By: Bartholomew Ughulu,
Volunteer, Migrants and Refugees Unit, CSN, Abuja
The Migrants and Refugees Unit (MRU) of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) organized a virtual interactive session to mark World Refugee Day 2026, under the theme “Until Everyone Is Safe.”
The session which was held on 20 June, 2026 brought together agents of pastoral care of migration in Dioceses across the country, as well as professionals and stakeholders in the migration space. The session was anchored by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Nigeria, which guided participants in reflection on forced displacement and the need to strengthen responses rooted in human dignity, protection, and inclusion.
In his opening remarks, the Episcopal Secretary of the MRU, Rev. Fr. Augustine Akhogba, stressed the need for sustained commitment to the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons, noting that the session was aimed at deepening collaborative pastoral engagement on migration challenges.
Speakers from JRS Nigeria highlighted current migration realities, with Rev. Fr. Temple Anuforo, SJ, the Country Director, noting that internal displacement remains a major concern in Nigeria, driven largely by insecurity, governance gaps, and socio-economic pressures. He emphasized JRS’s “Accompaniment” model, carried out most through education, protection, and support services, while stressing that true safety is only possible when all communities are secure.
Ayokunle Oluseyi Ayodele, who serves as JRS’s Country Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist, outlined the organization’s key intervention areas including education, protection, and health services. A refugee case study illustrating the impact of accompaniment in restoring dignity and hope was shared in another presentation by Chinelo Ezinwa Nwakwesili, National Communication and Advocacy Officer for JRS Nigeria, who also commended the MRU for creating the platform for more collaboration and advocacy by agents of pastoral care of migration in Nigeria.
Participants also engaged speakers on issues of insecurity, governance, and inter-agency collaboration. In his closing remarks, Rev. Fr. Akhogba reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to continued advocacy and partnership in addressing displacement challenges.
The session which concluded with a prayer for refugees, was an opportunity for dialogue, learning, inspiration and solidarity with refugees in Nigeria and all over the world.
In Dioceses around the country, Migrants and Refugees Unit Coordinators and other pastoral agents organized or participated in events alongside other humanitarian and development organizations, as well as government agencies like the National Commission for Migration and Internally Displaced persons (NCFMI), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Correctional Service. The occasions were demonstrated the importance of strategic collaboration between Church and non-Church actors in the shared mission of exploring practical responses to displacement and the quest for protection, inclusion and promoting human dignity of refugees. Pastoral agents used the opportunity to express the Church’s commitment through her pastoral interventions.
A range of socio-cultural, sporting, enlightenment, creative and religious activities reflecting this year’s theme “Until Everyone Is Safe” were carried out to mark the commemoration.
