Humanitarian Commissions hold novelty football match to support refugees
NAN-H-33
Refugees
By Lizzy Okoj and Taiye Edeni
Abuja June 17, 2017 (NAN) The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Nigeria on Saturday played a novelty football match to support refugees.
The novelty football match was organised in Abuja by both commissions with the support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission to kick-start activities marking the 2017 World Refugees Day.
Hajiya Sadiya Farouk, Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI said that the event was organised to remind refugees, asylum seekers, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other persons of concerns that they are not alone.
She said that commissions organised the football match with the aim of using the game as an instrument to integrate the displaced persons with the society and give them a sense of belonging.
Farouk, who was represented by Mr Ahmed Bashir, Director of Finance and Account, NCFRMI, explained that across the globe, football is game that brings everyone together regardless of nationality, race and religion.
She said that the avenue to come out and interact with other people would also give them a sense of belonging and remove discrimination.
She said that the maiden novelty match was part of the activities to commemorate the 2017 World Refugees Day and it would be sustained.
Farouk said that the NCFRMI, UNHCR and ECOWAS have organised a line-up of activities to celebrate the day, which began with Jumat prayers on Friday, the football match on Saturday and to be followed by services in churches on Sunday.
The Federal Commissioner said that other activities would follow on Monday with the commemoration proper to hold on Tuesday.
Also speaking, Mr Jose-Antonio Canhandula, UNHCR representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS said that these kinds of activities give refugees and other persons of concern an avenue to come out, speak and be seen.
Canhandula was represented by Mr Boubacar Bamba, Assistant Representative, Operations, UNHCR Nigeria.
He said that activities like this are organised to give light on refugees and IDPs issues because most people just hear of them but they do not see them or know that they exist.
“ They played very well against the humanitarian actors and this kind of event will show the people of Nigeria and world over that these people are like us and everybody else,’’ Canhandula said.
In his remarks, Mr Tony Elumelu, Head of Division, Free Movement and Migration, ECOWAS said that reintegration of refugees and persons of concerns is captured under the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol.
He explained that on the part of ECOWAS, the free movement protocol stipulates the right of entry, residence and establishment among ECOWAS member countries.
Elumelu stressed the need for awareness creation on the plights of refugees and other persons of concerns, who have been forced to leave their communities and countries for safety.
“This is an avenue to create awareness that we have our brothers and sisters who are here and we should also make sure that they are well accommodated.
“ Football is a critical instrument for integration across the world that is why you have the World cup, African Cup so we have used this event as a medium to create awareness on the existence of refugees in our country.
“They are our brothers and sisters and they should not be discriminated against and this has been shown in the football match,’’ Elumelu said.
Some of the refuges who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) commended the efforts of the Commissions for organizing the football match and giving them a sense of belonging.
Mr Gabriel Mungaba from the Democratic Republic of Congo appreciated the Nigerian government for accommodating and catering for them and giving them.
He however appealed to the Nigerian government to create an enabling environment for job opportunities, education for their children and access to health facilities.
NAN reports that the novelty football match ended with the refugees winning one goal against the humanitarian organisations.
A similar event was also held in Lagos State, the nation’s economic hub, for a large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers. (NAN)
LIZ/TY/DS/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide