent induction helped showcase an organization that continues to combine Nigerian cultural heritage with community engagement in Houston.
“Our successful induction created tremendous enthusiasm, but our focus goes beyond ceremonies. We are building a stronger organization rooted in friendship, responsibility and service. Dr. Ugwu’s decision to join reflects that continuing momentum.”
One of the meeting hosts, Hon. Professor Keih George, introduces the co-meeting hosts.
Membership Chairperson Hon. Chief Udoji Achebe said the branch remains interested in individuals prepared to participate actively in its programs and fellowship.
“Membership is about belonging, but it is equally about participation and contribution. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Ugwu and other prospective members who share the principles and aspirations of People’s Club.”
For SLPCNI, the growing interest following its induction represents another chapter in the evolution of a branch with a special place in the organization’s history.
And for Ugwu, it marks the beginning of a new journey—one centered on friendship, community, and service.
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Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy speaks about the African-American Memorial Event
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Houston4 weeks agoPCNI Elevates Chief Dr. Emmanuel Opara to Patron in Historic Ihiagwa Investiture
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Houston1 month agoMembership Surge Continues as Dr. Nkem Ugwu Joins People’s Club
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Community3 weeks agoPeople’s Club Sugar Land Is Growing — Grand Patron Mbachu Explains Why
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Education4 weeks agoProfessor Josephine Onyido Earns Prestigious Nigerian Academy of Education Induction
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Houston1 week agoFifty and Fabulous: Chief Oby Marcel Celebrates a Golden Milestone in Houston