Nigerian student who fled Ukraine gets help from Red Deer family

Tomi left Nigeria in 2021, and was in his third year of studies after two in his home country. He saw Ukraine as one that suited him well, with its many places to explore and a culture he could embrace.

“I never dreamt any form of war would be happening around me. I wasn’t exactly scared at first, but then I thought about what if the Russian soldiers burst in right now? What would I do? They didn’t, but in the hours after, I decided I wanted to go back to Nigeria,” he says.

Tomi Ajayi on the train out of Ukraine, a few days after Russia invaded the nation. (Supplied)

“My parents informed me though that it wasn’t an option, so what was my next move? I still had to leave, so I got on a train for three days headed towards Hungary. At moments, I didn’t know what I was doing. I was frustrated and angry, partially because it was ruining my career plans. I saw some things on the way out. It was very uncomfortable and really affected me.”

Tomi says he experienced what other reports have detailed about discrimination and racism during transport and at the border to leave Ukraine.

There was a silver lining to his cross-border travel: a chance meeting with Carole Rosenblat, who lives in Hungary and was helping people at the border gain access to health care, food and shelter.

She connected with her friend in Red Deer, Chris Traeger, to tell her about Tomi.

Now in Germany, Tomi connected with Traeger virtually, and began mapping out his next move, this time to Canada.

“Tomi is very driven to succeed and I want to be a part of his success. I know this will change his life forever. It would have been easy to walk away before I met him, but I can’t let him down now,” says Traeger, whose family is excited to host him until he settles.

“I know whatever challenges I’ve faced helping him don’t remotely compare to what he has experienced in recent months. After I learned of his story and how hard he worked to get to Ukraine for a higher education, I couldn’t let him down. He lost all of his savings paying for tuition in Ukraine.”

Tom Ajayi in Ukraine prior to the war breaking out. (Supplied)

All the proper paperwork taken care of, Traeger has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for Tomi’s first installment of tuition, and flight over. The fundraising goal is $4,000, with about 25 per cent raised as of Aug. 27.

“It’s very important for me to get an education. I’ve applied to many schools, and been admitted, but along the way, I picked up an interest in psychology because I’m someone who likes to help people,” says Tomi, whose credits from past universities won’t transfer to Canada.

“I want to help people understand their problems. Perhaps that way I can help people’s lives be better.”

Tomi’s never been to Canada, but has done his research. He isn’t yet sure what the future holds for post-school employment, but does want to enjoy the journey.

“There seems to be lots of opportunity in Canada, and different cultures with people from all around the world. It’s a perfect opportunity for me,” he says.

“Chris has gone through a lot of hoops for me, and I’m very very thankful for her. No one’s ever done something this big for me in my life, and I never expected it.”

Through all of it, he recalls a conversation with his mom.

“We were talking, and she’d had an issue with some people. I told her to relax, and that we’re all humans. We make mistakes, so approach things with a simple mind. Not everybody’s going to agree with you or like you, so just go with it,” he says, thinking of Ukraine.

“My friends and I talk almost daily about what’s happening there. My prayer every day is for God to make the war stop. It’s not something for anyone to be happy about, plus it’s like another home for me, so to see what’s happened to the people there is heartbreaking.”

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Nigerian student who fled Ukraine gets help from Red Deer family

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