EU partners NGO to train 100 women on peace building in Yobe

Hajiya Hussaina presenting materials items to the beneficiaries

A total of 100 women have completed training on community peace building under the British Council’s Managing Conflicts in Northern Nigeria(MCN).

The project which is implemented by Women and Youths Empowerment Initiative (WOYEIN), a home based NGO targeted the building of capacity of women and girls in peace building and also empowered them through marketable hand skills to make them self-reliant.

                                        

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the beneficiaries, the Executive Director of WOYEIN), Hajiya Hussaina Ibrahim said the intensive training given to the beneficiaries has equipped them enough to realizing the objectives of the program.

“The major objective of the project is to identify and support sustainable platforms for reporting early warnings of violent conflicts, while strengthening the capacity of women and girls to manage and resolve conflicts, build trust among community members and reduce the perception of marginalization among women and girls. It provide empowerment opportunities to women and adolescent girls to help address issues of violent extremism,” Hajiya Ibrahim said.

She added that “The project activities started with series of pre-implementation meetings to map out plans for the successful execution of the project as well as step by step processes which led to the successful completion of the project,”.

According to her, five communities of   Ajari,  Fulatari,  Garin Tsakiya, Hausari, Lowcost were the target areas where the beneficiaries were drawn for the program through a rigorous and painstaking process in collaborations with the community stakeholders especially the ward heads (Bulamas) and LGA officials.

ED WOYEIN, Hajiya Hussaina Ibrahim with a dignitary at the graduation event

She explained that,  “The process was all inclusive especially as regards to other minorities residing within the communities. 20 beneficiaries were selected for each community and they formed peacebuilding groups where they go for peacebuilding advocacies to schools and within the community to sensitize them on the need for peaceful coexistence,”

Hajiya Ibrahim also disclosed that different marketable hand skills including, tailoring, petty trading, animal rearing, knitting, hair dressing, interior decoration, financial literacy, groundnuts processing, grinding, cosmetics and beverages making    were identified base on the choices of the beneficiaries.

The WOYEIN director who identified the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks on the access road to the implementing local government also decried the availability of skills acquisition centres for training of beneficiaries, just as he advocates for the sustainability of the peace building groups through community ownership.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with our correspondent described the program as life changing.

Khadija Abdullahi, a widow said she has now been fully empowered to stand on her own financially.

“My life has completely changed with the tailoring I have learnt. Even before our graduation, I have started making money to take care of myself and my family,” Khadija informed.

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Yobe/AfDB lunches livelihood support for over 5,000 displaced people, Gov. Buni warns beneficiaries against selling items

Gov. Buni making presentation to a beneficiary 

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has lunched a livelihood program for people displaced by the Boko Haram crisis in the state.

ImpactOnlineNigria  gathered that the program is a joint venture partnership between the state government and the African Development Bank(AfDB)'s Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement, and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project.

It is expected to empower 5, 293 displaced people from four Local Government areas of Geidam, Gujba, Yunusari and Gulani. The four LGAs were the worse hit during the Boko Haram crisis.

Presiding over the lunching of the livelihood at Buni Yadi today Thursday, the governor advised beneficiaries to desist from selling out the items but put them into long term use for optimal benefit.

ImpactOnlineNigeria  findings revealed that the IDPs have a chronic habit of selling out their items at give-away prices even at the venue of distribution of such items. Some of the beneficiaries have always attributed their actions to lack of cash to take care of some immediate family needs.

“It is gratifying to note that the livelihood materials we are gathered here to witness their distribution consist of 300 animal traction packages; ram fattening; goat breeding; fish farming items; chicken production materials; artisanal fishing materials; improved seeds package, and dignity kit packages.  It is important to note that one set of animal traction kit per two persons, three rams per person as well as four goats per person will be distributed. 

A cross section of one of the components of the livelihoods to IDPs

“In all, 5, 293 people from the four local government areas will benefit. For the purpose of achieving the desired goals, it is significant for me to enjoin beneficiaries of these livelihood and empowerment packages to avoid selling the materials off under whatever pretext. They should ensure that the materials are put into proper use for their own maximum benefits,” Gov. Buni said.

While pledging his commit to sustain partnership with the AfDB and other partners in the state, the Governor announced that the program will be expanded to other Local Government of the State for maximum impact.

Gov. Mai Mala Buni who emphasised the need for a peaceful atmosphere for development said; “I wish to emphasize that no meaningful development could be achieved without peace. In this regard, I would like to reiterate my deep appreciation on the renewed determination of His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari to end the Boko Haram Insurgency, kidnapping and other security challenges bedevilling the country. I would also like to commend the gallantry of the men and women of our armed forces and other security agencies.

“I enjoin the all the people of our state to continue to pray to Almighty Allah for the full return of peace in the state and the country in general”.

The distribution to the other three local government areas  is expected to commence in a few days.

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Auno attack: NEDC gives succour to 4,000 victims

The MD, Northeast Development Commission, Dr. Alkali @ Auno

Not fewer than 4,000 victims of Boko Haram attack from Auno community in Konduga local government area of Borno state have been provided with relief materials by the Federal Government.

The materials were provided through the North East Development Commission (NEDC) on Monday at Auno Village, 24 km away from Maiduguri, the Bono STATE capital.

While making the presentation, the Managing  Director of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Dr. Mohammed Alkali said  the relief items were a palliative to ameliorate  the hardship faced by the victims as a result of the Janaury 9^th  unfortunate attack on the community.

Dr. Alkali  listed some of the relief items  to include;  5000 blankets, 1000 bags of beans, 1000 matrasses,  200 catton of cooking oil, 1000 bags rice, 50 catton of  tomato paste,  50 carton Maggi cubes and 1000 pieces of mats.

According to him, the commission is poised to know the level of losses suffered by the victims through a committee that has already been set up, stressing that all the immediate, mediaum and long term needs of the affected people will be determined within a very shot time to addressing them.

He  added that, “there is urgent  need for immediate humanitarian assistance and  livelihood support for victims that lost their assets in this unfortunate attack and we must address that wihin a reasonable timeline”.

He also appealed to the victims to be patient with government in trying to address their challenges.

Earlier in her remarks, The Chairperson of Borno State Emergency Management Agency,  Hajiya Yabawa Kolo, disclosed that her agency has said  “so far profiled about  4000 persons,  comprising of about 800 households.

"Some of the beneficiaries  are here in the community while some are in the camp. In all the exercise, we are trying to reach over 1000 households, “she said.

The District Head of Auno village,  Abba Umar,praised  the Federal Government for the prompt support which he said would go along way to alleviating  the suffering of the affected victims.

"This support was very timely especially to those who lost everything during the unfortunate incident,” the districyt head said.

He appealed for the quick rebuilding of the houses and shops to enable the owners pick up their lives.

Some of the beneficiaries also thank the Federal Government for the timely intervention.

Adamu Umar, whose shop was burnt with foodstuff said, the relief materials will support him and his family for some time.

ImpactOnlineNigeria observed that life is gradually returning back to the village as some of the residents have started coming back to their house since the January 9^th Sunday night Boko Haram attack the killed over 30 travellers.

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Edo 2020: Gov. Buni receives Unity Torch, vows to supports in the state

Gov. Buni receives Torch of Unity in Damaturu

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has vowed to give maximum support to tap from the benefits accruing from it.

The governor made the promise today when he received the Unity Torch as part of activities for the 2020 National Sports Festival to be hosted by Edo state in April.

He lauded the excellent record of the state in previous festival, while promising to give support the state contingent to the festival to win medals for the state.

He said,“ I am delighted to receive the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Youth, Sports, Social and Community Development who are with us here today to deliver the “Torch of Unity” as part of nationwide events preparatory to the 20th National Sports Festival tagged “Edo 2020” scheduled to hold in Benin City in April. 

“As you are possibly aware, Yobe State has always participated in different editions of the festival since 1991.  In the 19th edition held two years ago in Abuja, for example, our state won nine medals in athletics, chess, hockey, judo and taekwondo championships.

“The Yobe State Government recognises the role of sports in the promotion of unity and cultural harmony and the cultivation of friendships among the participating athletes and their various states.  Sport is also a tool to advance and project our national image globally.

“We would, therefore, continue to support our sporting contingents from Yobe State to ensure that they excel in all the sporting competitions that our state participates in, and that Yobe benefits fully from all the endowments of sports,” Gov. Buni said.

Mohammed Datti, Northeast Journal Coordinator who represented the Minister of Sports who presented the Torch to the governor said it’s a tradition that the torch highlights unity and love across the states of the federation.

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