By Ronica Stromberg
The rapid growth of the university's Fellowship of African Christian Students to 160 members in less than three years comes as no surprise to its president of two years, Jerome Okojokwu-Idu. A School of Natural Resources doctoral student, Okojokwu-Idu said the group meets a deep, often unspoken need among African students navigating life in a new country.
"Many of us from Africa are deeply religious," he said. "When you face challenges as daunting as graduate school, you often reach into the core of your identity for strength. That’s where faith begins to speak. For many of us, Christianity has provided a foundation of stability."
The Fellowship of African Christian Students offers students spiritual and recreational activities online and in person. The group welcomes new African students with spring and fall orientations, holds potlucks and graduation barbecues, hosts guest speakers and gathers the African community together to pray and fellowship. Another School of Natural Resources doctoral student, Shabani Muller, leads the group's weekly Bible study.
Lydiah Kiramba, the advisor for the group and an associate professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education, said the group plays a transformative role by engaging its members in topics like succeeding in graduate school, navigating job applications and career searches, fostering community engagement on campus and promoting career awareness.
Read the full story at https://snr.unl.edu/aboutus/what/newstory.aspx?fid=1262