Local Priest Helps Orphans in Nigeria

May 19, 2026

By Ann Pierson

Ten years ago, Divine Mercy Fr. Ignatius Makoji nearly died at the hands of terrorists. Since then, he has been changing the lives of children in his home country of Nigeria – and those in the Diocese have a unique opportunity to help.

Divine Mercy Orphanage, which Fr. Makoji founded, has been taking care of children in Nigeria since 2016. From giving children a place to return to after school to helping young adults find their place in the community, the compassionate ministry is “life-changing for orphans and vulnerable children,” Fr. Makoji said.

The inspiration for the orphanage came nearly 10 years ago when Fr. Makoji was walking on his way to a funeral for one of his parishioners. Eight members of an Islamic terrorist group attacked Fr. Makoji, asking for money and supplies.

When Fr. Makoji said he did not have anything to give them, they opened fire. Miraculously, he survived.

“I call [this life] my second life because for me my first life ended on the fifth of August 2016,” Fr. Makoji said. “As I was reflecting upon that and said, ‘God, why did you spare my life?’ I realized he preserved it for a reason.”

After prayerful reflection, Fr. Makoji discerned that reason was to open an orphanage. By November of that year – the Year of Mercy – the Divine Mercy Orphanage opened in Suleja, Niger State, Nigeria, serving the country with the second highest orphaned population in the world.

Divine Mercy Orphanage accepts children of all ages and provides a space for them to learn, grow, and be kids in a loving environment. When the children reach adulthood, the orphanage either further supports their studies or prepares them with practical skills so they can find suitable employment within their community.

The orphanage has several operations, such as purifying their own water, growing their own food on the property, and running a print shop and communion host operation to help offset costs. With help from donors, the orphanage can expand its impact.

When Fr. Makoji arrived in the United States, he eventually became a hospital chaplain at MercyOne after working at Unity Point. As he created a board in the United States to help with fundraising, he asked people he knew to join. By summer of 2023, the board was set up and they began visiting parishes.

“We’ve seen the Holy Spirit at work from the very beginning, putting the right people, the right opportunities, the right connections in place for us,” Theresa Lewis, one of the founding board members, said.

The orphanage is currently working to expand their housing to build a separate wing for teenagers. When the project is fully complete, the orphanage will be able to house 50 children – more than double their current 24.

Angela Tamgbo, who has worked at the orphanage since 2016, cannot wait for this expansion.

“Once the building is completed, then we can take more children, as many as we can,” she said.

The total cost for the project is $85,000, but the project can be completed in phases.

“The U.S. dollar goes a long way in Nigeria,” Lewis said.

Future projects the ministry would like to embark on include opening an elementary school for all students in the area, a medical clinic for the community, and creating a designated skill acquisition center to help the children become successful adults.

“This is a family, and [Fr. Makoji] wants to ensure every orphan as they move into adulthood have the skills they need,’ Lewis said.

The work of Fr. Makoji, the board, and the orphanage not only helps children today – they help create a better tomorrow for them and their entire community.

“Some of the children came when they were two months old,” Tambgo said. “[They] have grown up to be brilliant and smart kids.”

They invite those in Des Moines to be a part of their mission and live out Christ’s teaching in the Gospels.

“It’s a cause that resonates with so many people, the needs are so great and what we’re trying to do is what Jesus asks us to do in the Gospel: feed the hungry and clothe the naked,” Lewis said. “It much bigger than any of us… I personally have seen the hand of the Holy Spirit in this work.”

*All photos courtesy of Divine Mercy Orphanage.