An indigenous based Non-governmental organisation Greencode has empowered 200 youths in skills acquisition and other trades from three local government areas of Borno state.
The project funded by United States of America is aimed at reducing the risk of recruitment of community members by Boko Haram insurgents by improving their means of livelihood.
The project coordinator Mr Samson Oyeleke said the youths were selected from insurgency affected areas in Maiduguri Metropolis, Jere and Bama local government areas.
He explained that beneficiaries were trained for a period of three months in tailoring, welding, plaster-of-Paris POP and other skills to prevent them from engaging in terrorism and other violent crimes.
“We are conscious of the adverse implications of displacement of two million people in the region hence the training ” he said.
Borno state Commissioner for Youths and Sports Sayina Buba represented by Director for Youths, Hadiza Buba urged the beneficiaries to make better use of the training and tools given to them.
He remarked that Borno state is willing to partner with any organisation that will build the capacity of many idle youths so as to become productive members of the society.
Some of youths Juliana Dauda, Mohammed and Mustapha Ali thanked the organisation for the training and promised to use the skills acquired to better the lives of their parents and siblings.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of starter packs which include deep freezers, welding, sewing and grinding machines to the beneficiaries.
Dauda Iliya