By Oluwatoyin Mathnuel
As the world marks World Refugee Day on June 20th, conversations around the African Refugees Empowerment Foundation (AREF) have resurfaced — particularly regarding its role in supporting displaced persons and refugees.
AREF, founded in 1993, was the first to propose the establishment of local NGOs to ensure that challenges in humanitarian crises could be addressed more effectively at the community level.
In recent times, many have asked: What has AREF been up to? Today provided some clarity, as the Foundation’s founder and his efforts were spotlighted in conversations centered around migration, displacement, and refugee welfare.
Speaking on the day’s significance, the guest of honor Sen. Gbenga Ashafa said, “If you are for humanity, anything that has to do with refugees must matter to you. This is a globally recognized day, and I salute the courage of AREF’s late founder, Ambassador Olusola. I also commend his successor, Mr. Jimi Olusola III, for carrying the vision forward.”
The senator described AREF as a global organization and called for worldwide support, adding, “Nigeria has local challenges, and we must come together to solve them so that the poor can also benefit from charitable efforts.”
Addressing the future of AREF’s outreach, the current leadership emphasized that the initiative is not dependent on government intervention. “We don’t wait for the state, and I wouldn’t advise that we wait for the federal government either,” Mr. Olusola said. “It lies with individuals and corporate bodies to help in whatever way they can.”
With over 3 million Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria, the need for action is urgent — and AREF is positioning itself to bridge the gap Mr Jinmi Olushola concluded.
AREF World Refugee Day 2025 do not only focused on Peace Education, Food Outreach initiative for over five thousand displays persons at IDP camps , Community participatory Initiatives but also offered Free Medical Outreach to moderately restore hope for over three hundred vulnerable persons.
