ABDULLAHI ISAH, Maiduguri
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the North-East Entrepreneurship Development Centre (NEDC) in collaboration with the Abdul Ibrahim Development Service (AIDC) has trained 2,127 in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states and distributed 50 knitting machines to 50 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno to enable them to be self reliant and carter for their families.
While flagging off the distribution of the items at the Arabic Teachers College camp in Maiduguri, the Director Programmes of the centre, Alhaji Bawa Idris disclosed that the NEDC in collaboration with AIDC has so far trained 2,127 IDPs in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states with Borno alone registering over 747 beneficiaries.
“We expended N10, 637 million for the training of the IDPs in the three states in the North-east, as we pay their training fees of N5,000 each for the training, as well as spent N1,331 million in the procurement of the knitting machines and its accessories for the 50 beneficiaries free of charge. As you all know they can’t afford to pay for the training let alone buying the knitting machine”.
Alhaji Idris, therefore, called on the IDPs to make good use of the items and train other members of their communities, as the programme is aimed at empowering the IDPs economically.
In his remarks, the Borno State Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Engr. Babagana Umara said the items will assist the IDPs in long way to be self reliant, just as he called on them not to sell the machines provided to them.
He said the Borno state government through his ministry is determined to reconstruct all their communities for them to go back home and start a new life and as such the training will provide them with the opportunity to kick start economic empowerment in their communities, adding that ‘very soon, his ministry will also commence the training of the IDPs in preparation for their return to various communities in addition to providing them with working tools and capital.’
“I commend the NEDC and AI Development Service for the gesture and call on governments at all levels, corporate organizations and individuals to emulate them in our drive to empower our brothers and sisters that were affected by the insurgency in the North-east”, the commissioner stated.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Malama Hauwa Ibrahim thanked the NEDC and AI Development5r Services for the gesture and prayed that ‘Almighty Allah will continue to guard them and reward them abundantly.’
She assured that they will put good use of the machines and promised to train more members of their communities not only to be self reliant and reduce the burden of their families.
