The IRONSIDE Foundation Nigeria (IFN), a non-governmental organization, has completed the training of 100 migrants, refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in agribusiness and educational opportunities in Delta State.

The Founder of IFN, Charles ‘Ironside’ Aghogho, said that the training would equip refugees to become self-reliant as well as reduce poverty, and economic hardship that the refugees are going through under degraded conditions.

Speaking at the training workshop on Agro-business and Education Opportunities organised by IFN, yesterday at Grand Hotel Asaba, Charles lamented how the entire world is going through a historical moment marked with alarming frustrations from pandemic, terrorism, kidnapping and insecurity.

Aghogho charged the privileged not to neglect those that are vulnerable, adding that the training would help to ameliorate the plight of refugees, IDPS and migrants. He stated that the training in agribusiness and education opportunities became necessary in order to afford them the opportunity to take themselves out from the gory conditions in which they found themselves as a result of their displacement from their villages.

He said; “I watched with dismay as these refugees and IDPs contend with the harsh conditions in their camps and settlements. The families and children of these refugees are living in penury despite the great efforts by the UNHCR and other willing partners”.

“Nevertheless, it is obvious that these efforts need to be complemented,” he said.

Ironside said that the foundation is committed to helping the vulnerable, children and communities who are in dire need of help.

The workshop, according to Mr. Aghogho, is a clear indication that the foundation is poised to relive their vision of building vibrant and healthy rural communities where every child could prosper.

He stated that the essence of the workshop was to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and its negative effect on the economic wellbeing of many including refugees, internally displaced, women and children in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

He said that his organisation was ready to provide access to health care and educational facilities for under privileged households, with educationally disadvantaged children.

According to him, support through IRONSIDE FOUNDATION came with community education centres, boosting economic empowerment among youths, women and poor households in the communities by giving out micro credits to help them set up and succeed in their various vocations and small scale businesses.

 Studies have shown that the world is experiencing its biggest refugee crises since World War II, as a result of 22 million people who had been forcefully displaced by wars and persecutions.

Charles stated that the organisation decided to embark on the training of thousand refugees and IDPs in order to close the gap existing between the training that the refugees had received from implementing partners. He emphasised improvements in specific areas of agriculture the trainees can key into to boost their prospects in agribusinesses.

He also added that the areas of strength of these people could be harnessed for the benefit of the host communities.