A non-governmental organisation, Plan International Nigeria, in collaboration with Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF), has trained 293 youths on various skills acquisition as well as cash grants to the trainees after graduation in Borno and Adamawa States, respectively.

Emmanuel Nuhu, the head of the humanitarian programme Plan International, while speaking during the graduation ceremony with the theme “Seeds of Change” of the 133 trainees from Borno State held in Maiduguri.

Emmanuel explained that youth unemployment in Nigeria remains alarmingly high, particularly in the Northeast, where years of conflict and displacement have limited access to education and economic opportunities.

Nuhu noted that as of 2020, the national youth unemployment rate stood at 33.3 per cent, with higher figures recorded in conflict-affected states such as Borno and Adamawa.

According to him, to tackle this challenge, Plan International established four Livelihood Incubation Centres across Damboa and Mafa LGAs in Borno and Girei and Fufore LGAs in Adamawa, respectively.

He added that the initiative targeted building resilience, promoting gender inclusion, and enhancing self-reliance among vulnerable youth through skills development, entrepreneurship training, and agricultural innovation.

“We are excited to celebrate 132 young graduates in Borno today who have successfully completed our skills acquisition programme under the BMZ project.

“Over a six-month training cycle, participants received technical and life-skills education, business coaching, and monthly stipends of ₦30,000 for transportation within the period of the training.

“Upon graduation, each beneficiary received ₦100,000 in seed capital to launch microenterprises in agriculture and related sectors. These young people are now equipped not only to earn a living but also to train others in their communities,” Nuhu said.

Some of the beneficiaries who undergo six months of training on various skills acquisition expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the donors and Plan International.

John Michael, a 19-year-old participant from the Simari community in Mafa LGA, shared how the training transformed his life.

“Before Plan International came, I had no skills or direction. Now I’ve learnt how to manage a business and engage with my community, and I’m successfully running a poultry farm,” he said.

Also speaking, Abubakar Ahmed Sadiq from the Kaleri community expressed gratitude for the financial and technical support received.

“They not only taught us business management but also gave us capital to start our cosmetic businesses. We now understand how to sustain what we’ve built,” Sadiq explained.

Meanwhile, Amma Mala, another graduate from the Tsinimari community in Jere LGA, recounted her renewed success in agriculture after previous failed attempts.

“I used to think poultry farming was impossible for me, but the training changed everything. Now, my birds are healthy, and my business is growing. I am confident in sustaining it,” she said.

The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), supported by Plan International Nigeria and jointly implemented by the Livelihood Incubation Centres (LICs) under the Youth Learn, Earn and Prosper in the Lake Chad Region project.