Mercy Corps, others empower 2,088 youths on self-reliance skills
By Ladi Dapson
An International Non-governmental organisation, Mercy Corps and partners, has empowered 2,088 youths in various skill acquisition programmes and other trades from Jere local government area of Borno state.
The Chief of Party, Mercy Corps, Brigid O’Connor announced this during a graduation event and presentation of starter packs at Simari/Mashanari ward in Jere Local Government Area.
She pointed out that the empowerment programme is aimed at reducing the risk of thuggery and other social vices among the youths by improving their means of livelihood to be self-reliant.
“This training is part of a program called Thrive. It is one component and the program is designed to help communities that have been exposed to violence and displacement over many years, the opportunities to recover their livelihoods and get back on track with their incomes and lives.
“The total number of people who have been trained not just in this community, but in seven others in Jere LGA is about 2,088 young boys and girls over two years. This is the second graduation. What we wanted to do is not just hand out supports to make people survive. So not just provide income support or food assistance, but to help people get back to the livelihoods,”she said.
The Borno state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Saina Buba represented by Director for Youths, Yusuf Mohammed pointed out that Borno state is willing to partner with any organisation that will build the capacity of many idle youths so as to become productive members of the society.
“This is wonderful. This is very very good because if you empower someone is far better than giving them food or money, it had better you teach them what to do, so they can be on their own. If this will go around the 27 local government areas that means our people will be empowered, then poverty will be eradicated. It is a very good initiative.”he applauded.
The Village Head of Simari/Mashanari ward, Aisimi Abba urged the beneficiaries to make better use of the training and tools given to them, saying he was impressed and warned that he would not tolerate any form of thuggery in the areas.
Thrive Project Manager, Kyenpiya Blessing Gumut remarked that the youths were selected from insurgency affected wards in Jere local government area, noting that beneficiaries were trained for a period of six months in various skills such as carpentry, tailoring, Auto Mechanic, baking, barbing, hair styling, and other skills to prevent them from engaging in violent crimes.
Some of the youths, Ummi Bukar and Modu Babagana thanked the organisation for the training and promised to use the skills acquired to better the lives of their parents and siblings.
The THRIVE program is funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and is implemented by CRS, Mercy Corps, JDPC, WiNN, and SHO.
