NAN-H-4
IDPs
By Ali Inuwa
Maiduguri, Oct. 9, 2016(NAN) The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on Sunday launched skills acquisition training for 1,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno as part of its empowerment programme for victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The UNHCR Country Representative, Ms Angele Atangana, opened the training at a ceremony in Maiduguri.
Atangana, who doubled at the UNHCR Representative at the Economic Commission for the West African States (ECOWAS), said that the programme
was targeted at IDPs residing in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno.
She said that the objective was to impact skills on the beneficiaries so they could be self reliant when they return home.
She commended the trainees zeal to learn and urged them to remain focus for the duration of the programme.
The UNHCR official also commended the state government for its effort toward successful take off of the training.
She added that “I am really impressed with what I have seen here today.
“I am particularly happy with the large turnout of participates at the training and I want to encourage you to pay attention to your instructors throughout the training.”
The Coordinator of the programme, Malam Idris Alooma, said that the training was in collaboration with the Borno and the Federal Government toward preparing the IDPs for their eventual return to their homes following the liberation of commodities by the military from the Boko Haram terrorists.
He said “the programme is a joint collaboration by the UNHCR, the Borno and the Federal Government toward reintegrating IDPs back to the communities.
“This is a pilot project which will last for only two weeks at the end of which the beneficiaries will have learned a skill.”
Alooma said that the beneficiaries would be trained in capentary, iron bending, tailoring, bead making, shoe making, bag making or any other skill.
“Each of the trainees will be given a daily transport allowance for the duration of the training.
“At the end of the programme, a take off capital will also be granted to those who complete their training successfully to enable them to set up their own businesses.” (NAN)
ABI/HA
======
(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)