The Victims Support Fund VSF says it will scale up youth empowerment programmes to dissuade the younger generation from joining radical groups.
Chairman of the Foundation General Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd) stated this during a presentation of starter-packs to fifty two out-of-school youth in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
The youths are members of families of the one hundred deceased District Heads killed by Boko Haram insurgents under Borno Emirate Council.
The programme was launched in June this year with support to one thousand widows and orphans in areas of livelihood and educational materials.
Chairman Victims Support Fund General Theophilus Danjuma represented by the Executive Director Professor Nana Tanko, observed that idle youth are most vulnerable for recruitment into terrorism and insurgency, hence the need to engaged them in entrepreneurship and skills acquisition programmes.
The Chairman explained that the fifty two out-of-school youth have been trained in four different skills which include carpentry, masonry, tailoring and shoe making.
He assured to collaborate with other institutions that will support the graduands in order to sustain their businesses.
“We are really committed to make sure that the root of the Boko Haram which is really unemployment and vulnerabilities are much controlled to the level where resilience can be build to resist any form of terrorist or insurgents group, he stressed “.
General Danjuma said Victims Support Fund will also empower communities in the North East to foster dialogue among different groups to engender peace in the region.
Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum represented by the Commissioner Inter-governmental affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Wanori, charged humanitarian and other Non-governmental organisations in the state to channel thier intervention in areas of vocational training and skills acquisition programmes.
The Governor urged the youths to make better use of the training and items provided to become productive members of the society.
Shehu of Borno Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Elkanemi represented by District Head of Bolori Alhaji Abba Masta Yusuf appreciated VSF for recognising families of deceased traditional rulers, who are also victims of insurgency.
Two of the beneficiaries Mohammed Ibrahim and Nana Abba Ali promised to train other youth in their neighbourhood.
Cov/Dauda Iliya