Promisedland Ministries brings help and hope to Nigeria
WINNIPEG, MB—A Winnipeg couple is working to transform their home country of Nigeria for the better with an organization they have founded called Promisedland Ministries.
But instead of just raising money to send back to the West Africa nation, 'Segun and Titi Olude want to encourage fellow Nigerian-Canadians to travel back to their homeland and get involved with rebuilding the country.
"We're trying to help people think differently about what a mission is, and what a mission in life actually is," 'Segun says. "We are starting to see people responding."
The Oludes immigrated to Canada in 1989 so that 'Segun could further his education as a graphic designer.
Over the years, they were involved with a prayer group that was organized specifically to pray for Nigeria, an impoverished country that struggles with a variety of crime, violence, human rights and education issues.
Established in 2002, Promisedland Ministries aims to educate Nigerian pastors and community leaders in faith-based community development. The Oludes do this by giving seminars on a variety of subjects, from leadership to marriage.
They also help communities by building wells, renovating schools and providing educational and medical supplies to those who need them.
At the same time, there is a Canadian component to the ministry. The Oludes have spoken to Nigerian-Canadians all across Canada about what they can do if they go back home.
"There are lots of Nigerians going home for one reason or the other, and we're all still talking about why the government isn't doing something," Titi says. "So some of the projects that we have are not very expensive…and it's part of taking ownership."
Titi says that for just $1,000, Promisedland Ministries has been able to drastically transform entire buildings in Nigeria. Doing something like building a well also costs just $1,000.
"These are things we feel individuals may be able to handle when they go home, or even as an organization, they can work together with others and say, we're going to do something in this school or this community," Titi says. "So when we give presentations [in Canada], we give people an idea of the projects we've done, and we give them an idea of how much it cost."
The Oludes travel to Nigeria at least once a year and are planning to return this coming May or June. The ministry began in their hometown of Abeokuta in southwest Nigeria.
'Segun says his hope is for the ministry to reach more places and more people. So far, they have made progress in 10 of Nigeria's states. Eventually, their hope is that Promisedland Ministries reaches out and establishes connections in Nigeria's 26 other states.
"Our call is to Nigerians who are privileged to be here to strap on their boots and get going and do the same thing in their own areas where they come from," 'Segun says. "Some people say, 'I'm only an engineer'—then go work with engineers and help fix some important thing in [your] town.
"Don't wait to be invited—just go look for something to do."
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