Decision on a Mission. Why Great People were never referred to as Late

AN INTERVIEW WITH AMBASSADOR SEGUN OLUSOLA MNI OFR – FOUNDER, AFRICA REFUGEE FOUNDATION (AREF)

Tayo Olumadewa with Ambassador Segun Olusola

Q: Sir, can you tell us more about AREF and what motivated your vision to establish it

During the period I served as an Ambassador to Ethiopia and Africa Union, I was appointed the Chairman of Africa Union’s Refugee Commission. And in that capacity, I traveled to almost all the Africa countries - Somalia, Algeria, Sudan, West Africa, South Africa (which was yet to gain independence then). What I discovered was that in Sarawi Democratic Arab Republic, North Africa and in Somalia, there were large scales of Refugees in their Refugee camps.

On one occasion when we visited a Refugee camp, we saw a man queuing up to get his lunch. We approached him and after introducing myself as the Ambassador to Ethiopia and Africa union, he responded that he was a Senator of Somalia but is now a refugee in the Refugee camp asking for lunch.
On another occasion at the Refugee camp in Southern Algeria in the Sarawi Democratic Arab Republic, we saw that all the men were born to be at the warfront fighting for independence, while their women/children became the farmers of the Sarawis. Talking to people like that, especially those who were once leaders, and seeing the future economic powers in the Refugee Camp, we decided to talk to ourselves that we can do something about it. We gained experience from all these and believed that we could do something in other for our own country not to produce Refugees.

This made us to take action (with some of my friends) to establish Africa Refugee Foundation, when I left Ethiopia. AREF was founded in other to prevent African countries ending up as Refugee-producing countries particularly Nigeria, where we are so used to doing things our own way. If Nigerians become refugees, neither Ghana nor Sierra Leone will take us because they know us and they will think that if they allow us in, we may take over their country. We must let Nigeria know peace and keep peace in place. In Libya for instance, hundreds of Nigerian refugees are either kept in prison or driven out. On one occasion, Nigerian refugees who are young people were driven out of Libya, thrown into the desert and they were left to literally find their own way home. So, if we don’t want our political leaders to be Refugees, they must seek peace. And if we tell them stories like that, they will give peace a chance in Nigeria and make sure there is no trouble because it is not pleasant to be a Refugee anywhere. This is part of the reasons for establishing AREF.

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WHAT MAJOR CHALLENGES HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED?

We had to accommodate large numbers of Refugees from Liberia/Sierra Leone, some of whom have gone back to their countries. But even though the war has ended in Liberia, we still have thousands of Liberian Refugees who have not gone back. They are in Ibadan, Lagos and some are still at the Oru camp illegally, because Government has officially closed the Refugees’ camp. They are used to Nigeria, our educational system and the general goodwill of Nigerians, and they don’t want to go back home. The only struggle we encounter, which is why we are still in business, is to show Nigerians that it is not pleasant to be a Refugee.

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES? IN WHAT AREAS DO YOU NEED SUPPORT?

We had support from States and the Federal Government. But we also need support from private sectors to produce and broadcast series of dramatic sketches that depict refugees’ life. We want to show people the true meaning of being a refugee, as well as the steps AREF is taking now that will inevitably lead to Nigeria becoming a Refugee free nation. In achieving this, we have some dances that depict the inconveniences of a Refugee life and we want to make sure we take the dances around the country.

We also have internally displaced persons who are Nigerians in Akwa Ibom, Plateau and Lagos States. We have series of drama to depict this and to advise Nigerians on how to prevent internal displacements. We still have some difficulties in getting the people we use as volunteers, who are dancers, actors, writers which are to act this as in life in Refugee camp so that our political leaders can see what they are about to bring about if they don’t seek peace.

IS AREF A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION? HOW DO YOU GET SUPPORT FROM YOUR PROGRAMMES? ANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN THE COURSE OF ACTIVITIES ?

It is a volunteer membership. These are people who spend their own money and time, planning the kind of programme that we go about. For instance during the Ife/ Modakeke crisis in Osun state some years ago, we recruited volunteers to help settle the crisis. We need volunteers for troubled places such as Plateau state and Ajegunle. In Ajegunle, the trouble is between those who say they are the indigenes and some non-indigenes who were called strangers. Nobody likes to be called a stranger in his country and whenever such occurs there will be a quarrel. So, we need relief materials when there is any trouble, and more importantly, volunteers to speak on these subjects as well as intervene or advise such communities, schools, colleges, market square, etc. to give peace a chance.

In aspect of the support, we let our volunteers, advisers, funders know that it is not a government project and anybody working for us/with us must be ready to give his time and also donate money for what we do. 16years ago, we were privileged to be supported by the Lagos State Government, which at that time gave us a space at the Lagos State Old Secretariat, Off Oba Akinjobi Street, GRA –Ikeja, which is used as our operations headquarters. This is where we give lectures on peace, organize seminars and counseling. We do not pay for this space nor lack assistance from Lagos State Government. But we are requesting that individuals and Government give us some more money as running costs. We ourselves have a series of dances and dramas which depicts the evil of refugee production. In other to produce these specific programmes that will help what we have in stock, we require assistance from Corporate bodies, Government, Banks (we got assistance from First bank many years ago) etc.

AS A VISIONARY FATHER, WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE QUITE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE. WHY DO YOU SUPPORT THEM AND WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THE YOUTHS WHO LOOK UP TO YOU.

I grew up among people who are interested in young people. My late father was a wood worker and he employed several young people who were ready to learn to be carpenters and I was with them. I believe young people don’t forget their beginnings and that is why I cannot forget how I grew up as a carpenter’s son. I learnt from many of the apprentices who came from all over the country. For me, what we are doing in AREF provides an opportunity to mix with young people. It is the need to prevent our young people from ending up in a refugee camp in other parts of the world while searching for education or greener pastures.  Every part of the world has its own problem and nobody specifically is designed to help Nigerian young men grow up. So the best we can do is to look inwards and ensure properly organized education in other to make our young people get discouraged from certain thinking of traveling out. AREF doesn’t give money to people. Although nobody came here to ask for money, we had some asking for assistance in securing a visa. Since we are a counseling centre, we counsel them on why traveling out should be the last option. We don’t give money to people who have no jobs, we advice them to look around them and discover themselves for nobody comes and live the same way they came.

 WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR NIGERIA IN THE NEXT COMING YEARS

There are many developments in Nigeria worth celebration almost every year. This 2011, Television will be fifty two years old of its introduction in Nigeria and I was privileged to be one of the first TV producers in Nigeria. We are reminding our viewers that television is 52years in Nigeria come September 2011. This is worth celebrating every year.

See the benefit of the television on education, information, sports and entertainment and how it has improved the economy of Nigeria. These are what we dreamt of some years ago and we are happy they are happening now. Television, which  started in Ibadan, Oyo State in September 1959 is all over the country (N.T.A) and we now have independent TV (AIT, etc.) which is spreading all over the country. All the aims and objectives of TV which we designed fifty years ago must be reviewed. In other to see what achievements TV has done for Nigeria, it is great to look back and see something worth remembering in other to plan the next stage forward.

TV and Nudity

We must fight what is improper. Let us have schools art, cultural dancers or singers who are not nude. Some producers believe showing nude images will make people watch. We must fight that every TV station must have special hours for young people in schools and ensure that young people don’t appear nude. We can only fight the nudity all over the place by showing the proper things.