Samson, Irmiya
Irmiya Samson is an international Global Mission Fellow with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, engaged in a two-year term of service.
The Global Mission Fellows program takes young adults ages 20-30 out of their home environments and places them in new contexts for mission experience and service. The program has a strong emphasis on faith and justice. Global Mission Fellows become active parts of their new local communities. They connect the church in mission across cultural and geographical boundaries. They grow in personal and social holiness and become strong young leaders working to build just communities in a peaceful world.
Irmiya is a lay member of United Methodist Church Gu Baitalami, Gombe, related to the Northern Nigeria Annual Conference. He earned a Bachelor of Science honors degree in computer science at Africa Unversity. At AU, he served as a public secretary and graphic designer for the United Methodist Student Movement, as a graphic designer for the Fellowship of Christian Union Students and as electoral chair for WASA.
Growing up in a Christian home built a strong foundation for Irmiya’s personal spiritual growth. “I have come to understand,” he said, “that faith is not only about individual salvation but also symbolizes an act of service through Christ’s teaching.”
Reading about Global Mission Fellows on Facebook, especially testimonies from GMF alumni inspired Irmiya to apply to the program. “Considering my passion for social justice, community development organizing and advocacy through my leadership,” he said, “I am convinced this is part of my calling.”
To Irmiya, mission service means empowering individuals and bridging the gap between potential and opportunity, particularly by leveraging technology to create sustainable solutions. He is especially interested in technology that is accessible and beneficial to local communities; for example, he said, “applications that provide capital for low-income families and platforms that support evangelism, advocate for the marginalized and support underdeveloped communities.”
He hopes to encourage youth to believe in their dreams. “I aim to repair boreholes so that communities will have access to good water, provide educational support through financial aid and resources to enhance quality education, and organize skills-acquisition training for long-term economic growth and sustainability,” Irmiya said.
“In the past,” he continued, “I sponsored and organized skills-acquisition training in Pero Land, Gombe – Nigeria, sponsored five high school students and repaired two boreholes between Filiya and Gwandum.” This reinforced his belief in community development, social justice and advocacy.
Irmiya hopes the program will encourage him to step out of his comfort zone, grow as a servant leader and make an impact wherever he serves. “I am committed,” he said, “to creating positive and life-changing solutions for vulnerable communities and individuals, while living out my faith in action.”
He wants Global Mission Fellows to deepen his faith, challenge his worldview, and improve his problem-solving ability and leadership skills, particularly as he works with other fellows and leaders. “Moreover,” Irmiya said, “it would deepen my understanding of social justice and explore different ways to address issues.”
Irmiya is confident that GMF program “would be a transformative experience that would help me to grow as a young man and a servant leader,” he noted.
In 2015, he began working at Tafida ICT Solutions as a computer operator. “I was one of the influencers who expanded the business services because of the demands and the current trends, introducing graphic design, photo shooting and video editing,” Irmiya recalled. “Every skill and knowledge I have is not for me alone but to impact people’s lives for good as a professional graphics designer, photographer, computer scientist, community organizer and advocate.
“Currently,” he continued, “I am a computer science tutor at Africa University, helping engineering students learn more about computer science, especially website development and databases. In addition, I use my skills to repair students’ computers and design free posters for community and fellowship groups on campus.”
Irmiya considers himself a good teacher. “I can teach students to understand and have a good outcome, especially in the field of computer science. I have skills in graphic design and photography. I advocate for the betterment of our communities, including development and organizing.”