A message to 2051: Young Nigerians leave a promise for the future of refugee protection
A message to 2051: Young Nigerians leave a promise for the future of refugee protection
Representatives of Baze University present the Time Capsule to the Honourable Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and UNHCR’s Deputy Representative in Nigeria.
Abuja, August 2026 – These words are sealed inside a Time Capsule created by students of Baze University’s Faculty of Law as part of the World Refugee Day celebrations, to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
The capsule, which will be opened in 2051, contains the students’ aspirations for refugee protection and their pledge to uphold the rights of people forced to flee. It connects the promise made 75 years ago with the generation that will carry it forward.
Looking beyond an anniversary
Adopted in 1951, the Refugee Convention established the foundations of international refugee protection and has helped millions of people fleeing conflict and persecution find safety and rebuild their lives. Its 75th anniversary is not only a moment of reflection, but also a call to renew solidarity with refugees and uphold the principles that protect them.
Inspired by this call, students from the Baze University Migration and Trafficked Persons Law Clinic filled the capsule with their hopes for a world in which refugees are protected, included and able to live with dignity. They also pledged to promote refugee rights through clinical legal education.
Close-up of the symbolic handover of the Time Capsule key.
A promise from tomorrow's leaders
Presenting the capsule, Dr Maryam Idris Abdulkadir, a lecturer in the Faculty of Law at Baze University, Abuja, explained that the initiative was inspired by the call for younger generations to reclaim and defend asylum as a shared global good.
She described it as the students’ way of saying to refugees: “We hear you, we can see you.”
That message gives the capsule significance beyond its contents. It recognises that laws and international agreements remain effective when people understand their purpose and are willing to uphold them.
For the students, this means using their legal education to promote awareness, challenge harmful perceptions and help ensure that refugee rights are respected. Their commitment also shows how universities can prepare young people to contribute to protection through their professions and communities.
From reflection to action
By looking ahead to 2051, the initiative asks an important question: what kind of world will the next generation inherit?
The answer will depend on the choices made today. Governments, civil society, refugees, communities and institutions all have a role in preserving access to asylum, strengthening inclusion and advancing solutions for displacement.
The students’ Time Capsule offers a simple but powerful contribution to that collective effort. It carries their belief that today’s aspirations can become tomorrow’s reality when reflection is matched by action.
