UNDP To Invest N320m On Youths, IDPs In Benue

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) yesterday said it was investing additional N320 million to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and equip youths in Benue State.
The Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr Mohamed Yahya, said this when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Samuel Ortom at the Benue People’s House in Makurdi.
Yahya said the organisation was investing additional N120 million to scale up access to livelihood for communities affected by conflicts and IDPs.
He said the project would be undertaken alongside social protection efforts being led jointly with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and others.
He said the UNDP was going to sustain its support through its integrated Peace-building Programme to foster cohesion, which seeks to address the root causes of conflicts.
“The issue of IDPs is a complex problem and as we discuss, there is a great need to comprehensively explore not just sustainable, but durable and comprehensive solutions that will address the underlying factors of displacement.
“As the UN in Nigeria, and as the development agency of the UN System, UNDP is now engaged with others in the international community to explore viable options of what could constitute such durable solutions to IDPs.
“I am also pleased to inform you that UNDP with support from the Government of Japan, will be making an additional investment of N120 million to scale up access to livelihoods to communities affected by conflicts including IDPs.
“This will be undertaken alongside social protection efforts being led jointly with UNHCR and others,” he said.
Yahya added that another N200 million would be invested to equip Benue Youths with practical skills, technologies and knowledge across the agricultural value chain to encourage their participation in the sector for possible transformation of their lives and communities.
“There is, therefore, a need to harness the demographic dividend and make them our strength in achieving Benue’s development agenda.
“I strongly believe that one way of doing this is to create avenues for their meaningful participation across the agricultural value chain.
“If we make agriculture attractive to our youths by granting them access to a new set of skills, technology, knowledge, capital, information and markets, there is a high likelihood that they will not find value in engaging in any destructive social or political activities.