A non-governmental organisation, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, has empowered 40 individuals in Borno State, comprising 20 children formerly associated with Boko Haram terrorists and 20 vulnerable women-led households. The empowerment programme, which took place in Maiduguri, aimed to help the beneficiaries rebuild their lives through livelihood support and training in business management, record-keeping, savings, and business improvement.
The 20 children, classified as low-risk minors, consisted of 10 girls and 10 boys who received business materials after completing their training. Each of the 40 beneficiaries, including the 20 vulnerable women-led households, received N80,000 in addition to starter packs for their various business skills. The businesses include welding, shoemaking, tailoring, thread shops, food vending, condiment and soup items, fabric and shoe selling, incense making, and grinding machines.
According to Maigari Hamza, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, the initiative was implemented under a project supported by the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN). The Foundation plans to monitor the progress of the beneficiaries and ensure they establish sustainable businesses. The ultimate goal is to achieve sustainable reintegration of the minors into their communities.
In addition to empowering the minors, the Foundation also supported 20 women-headed households, identified as the most vulnerable in the areas where the children were reintegrated. These women, mostly caring for children without male support, received livelihood support to enable them to provide for their children while promoting acceptance of the returnees. This approach aims to promote balance and strengthen the sustainability of the reintegration process.
Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, Executive Director of the Foundation, stated that the intervention is part of broader efforts by the government and stakeholders to stabilise communities affected by insurgency and support the transition of individuals who had disengaged from the insurgency back to civilian life. Since 2013, the Foundation has been working in communities where Boko Haram terrorists recruit young girls and boys, gaining their trust to facilitate their surrender.
The Foundation's empowerment programme involves not only providing livelihood support but also identifying women-led households within the communities who are not part of the extremists and empowering them to douse tension and grievances. By supporting both the minors and vulnerable women, the Foundation aims to promote acceptance and reintegration of the returnees into their communities.
The Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development has been working to support individuals who have disengaged from Boko Haram and reintegrate them into civilian life. With the empowerment of these 40 individuals, the Foundation has taken a crucial step towards achieving sustainable reintegration and promoting stability in communities affected by insurgency.
Key points
- The Allamin Foundation empowered 40 individuals, including 20 minors formerly associated with Boko Haram and 20 vulnerable women-led households, with livelihood support and training.
- The programme aimed to promote sustainable reintegration of the minors into their communities and support vulnerable women in providing for their children.
- The Foundation provided each beneficiary with N80,000 and starter packs for their various business skills, including welding, shoemaking, and tailoring.
