EU, Mercy Corps train, empower 6, 426 Borno youths
The Mercy Corps in partnership with the European Union (EU) and Borno State Government has trained and empowered 6, 462 Borno youths.
The training and empowerment programmes are part of the post-insurgency recovery projects sited in eight councils of the state.
Unfolding the youths’ empowerment at the weekend in Maiduguri, the Mercy Corps’ monitoring and evaluation Coordinator, Peter Martins disclosed that the engagement of youths is in line with post-insurgency livelihoods programmes.
According to him, the training is in tailoring, welding, shoe-making, and other various skills acquisitions and trades.
Besides the training and empowerment of youths, 650 solar-powered houses were also built and handed over to the government in Bama and Gwoza Local Government Areas.
He said that the houses are to address IDP returnees’ shelters, which was torched in the 12-year insurgency.
He noted that the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (MRRR) monitored all the post-insurgency livelihoods recovery projects.
On challenges of the livelihoods recovery projects, Babakura Tijjani lamented that insecurity still remains a challenge in accessing some of the insurgency affected communities on fringes and shores of Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad region.
“The hard to reach communities in the state will be accorded priority, provided that the military and other security agencies overcome the security challenges,” he noted.
In his brief remarks, the EU Representative, Kabiru Abbas applauded the efforts of the Mercy Corps in the state.
He also reiterated the need to sustain and own the programme by the relevant government agencies and communities.
According to him, this was to ensure that the impacts of the programme is sustained to improve the living conditions of IDP returnees in communities.
Speaking on the post insurgency completed projects, the Commissioner in the MRRR, Alhaji Mustapha Gubio, represented by a Director, Mr Bitrus Mshelia said that the destroyed communities in the 12-year insurgency were rebuilt with health, education, electricity and water supplies infrastructures.
He added that with the massive surrender of insurgents to the Army, more hard to reach communities are being opened up for the RRR and safe return of IDPs.
“The State Government will explore the opportunities and rebuild schools, hospitals, police stations and roads, as well as houses for the return of our people,” he said, noting that the displaced persons had been in camps and host communities for over seven years.
According to him, Governor Babagana Zulum has resolved to close all the camps in the Maiduguri metropolis by the end of this year.
He disclosed that the Government is partnering with Mercy Corps and other development partners to quicken the rebuilding and resettlement projects.
“Government alone, cannot provide everything at once in the affected communities,” he noted, stating that the State Government has continued to partner with the military and security agencies to restore normalcy before returning the IDPs safely into communities.
