GRIP OF SALVATION MISSION

It was Christmas carol in a two-facing bungalow building with 15 rooms each in the Imo area of Ilesa, Osun State. Despite the not- too comfortable condition of the sandy playground adjacent to the buildings, the children sang excitedly. Though the venue was not adorned with handmade decorations, the joy of the children reverberated like twinkling lights, matching the warmth of their modest dressing with Christmas colors. The sound of their voices filled the air, harmonizing in traditional carols, hymns and songs sung in English, Hausa, and Yoruba, reflecting the unity in diversities. Songs from a sound system added a lively rhythm while the laughter of the children creates a heart-warming melody of its own. There was a very strong sense of togetherness and renewal—a reminder of the strength they share as a community. Caregivers encourage each child to take part, fostering confidence and belonging.

Welcome to Grip of Salvation Mission, a respite home for victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria. You would never feel what these battered children have gone through to get to this home. Some witnessed horrific executions and devastating savageries of Boko Haram fighters, an Islamic with violent extremist measures across 19 northern Nigeria States. To have arrived at this home is a miracle for which many of them are extremely grateful, and that joy was evident during the Christmas carol. The orphanage exuded an air of hope. To have left the horrors of Boko Haram insurgencies, including maiming and killings thousands of kilometers away from their ancestral homes for a new lease of life is more than an honor. The carol symbolized a new dawn, a constant reminder of the communal atmosphere in the home. 

Mrs. Felicia Odeyemi, the administrator of the home, and a former official photographer to former President Ibrahim Babangida, started operating the orphanage home in 2004 after heeding the call of God. She relocated from Kano State in the Northwest to Ilesa when she started the orphanage home. According to Mrs. Felicia Odeyemi, “I started the orphanage home fully on January 13, 2007. God’s calling took me to Ilesa. God gave me a revelation of a tribe in Kano called Maguzawa (a subcategory of the Hausa people). God told me to deliver the people from wickedness and open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from power of Satan to God so as to get their inheritance. I have always loved taking care of children; I love to help them. I don’t really know why, but my calling and ministry is to help them realize their God-given goals.”

In 2007, she arrived in Kano State in January with two buses to take children who do not have parents or lack good parenting to train them, and she took 37 children from the community. As I was trying to take some of these children from the communities, Boko Haram too were recruiting some of them, she said. We even clashed during this period, she added. According to Mrs. Odeyemi, the driver for the Boko Haram group was an Ijesa man. He intervened and told me that they were recruiting those children from Kano and taking them to Maiduguri. So, as I was taking some of those children to train them, Boko Haram too was taking others. It was a whole clash, but I survived it, I took some children off their grip. They were even recruiting small girls. They brainwash these children to the extent that they won’t recognize anybody again, even their parents. All they will want to do is to kill, but my calling was to thwart their mission. I tried my best in those years. Mrs. Odeyemi stated that during the period when Boko Haram was ravaging, she liaised with some missionaries in the north to identify affected children. She ferried them to Ilesa and provided them shelter and education. 

Today, hundreds have gone through the home and graduated with degrees. Many have also undergone the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).  One of the beneficiaries, Felix Musa, said he had been in the house from primary till he finished his education. According to him: “I am one of the victims of Boko Haram attacks. I have been in this house from childhood till I am done. I am presently serving in Offa, Kwara State.” While Musa can still trace his ancestral homes, others have completely lost touch with their roots. One of them is Aunty Issa. She said: “I am from Kastina, but I was married to my man in Kaduna and the union was blessed with a girl. But in 2011, I went to make my hair when the community was ravaged, I ran and till now I never see my husband and daughter again. When I went back to the house I left, it has been brought down by these people.” 

Thomas Elijah from Sumaila local Government Area of Kano, a 200-level student at National Open University, studying Criminology, has lived up to 17 years in the house. ''This place is like home away from home. Mama took me from the grip of Boko Haram to the Grip of Salvation here in Ilesa,” he stated. However, not all these children have been able to overcome the trauma of the devastating mental and physical scars of the insurgencies. Mrs. Odeyemi recounted: “I have two children who escaped from the grip of Boko Haram in 2012. I took them in, but I noticed that they were not active, I thought it was trauma of the attack. But later, I talked with them to inquire about what was wrong. “They told me that, three of them escaped and hid in a hut for 14 days while trying to escape, their younger brother fell, and they could not take him along. They felt so bad for him as they are uncertain of what could have happened to him.”

The orphanage is home to about 112 victims of Boko Haram insurgency as of December 2024. They are mostly funded by Mrs. Odeyemi and her husband who are like parents to them. About 40 children aside from the 112 at home are in different universities across the country. A Nigerian took two of the children to study abroad. Twelve of the children are done with NYSC, and another five will be finishing very soon. I have been sponsoring these children with my little savings and little help that comes from well-meaning Nigerians. “One of the beneficiaries of my kind gesture is now a venerable in an Anglican Church in Kano State.’’ The burden has become almost unbearable for Odeyemi who is desperate for assistance. According to Mrs. Odeyemi, some well-meaning Nigerians are helping to sponsor the children while I use my savings for others. I pay school fees for those in secondary school while I have a primary school that I am running, and I am paying 16 staff members including teachers by myself. “A pastor in the United States of America (USA) known as Micheal Fowowe used to help with the upkeep of these children in time past. I also have schools who are sponsoring the education of these children which include nine primary schools and eight higher institutions. 

Mrs. Odeyemi stated that it is unfortunate the Nigeria government does not know what she is doing, and even political leaders in her own State are not willing to help raise these children and give them a better life and future. She does not want the children to look like what they have passed through. She recounted her recent ordeal in December 2024 when she bursted into tears because those in universities were calling her about their financial needs for either house rent or upkeep. They were calling her when she was looking for what those at home would eat. She stated that three bags of rice only last for a week at the orphanage home. 

Mrs. Odeyemi stated that she does not have any other ambition than to see these children become mighty individuals and go back to their homes in Northern Nigeria to liberate their people. She wants people like you to join hands with her to train these children. She strongly believes that these children are part of the liberators of Nigeria.

In recent times, Pastor Temitope David and members of The Apostolic Church Glorious Vision Worship Center in New Jersey, USA have been very supportive of activities at the orphanage home. The church does send financial support to help with getting food supplies, paying school fees, and teachers’ salaries as God gives them grace to help. In order to increase the flow of help and our support for this orphanage home, we are calling on all well-meaning and passionate individuals to give generously towards this mission. You can give through the donation page on this website or send money directly to Grip of Salvation Mission, located at Abiola Avenue, off Imo behind De-Jay Guest House near Kayode Estate Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria.

NIGERIA ACCOUNT DETAILS

GUARANTY TRUST BANK (GTBANK) 

Account Name: Grip of Salvation Mission

NAIRA ACCOUNT 

Account Number: 0110456505

DOLLAR (USD) ACCOUNT

Account Number: 0111421207