With the aim of facilitating programmes that enable sustainable sources of livelihoods for communities impacted by insurgency in the North-East Nigeria, UNDP, in partnership with Adamawa State Government and funding support from the Government of Japan, has launched vocational training  in Yola to support women and youth with the necessary skills and opportunities to strengthen self-resilience and sustainability.

The training is provided under a UNDP project to support early recovery of the conflict-affected community in the North-East Nigeria. The ongoing project plans to provide skill training to 800 youth and women, including 200 beneficiaries from Adamawa State. The area of the skill provided include farming, tailoring, furniture making, livestock production, computer craft, electrical installation, and maintenance, among others.  The training sessions will last for 2 months and trainees who complete the targeted courses and meet the key requirements on various vocational skills will be provided with cash grants to be used to start or enlarge their own businesses.

The project is a part of the Early Recovery response plan for victims of insurgency and is one of the approaches UNDP support early recovery of the communities in conflict affected areas, enabling them to build forward better and ensure they have the means to create sustainable sources of livelihoods, while also supporting access to basic services, local governance and social cohesion.  

A large proportion of the residents of Yola are still dealing with the impacts of the lack of livelihood means, so much that they depend solely on humanitarian assistance. This is due to the insurgent attacks that broke out in Northeast Nigeria and parts of Lake Chad since 2009, which led to insurmountable loss of lives, destruction of essential infrastructures and displacement of families. Many families and individuals in the community are still distant from any semblance of self-reliance, which is consequent upon the long exposure to crisis and development disruptions. The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has also added increased difficulties, being that many of the conflict affected and displaced communities have suffered immense loss, both relating to healthcare and socioeconomic pressures, including their social support networks and means of livelihood.

Speaking at the launch in October in Yola, the Executive Governor of Adamawa State represented by Mr Elijah Tumba, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Human Services, reiterated that UNDP, with the support of Government of Japan, will use the programme to acquire development of the state. “In line with the Governor’s 11-Point agenda which includes focus on human development, infrastructure, economic empowerment, vocational training aimed at equipping young men and women with the skills to be productive members of the society goes hand in hand with the governor’s agenda. The skills acquired will enhanceself-employment and economic productivity which will help to curb poverty in the state.” he remarked.

The Commissioner for Entrepreneurship Development, Hon. Iliya James also speaking, stressed the importance of having transferable skills in these challenging times. In his words, “acquiring these skills will help in the collective development and rebuilding of the state. The beneficiaries need to be committed as the state depends on them to make use of the skills they will learn during the training.”

 “Due to the strong partnership with the government, the possibility of these real time interventions and projects have been carried out. It is through this programme that the selected beneficiaries can use this opportunity and in return be opportunity creators,” said UNDP’s representative Chaste Umeh, as he appreciated the government’s support and cooperation over the development of the project. 

UNDP and its partners such as the Government of Japan among others, have launched various interventions in the region which are aimed at supporting victims of insurgency in the three most affected states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. These interventions are also aimed at reconstructing and rehabilitating key infrastructures within the conflicted affected communities and similar vocational training programme will also be carried out in Yobe State this year.