The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has unveiled plans to commence a capacity training program for internally displaced women from Nigeria’s north-east.
The Country Representative of the United Nations’ agency, Angele Atanga, told reporters at a press conference in Abuja on Friday that the training was targeted at the internally displaced women to restore their economic independence.
A Matter Of Dignity
“The African Union had come together and adopted a framework which is called the Kampala Convention since October 2009.
“And this framework is to actually form the basis upon which we all, Africans, should refer ourselves in order to take care of those of our brothers and sisters who are displaced in our midst.
“In this regard, UNHCR and the National Centre for Women Development are about to begin a training programme which will focus on training these persons on how to become self-reliant through livelihood training for them to be able to fend for themselves because for us, it is a matter of dignity,” Atanga said.
Methods of Farming
The program is expected to train the women on new methods of farming, crafts, and other technical skills for self-sufficiency.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Women Affairs, represented by Abubakar Gambo, said the program, when implemented, would fast-track government’s rehabilitation efforts of the IDPS and the reconstruction of the north-east.
“The project which is aimed at equipping the female IDPs, with necessary vocational skills in a practical manner that will bring about improvement to the socio-economic wellbeing of the female IPDs and their families will contribute greatly to the Federal Government’s effort in integrating the displaced persons back to the society and rebuilding the north-east,” Mr Gambo stated.
According to the NUHRC at least 1.5 million persons have been displaced in the north-east of Nigeria in the heat of the over 6 years’ insurgency as a result of the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists.