August 22, (THEWILL) – International non-governmental organisation, Mercy Corps and its partners have trained no fewer than 2,088 youths in the Jere Local Government Area of Borno State on self-reliance skills as part of efforts to boost their means of livelihood.
The Chief of Party, Mercy Corps, Brigid O’Connor, disclosed this during the graduation ceremony and presentation of starter packs to beneficiaries at Simari/Mashanari Ward in Jere LGA, Maiduguri.
She said the empowerment programme aimed to reduce the risk of thuggery and other social vices among youths by improving their means of livelihood and self-reliance.
“This training is part of a programme called THRIVE. It’s one component and the programme is designed to help communities that have been exposed to violence and displacement over many years with 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 support to make people survive or just provide income support or food assistance but to help people get back to their livelihoods,” she said.
The Borno State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Saina Buba, represented by the Director for Youths, Yusuf Mohammed, pointed out that Borno State is willing to partner with any organisation that will build the capacity of idle youths to become productive members of society.
“This is wonderful. This is very very good because if you empower someone it is far better than giving them food or money. It is better you teach them what to do so they can be on their own. If this goes round the 27 local government areas that means our people will be empowered and poverty will be eradicated. It’s a very good initiative.” he stated.
The Village Head of Simari/Mashanari Ward, Aisimi Abba, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious 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 area.
Transforming Health and Resilience for Individuals Through Vibrant Empowerment (THRIVE) Project Manager, Kyenpiya Blessing Gumut, remarked that the youths were selected from insurgency-affected wards in Jere LGA, noting that the beneficiaries were trained for six months in various skills such as carpentry, tailoring, auto mechanic, baking, barbing, hair styling, and others to prevent them from engaging in violent crimes.
Some of the beneficiaries, including 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 project was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and jointly implemented by Mercy Corps, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Women in New Nigeria (WiNN), Salient Humanitarian Organisation (SHO) and JDPC.
