Youth With A Mission’s University of the Nations (U of N) made history in Nigeria last weekend when it graduated its first student within the country. Previously, Nigerian students graduated from the U of N in various other countries around the world, but for the first time on Saturday, October 3rd 2009, Nigerian student Patience Ashe Anyaku graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree from the College of Communications in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. David Hamilton, Provost of the University of the Nations, officiated the ceremony, and Loren Cunningham, Founder of YWAM, handed Patience her diploma.

The ceremony took place at the opening of King’s Village, a joint partnership between YWAM and Jesus is Lord ministry, in front of more than 1,000 people, including many students Patience taught on the School of Communication Foundations (SCF).

Originally, the plan was for Patience to graduate with several other colleagues in Switzerland in September, but she wasn’t able to raise the money for her plane ticket. When it didn’t work out, Patience was very disappointed, but God had other plans.

While Patience was processing the disappointment honestly before the Lord, God was busy arranging a better blessing. “When I finally resolved the pain in my heart,” she said, “I got a message from Loren that he was coming to Nigeria with the other leaders to graduate me from here. I was so amazed. It was such a gift. God set me apart from all the other graduates and honoured me to be the first graduate in this country.”

When the ceremony began, Patience walked the length of the auditorium dressed in the national colors, green and white, and carrying a Nigerian flag. She spoke confidently about how the U of N has impacted her life, and knelt down to receive Loren’s prayer of blessing over her.

Just when we thought it was over, Patience took the microphone and moved the crowd to tears as she sang, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

Afterwards, many of her former students told Patience what an inspiration she is to them. They watched her making history and received hope that they, too, could do something big for God.

Patience didn’t come from a wealthy family that supplied all her financial needs. Rather, she trusted God to provide what she needed when she needed it. In her speech, Patience said, “Today, I achieved my AA degree studying within Africa, Europe and America, having no bank account, much less money to study abroad. It’s not out of the abundance of what I have, but out of my willingness to do his will, that He supplies all my needs according to His riches in Glory. Trust Jehovah Jireh!”

Patience did her Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Togo in 2001, during which she caught the vision of communication. Prior to YWAM, Patience worked as a studio back-up singer, so after her DTS, she produced 2 albums and used the proceeds to finance training in the School of Communication Foundations (SCF) in Ghana 2002. For the next 5 years she staffed and led the SCF in Switzerland, Ghana and South Africa, and poured her heart into training communicators. “I love working with the students,” she said. “In the season of training, the students’ lives, their struggles and their joys inspire and challenge me. In walking through the process with them, I learn so much from their lives and it makes me a better person.”

Reflecting on the last 8 years, Patience recounts God’s faithfulness and says, “If you have the right motive and seek God’s heart to join YWAM, then you will be able to overcome the struggles because God makes the way for you.”

Patience will be pioneering the School of Communication Foundations in YWAM Woodcrest, Texas from January 2010.