By Aliyu Isah 

Plan International Nigeria has called for sustained investment in teachers’ welfare, professional growth and emotional well-being as it reviewed the outcomes of a two-year education support programme in conflict-affected parts of Sokoto and Adamawa States.

The organisation made the call at the closing ceremony of the Teachers in Crisis Contexts (TiCC) project held in Abuja on Thursday, where education stakeholders examined the programme’s achievements, implementation challenges and prospects for sustaining its interventions.

Supported by the European Union, the initiative, known as Building Resilient Education Systems: Supporting Teachers’ Professional Development, Well-being and Policy Reforms in Crisis-Affected Contexts, was carried out by Save the Child Initiative (STCI) and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

Speaking at the event, Plan International Nigeria’s Country Director, Dr Charles Usie, said the programme sought to improve teachers’ professional skills, working conditions and acceptance within communities affected by insecurity and humanitarian emergencies.

He explained that the interventions included capacity-building activities, the provision of teaching equipment and measures to help teachers integrate into schools serving vulnerable communities.

Usie, however, identified the difficulty of getting educators back into classrooms after attacks as one of the major obstacles encountered during the project.

He noted that assaults on schools and other public facilities often leave teachers traumatised, with many reluctant to return to their workplaces because of fears for their safety.

According to him, education and health facilities are frequently among the institutions exposed to attacks during emergencies, making the protection and psychological recovery of their workers a critical concern.

The country director said the project had produced an approach that could be adapted and introduced in other parts of Nigeria facing similar challenges.

He also praised STCI for its role in implementing the programme, describing the organisation as a valuable partner in humanitarian assistance and development initiatives.

However, Usie emphasised that the long-term success of such interventions would depend on government ownership, noting that development organisations could initiate and test solutions but could not independently guarantee their continuation.

He said state and federal authorities needed to incorporate successful interventions into public policies, provide adequate funding and establish institutional arrangements to ensure that the gains were not lost after external support ended.

Also speaking, Sokoto State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmad Ala, reiterated the state government’s commitment to improving teachers’ skills, professional development and overall welfare.

Ala stressed that consistent investment in educators was necessary to strengthen teaching standards and improve pupils’ learning outcomes.

The closing ceremony attracted education officials and representatives of relevant institutions from Sokoto and Adamawa States, who reviewed the programme’s performance and discussed lessons that could inform future interventions.

Those present included education commissioners from both states, alongside representatives of the NUT, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Plan International Nigeria, FAWE and STCI.

At the end of the meeting, stakeholders drew up a Sustainability Action Plan outlining measures to preserve the programme’s achievements and explore opportunities to extend successful interventions beyond the project’s lifespan.

The plan is expected to provide guidance for continued efforts to protect teachers’ welfare, strengthen their professional capacity and improve the resilience of education systems in communities affected by conflict and insecurity.

By  Auwal Ahmad Umar

The Vent Cope Relief Initiative (VentCope) has reached more than 400 people in five internally displaced persons (IDP) and resettlement communities in Abuja and Adamawa State with mental health awareness and psychosocial education.

The initiative was organised to commemorate the 2026 World Mental Health Day and the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, with support from SelvedgePsych and Mutaru Development Initiative.

The outreach covered Wassa IDP Settlement in Abuja, as well as Damare IDP Camp, Fombina IDP Camp, Salama Resettlement Camp and Labondo Integration Settlement in Adamawa State.

The sessions were designed to help participants understand the emotional and psychological challenges associated with displacement and other adverse experiences, including how these challenges can affect their wellbeing, daily activities and ability to cope with difficult circumstances.

Participants were also sensitised to the importance of psychosocial recovery, particularly for individuals and families who continue to experience emotional distress and other difficulties long after the immediate effects of a crisis have subsided.

The programme aligned with the 2026 World Mental Health Day theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” which emphasises the need to listen to people’s experiences and recognise their mental health needs.

Speaking on the initiative, Sharon Yabilsu-Guyuk, Executive Director of VentCope, said recovery from adversity should go beyond physical survival to include emotional wellbeing and the ability to rebuild lives.

“Surviving adversity is important, but it is not the end of the recovery journey. People can continue to experience distress and face difficulties in their everyday lives long after the immediate crisis has passed,” she said.

Yabilsu-Guyuk stressed the need to give greater attention to psychosocial recovery, noting that people affected by difficult experiences require support to cope with their challenges, regain their ability to function and rebuild their lives.

She added that mental health and psychosocial support should not be overlooked in efforts to assist people affected by displacement and other crises.

The activities marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction also examined the concept of home beyond the provision of physical shelter.

Reflecting the 2026 theme, “Resilience Starts at Home,” discussions highlighted how home represents more than a place to live, particularly for displaced people who may have lost their familiar surroundings and support networks.

For affected individuals and families, home can also represent safety, meaningful relationships, family connections, belonging and a sense of emotional stability — aspects of life that displacement can disrupt.

The outreach underscored the importance of integrating mental health awareness and psychosocial support into humanitarian responses, particularly for displaced populations who may continue to face emotional and social difficulties long after emergencies have ended.

Through the initiative, VentCope and its partners sought to draw attention to the need for sustained support that enables affected communities not only to overcome immediate crises but also to recover, regain stability and rebuild their lives.