For the first time ever, the Southwest Zone of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) will be hosting a World Refugee Day programme, with the theme: A Minute thought for the Displaced and Oppressed.
Since 2001, the United Nations resolved that the ‘World Refugee Day’ would be celebrated on the 20th of June every year, coinciding with the already existing ‘African Refugee Day’ celebrated by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU).
It’s a day set aside to honour men, women and children who have been displaced from their countries of origin due to war, violence, human rights abuse and in some cases natural disasters. In recent times, internally displaced persons have been coopted into the celebrations as well.
The programme of events will commence on Wednesday 18th June 2014 with a Symposium at the Exhibition Hall of the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos by 10am.
The Symposium which will have in attendance Captains of Industries and members of the Diplomatic Corps, is aimed at bringing to the fore the plight of refugees and other persons of concern to the NCFRMI and seek areas of collaboration with various agencies and organizations.
The symposium would feature a lecture by Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), the immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS); A success story by a Refugee who has turned his situation around and with musical performances by Nikki Laoye (Recording Artiste/Humanitarian), who was recently unveiled as the Voice of Refugees by the NCFRMI in the Southwest.
The festivities would be rounded up on Saturday 21st June, 2014 at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos with a Novelty Football Match between a select team of Refugees XI and a team of United Nations and NCFRMI staff with celebrity guests Nikki Laoye, Sammie Okposo, Victoria Pepple (Silverbird TV) and actress Kiki Omeili.
To mark this day, Nikki Laoye (Recording Artiste/Voice of Refugees – NCFRMI Southwest) calls for donations of food, clothes and medical supplies for the care of the men, women and children who have been displaced out of their countries by wars, human rights abuse and natural disasters.
“In commemoration of the World Refugee Day, I personally request for donations in form of clothes, foodstuff and medical supplies for the Refugees and Displaced persons in our midst. Please help us to put a smile on their faces in these trying season of their lives. God bless you”
You can send your donations to
National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (Southwest Zonal Office)
Address: No. 13, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Mobile: 0809 527 1738
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncfrmilagos
Twitter: @NCFRMISW
OR
Nikki Laoye’s Angel 4 Life Foundation,
47 Raymond Njoku street off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi
Mobile: 0706 1905300
Email: a4lfoundation@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter and instagram @PRAISEWORLD_
