"You are family": College students raise KSh 3.4m for guard's plane ticket home

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Students at Providence College in the US launched a GoFundMe for James Mogaji, a Nigerian security guard who had not seen his family in over a decade

- The campaign attracted widespread support, pulling in more than $26,000 from students and well-wishers rallying behind the beloved campus figure

- Students surprised Mogaji with a plane ticket home, telling him he was part of their family in an emotional moment caught on camera

James Mogaji, a security guard at Providence College in the United States, broke down in tears after students surprised him with a plane ticket to Nigeria, where his family had been waiting for him for 11 years.

The moment unfolded after a group of students learnt that Mogaji, a familiar and deeply loved presence on campus, had not been able to visit his family back in Nigeria for more than a decade. Rather than simply expressing sympathy, they decided to act.

The students launched a GoFundMe campaign on his behalf, spreading the word across the college community and beyond. The response was extraordinary. Donors contributed more than KSh 3.4 million, far exceeding what was needed to cover Mogaji's travel costs.

Students at Providence College gather around security guard

When the time came to deliver the news, students gathered around him and presented him with a plane ticket home.

As Mogaji took in what was happening, the emotion was impossible to contain. "We love you. You're part of the family," the students told him, words that clearly struck deep.

Mogaji's story resonated so widely because it reflected something many in the Nigerian diaspora know well: the painful gap between building a life abroad and maintaining the ties that matter most at home.

For how long had Mogaji not seen his family?

Years of work, financial obligations, and the high cost of international travel can stretch what was meant to be a short absence into something much longer.

For Mogaji, that gap had stretched to 11 years. His colleagues and the students he watched over every day on campus had become his community in that time, which is perhaps why so many of them felt moved to give something meaningful back.

The fundraiser, reported by CBS News on Saturday, August 15, 2026, drew attention well beyond Providence College, touching audiences across social media who saw in Mogaji's reaction the kind of human moment that cuts through everything else.

Eldoret man working as night security guard graduates

In another story, TUKO.co.ke also highlighted about Elvas Kipruto Tuwei, a dedicated individual who worked night shifts as a security guard while pursuing his Bachelor of Education Science degree at Mount Kenya University, ultimately graduating with First Class Honours.

His unwavering perseverance and the support of his community reminded us that relentless effort and faith could transform even the most challenging circumstances into remarkable achievements.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.