Our Mission
Bringing peace to Nigeria through education, healthcare, and sustainable land use
Bringing Peace to Nigeria
To restore life, health and peace to indigenous farmers and nomadic pastoralists in Nigeria through the settlement of pastoralists onto protected, ecologically sound grazing reserves with healthcare and schools provided for their families.
The Problem
Droughts, floods, and land conflicts hurt millions in Nigeria. More than 7 million Fulani in Nigeria — and some 20 million across West Africa — are nomadic herdsmen. They travel long distances in search of pasture for their livestock. With no permanent homelands, they are pushed into conflict with farmers and villages over land and cattle: clashes, revenge killings, and the destruction of whole communities. One of the most serious crises facing Nigeria today is this cycle of violence between pastoralists and settled communities.
For Fulani families, the cost is stark. Wives and children move with the herds; they rarely have access to schools or clinics, so healthcare and education are out of reach. Their livelihoods depend entirely on their animals — when pasture fails or conflict strikes, they lose cattle and have few other ways to provide for their families. Without a place to settle, without healthcare and education, and without secure ways to earn a living, the Fulani cannot flourish. That is why the solution must address all three: family, land, and economy.
The Solution: Three-Legged Pot
Like an African three-legged pot: the Good Life for the Fulani depends on all three legs. If one fails, the pot falls.
The Family
We will provide healthcare and education for Fulani families. Our schools and healthcare clinics are open to ALL tribes, and they learn together. We live with these communities, sowing love and friendship.
The Environment
We teach Nigerians to care for the land through Grazing reserves and rotational grazing. We dig boreholes to provide water for livestock and farming. These permanent homelands allow families to settle in one place, and live in peace with their neighbors.
The Economy
We encourage ways for the Fulani to support themselves through veterinary care, grain grinding projects, and milk partnerships, so families can thrive.
The Promise
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. — James 3:18
The Vision
We are working towards a Nigeria where the beautiful Fulani people can live together in friendship and peace with their neighbors.
"All things are possible to those who believe." — Mark 9:23
What We Have Accomplished
- Strong trust relationship with Fulani herdsmen — Fulani call Missionary Phyllis "Mama Fulani"
- Full management of grazing reserves in three states: Bobi Grazing Reserve in Niger State, Ero Mountain Grazing Reserve in Kogi State, and Lafiya Grazing Reserve in Ogun State
- First teaching rotational grazing reserve in Nigeria: Ero Mountain, Kogi State
- 25+ schools for Fulani children and others
- More requests for schools than we could ever build
- 11 healthcare clinics stocked with medicine
- Boreholes and water systems on reserves, at clinics, and at every school, providing CLEAN, healthy drinking water to each community
- Many churches built and supported
- SD cards containing Bible teachings and scripture shared with MANY
- City Of Refuge - A safe place for Muslims who convert to Christianity
How we share about Christ
We believe our Christian faith greatly impacts emotional and physical well-being. SFA staff, volunteers, pastors, and chaplains demonstrate Christ's love in the classroom, clinic, church, and home — through empathic listening, spiritual care, and counseling in times of illness, trauma, loss, or life transition. Our trained chaplains, men and women, offer the healing power of prayer and Christian worship. As we bring our faith into specific cultural contexts, we show both God's power to heal, guide, and sustain and a sympathetic understanding of multi-faith and multi-cultural traditions.
Our schools, healthcare clinics, and grazing reserves provide humanitarian services for the underserved Fulani. By treating this Muslim population with compassion, respect, and love, we have earned their trust and the inter-religious cooperation essential to peace-keeping. In a 99.9% Muslim environment, our witness is well-tempered with wisdom. When someone asks to know more about Jesus, we privately share — for example, an SD card with the Gospel, teaching, and songs in their language. Many have turned to the Lord; many of our schools conduct church on Sunday, and many on our staff love the Lord.
Friendships with herdsmen and government officials, in the cities and in the bush, open doors: to improve schools, build new ones, and meet unreached people — including high in the mountains of Nigeria. God is on the move; we are honored and blessed to be used by Him.