By Goodluck Ikiebe.
5000 youths in North Eastern Nigerian state of Yobe have graduated from youth vocational skills training funded by EU Building Resilience in Complex Crisis (BRICC), programme being implemented by Mercy Corps.
The purpose of the intervention was to ensure that 5,000 youths, aged 18 to 24 have access to basic entrepreneurship training, inclusive of basic literacy and numeracy and small cash grants for small business development.
Over the last 18 months, the programme has been able to build economic opportunities through on and off-farm livelihood activities, with training provided in 17 different vocational skills.
The kind of training they received ranged from aluminum work and glass fabrication, automobile repairs, bag making, barbing, bicycle repairs and maintenance, blacksmith, cap making, furniture making, groundnut oil processing, knitting, phone repairs, shoemaking, tailoring, tricycle repairers, welding and metal fabrication.
Speaking on the successes of the intervention, the Programme Director, Freeman Muleya, said, “The youth livelihood intervention sought to address the underlying challenges of youth employment, recruitment and indoctrination of young people into violent extremist groups.
“This is a great milestone for the BRICC program, as Mercy Corps Nigeria marks her 10th year anniversary this year”.
Muleya added that it was important to ride on the support of government agencies with youth empowerment within their mandates, such as the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations – (YESSO).
He also stated that with funding from the EU, the programme was able to support the Ministry of Women Affairs, BEST Center Damaturu, and NDE vocational training centers with vocational training equipment.
“The BRICC program has impacted the zeal and the spirit of self-reliance on the vulnerable persons in Yobe state through its various programmes. The programme has also opened the horizon of the rural and vulnerable populace to the need of investment in human development. The State Coordinator, NDE, John Tumba Kwaji, said the services rendered by BRICC to the vulnerable persons in Yobe State had contributed significantly in reducing high level of poverty among victims of insurgency in the State.
Many of the graduated youths have expressed their deep appreciation for the intervention, and the kind support provided by the EU. “I had always wanted to learn tailoring but did not get the opportunity and support. During my training, I was really dedicated and made the place my home and attended even weekends. I am grateful to Mercy Corps as with the grant I received, I am able to set up,” Dauda, who got trained and received a business grant stated.
The EU BRICC programme is a consortium-led recovery initiative, implemented by Mercy Corps Nigeria, Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), and Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
In addition to the youth initiative, the programme provides cash and food assistance, access to financial aid, agricultural support, and community involvement in governance.
