By Najib Sani, Gombe
As part of efforts to bring succour to the persons affected by crises and armed violence, JAPAN-UNESCO has empowered Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who migrated and were reintegrated into communities in Gombe State.
Our correspondent reports that the beneficiaries were trained on various occupations including; tailoring, catering, barbing, shoe making, animal husbandry and poultry productions among others.
The IDPs who were drawn from Gombe, Akko, Yamaltu Deba, Shongom, Kaltungo and Funakaye local government areas were also given starter packs after an intensive training on their chosen skills for months.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training tagged “Strengthening peace building and resilience in the North East Nigeria through Education, Economic Empowerment and Social Change held at Flourish Hotel, Gombe, the head of UNESCO office in Nigeria Mr Abdurrahman Diallo said armed violence in the North East resulted in massive displacement of people, food insecurity, and other life challenges, hence the intervention of JAPAN -UNESCO.
He explained that the project focused on some fundamental priorities in Nigeria which are promotion of peace, reconstruction assistance in the North East and humanitarian assistance to IDPs, social stabilization and vocational training among others.
“Insecurity is a major development concern in the North East Nigeria and more recently in other parts of the country. Armed violence has decimated the lives and livelihoods of civilians, with massive displacements fundamentally altering life in the region.
“These have increased tension across IDP camps and host communities, forcing affected and vulnerable population to adopt negative coping mechanisms”.
“In this regard, one of the key priorities for Nigeria is the promotion of peace and stability including reconstruction assistance in the North East region, including a support humanitarian assistance for Internally Displaced Persons and refugees; and support the reconstruction assistance for social stabilisation in the sectors such as education and vocational training among others”.
According to the UNESCO head in Nigeria, they have supported 1,000 internally displaced persons in Gombe State and vulnerable families by giving them skill training of their choices and starter packs
While presenting the report of the project to the gathering, the Project Coordinator, UNESCO Office, Abuja, Magdalene Anene- Maidoh explained that the project targets the IDPs and the vulnerable women and youths, through providing them with education, skills and livelihood supports.
In his remarks, Gombe State governor Inuwa Yahaya represented by his deputy Manasseh Jatau expressed willingness of the state government to strengthen its partnership with the development partners in improving the standard of living of state residents.
He said since the year 2020, Gombe state government had found UNESCO as a very reliable and dependable partner in the struggle to improve the socio economic standard of the state population.
