Providence College students are raising thousands to surprise the “best security guard” on campus with a trip to Nigeria

A security guard recently got the surprise of his life when students at the University of Rhode Island raised thousands of dollars so he could possibly be reunited with his family.

According to WCVB News 5Thanks to an internet initiative by Providence College students, almost $3,000 was raised in 24 hours in order that their favorite person, James, could travel home to Nigeria to visit his family, including his son.

“You told us a while ago that you wanted to see your family in Nigeria that you hadn’t seen in a long time, so we got together and spread the word and started a GoFundMe because we care about each other, because that’s what we do at Providence College,” he said sophomore Daniel Singh. “They did it for me, we did it for each other, so now we’re doing it for you. You are part of the family, so our gift to you will be a trip to Nigeria.”

Singh and freshman Brandon Reichart, who helped organize the GoFundMe, said it was a no-brainer for James to raise funds for James after learning he hadn’t seen his family in 11 years.

The GoFundMe describes him as the best security guard in Providence and “one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,” saying he works 4 night shifts a week and does it with a smile.

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“He doesn’t know how much we appreciate him and hopes this will show him how much he means to our community,” the GoFundMe reads, adding that without James’ presence, the experience at Providence College and Raymond Hall could be very different.

As of Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe, aiming to raise $3,500, had raised nearly $25,000.

The grateful students are now on a mission to raise as much money as possible in order that their beloved bodyguard doesn’t have to wait almost a decade to visit his family again in his home country.

“He is the kindest soul anyone has ever met in this building. He means so much to us, he’s so important,” Reichert told WCVB-TV. “It was amazing how quickly everyone pulled together and pulled this together for him.”