As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Refugee Day, the Institute for Humanitarian Studies and Social Development has sounded the alarm about the country’s 3.3 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The organisation made this known while officially opening nominations for the Pan-African Humanitarian Leadership Award (PAHLA), which will recognise over 100 individuals and organisations with humanitarian awards.
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Dr. Francis Origa, Registrar of the Institute, lamented the escalating humanitarian crises in Nigeria, citing unchecked violence, governance failures, and systemic neglect as key drivers of the crises.
Origa appealed to African leaders and the global community to take decisive measures to combat the growing issues of insecurity, displacement, and mass killings plaguing the continent.
The registrar advocated for the adoption of the United Nations concept of human security, which focuses on protecting individuals from severe and widespread threats to their well-being, going beyond traditional state-centric security approaches.
The approach, he said, emphasises comprehensive and integrated responses to address complex challenges, promoting sustainable development, human rights, and peace.
He said, “As of 2023, we recorded 3.3 million IDPs. The problem that is giving birth to internally displaced persons and refugees has to be addressed holistically, multi-dimensionally. If we really want to solve the problem, it is not only by being reactive.
“We need to look at the causative factors, the root causes, the structural causes, because refugees do not fall from heaven. They are normal human beings that live with us, that have grown up with us, that mingle with us, but because of insecurity, because of conflict situations and war, they have to find a better safe haven
“So, the government should increase its commitment, not just look at it from the approach of window dressing the issues now, since we have understood that conflict, war, and crisis remain the underlying factors.
“What do we do as a people in every conflict situation? We need to do an analysis. In conducting conflict analysis, you examine the dynamics of the conflict, its root causes, the factors involved, the actors —both state and non-state actors —and the external forces and influences behind it. Now, if we can approach it in this manner, we’ll be able to find a way to curtail and solve it.”
According to him, the organisation has trained over 7,800 individuals on issues related to humanitarian crises.
Speaking about the award, scheduled for October 15 to 19, 2025, in Abuja, he said over 500 delegates from more than 30 African countries are expected.
He said the event seeks to recognise individuals and institutions making outstanding contributions to the welfare of refugees, peacebuilding, and humanitarian innovation across Africa and the global African diaspora.
Origa noted that TPAHLA was founded to spotlight Africa’s unsung heroes, those advocating for peace, sheltering displaced families, condemning ethnic cleansing, and building grassroots solutions to crises often ignored by mainstream platforms.
“TPAHLA is our way of recognising those working day and night, from researchers and policy advocates to community builders and spiritual leaders who keep the flame of hope burning for millions of displaced people,” he stated.
Celebrated on June 20 globally, World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations to honour the strength and resilience of refugees worldwide, while advocating for their rights and dignity.
