About 200 Internally Displaced Persons and vulnerable youths have graduated from a vocational skills training programme supported by the National Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Abuja.
In a statement by the Head, Press Unit of NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, the training aimed to improve the livelihoods of displaced persons and youths affected by insecurity, with a focus on promoting social inclusion and self-reliance.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony on Saturday, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said the agency would continue to support initiatives that empower displaced and vulnerable populations.
Umar said effective emergency management goes beyond responding to disasters, adding that it includes equipping people with the tools to rebuild their lives.
She said, “Emergency management goes beyond responding to disasters; it is also about building resilience, restoring hope, and supporting sustainable livelihoods for those affected by crises—especially our vulnerable populations, including women, youth, and displaced persons.”
The NEMA boss commended the Maryam Babangida Centre for using skills acquisition to reduce poverty and urged the beneficiaries to use their new skills productively to uplift their communities.
As part of its contribution, NEMA provided livelihood support items to the beneficiaries and the Centre to help sustain the gains of the training programme.
The Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Dr Vilita Asabe Bashir, praised NEMA’s partnership, describing it as a reflection of the agency’s commitment to disaster management and humanitarian service.
Bashir said the initiative was designed to empower displaced persons and vulnerable youth from insecurity-affected areas to become self-reliant and less exposed to social risks.
Some participants expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and its partners for helping them acquire skills to improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to national development.
