EU, Mercy Corps Empower 5,000 Youths InYobe

European Union-funded programme, Building Resilience in Complex Crisis (BRICC); and Mercy Corps have empowered 5,000 youths in Yobe State with vocational skill training on various disciplines.
The BRICC Programme Director, Mr Freeman Muleya, spoke at the graduation and handover of equipment to beneficiaries in Damaturu yesterday.
Muleya said the purpose of intervention was to ensure that the beneficiaries between 18 and 24 years have access to basic entrepreneurship training,  literacy, numeracy and cash grants for small business development.
“The youths livelihood intervention seeks to address the underlying challenges of employment, recruitment and indoctrination of young people into violent extremist groups.
“This is a great milestone for the BRICC programme, as Mercy Corps Nigeria marks its 10th year anniversary this year.” he said.
The programme director said that it was also meant to support the efforts of government’s agencies like the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations.
He noted that over the last 18 months, the programme had provided training in 17 different vocational skills.
According to him, the beneficiaries are trained in aluminum work and glass fabrication, automobile repairs, bag making, barbing, bicycle repairs and maintenance.
He said that other areas were in blacksmith, groundnut oil processing, knitting, phone repairs, tailoring, tricycle repairers, welding and metal fabrication, cap, shoe and furniture making.
Mr Muhammad Bukar, one of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the intervention.
“I have always wanted to learn tailoring but did not have the opportunity and support.
“When I had this opportunity, I dedicated myself and made the training centre my home. I am grateful to the organisers,” Bukar said.
Another beneficiary, MrMaduBabagana, urged others to utilise the skills they acquired and not to divert the startup kits.