In a major stride towards empowering youth in conflict-affected areas of Plateau and Kaduna states, the Rural Development Counsellor for Christian Churches in Africa (RURCON) provided 80 young individuals with essential vocational tools on Friday, 1st November 2024. The initiative, supported by “Friends of RURCON,” included equipment for hairdressing, barbing, tailoring, welding, mechanics, shoe-making, phone repairs, and trade funding.
The beneficiaries, 40 from Kaura Local Government Area in Kaduna State and 40 from Bokkos Local Government Area in Plateau State, had completed various vocational training programs. The graduation ceremony marked the culmination of training periods ranging from six months to two years, after which participants received startup packages to launch their businesses.
Executive Director of RURCON, Mrs. Dinatu Ayizat, urged the youth to make the most of their tools, emphasizing that the empowerment initiative aligns with RURCON’s vision of holistic community transformation. “Our goal is to uplift these youths, enabling them to support themselves and their families while positively impacting their communities,” she said. By targeting conflict-affected youths, RURCON aims to boost productivity and provide a pathway to more stable livelihoods.
Mr. Gado Seth Yashim, Acting Programs Director and Project Coordinator for the “Friends of RURCON” initiative, explained that the program was designed to equip youths from crisis-affected communities with entrepreneurship skills. “We enrolled them in skill acquisition centers based on their chosen fields, and today is their graduation. Each participant receives a startup package to help them begin their chosen trade and extend the impact by training others,” Yashim said.
He noted that the communities selected—Maikatako and Folloh of Bokkos LGA in Plateau State, and Malagum 1 and Sakong of Kaura LGA in Kaduna State—were chosen due to their experiences of violence, including attacks in December 2022. The initiative aims not just to empower individuals but to strengthen the broader community by creating a network of skilled youth capable of sustaining peace and development.
Mrs. Florence Nwameme, Director of Administration and Logistics at RURCON, highlighted that the project was a response to the high unemployment and associated vices in the regions. “We recognized that many youths, due to lack of jobs, were turning to negative behaviors. This initiative aims to change that by equipping them with skills to support themselves and contribute positively to their communities,” she said.
Community leaders, including Mai-Angwa Joseph Mangut Tagwai of Folloh in Bokkos LGA and Youth Coordinator Sailas Ala Marioms, expressed their gratitude for the initiative. They emphasized that it would help transform the youth and foster community development.
Beneficiaries such as Magdalena Sunday and Adama Joseph expressed their joy and appreciation, vowing to use their new skills and equipment to improve their livelihoods and give back to their communities.
