A teenage student was granted leave to remain in Ireland along with his mum and older brother after classmates rallied around to campaign against their deportation.
Nonso Muojeke says he feels like a burden has been lifted since the Department of Justice confirmed that the deportation order had been revoked after 22,000 people signed a petition that was set up.
The 14-year-old who has lived in Tullamore, County Offaly, since he was two, said he was 'super happy' that his family doesn't have to worry anymore, particularly his mum, Chidiebere Muojeke.
Ms Muojeke fled Nigeria with her two sons after her husband died in 2006. According to RTÉ News, she said in her asylum application that his death placed her family in danger due to being mistreated by her late husband's brother.
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The application was rejected and a deportation order was served. Subsequent appeals failed and a final deportation order arrived last June.
That's when Nonso's friends at Tullamore College came in and put a stop to the deportation by attempting to get the attention of Minister Charles Flanagan, who had the power to grant 'Leave to Remain' to the family.
The petition from the students read: "The family have never been a burden on the State. Nonso is a kind, quiet and intelligent boy whose future belongs in Ireland.
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"We cannot explain to his classmates or friends why this Government want to deport him. How do we justify this? Nonso and his family are valuable members of this community."
When the announcement came that the family were allowed to stay in Ireland, Nonso issued a statement saying: "I would like to thank the Minister [for Justice] for the humane way in which he handled my case.
"I am very grateful to my friends, my school, the Tullamore community and everyone else who has supported me. I am really looking forward to my future here in Ireland."
Speaking to RTÉ News the young LAD said: "When I heard it at 1 o'clock in the morning, my mom woke me up just to tell me, she was so happy, she kept on talking about it.
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"I was mostly thinking about what's going to happen now, what's going to happen in my future? We've been reading the documents, how we have to go through everything to finally solidify the residency process."
Nonso now plans to study hard and train at basketball, in the future he hopes to study in the US and join a basketball team there.
What a lovely story - good luck to Nonso and his family.
Featured Image Credit: RTÉ NewsTopics: Ireland, News, Inspirational