The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) says it has empowered 100 displaced persons with skills in 10 different trades to make them self-reliant.
The Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Ms Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja during the weekend.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that the training was being sustained across board, not only for IDPs.
She said that the beneficiaries were not only trained but certified in the fields.
According to Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the beneficiaries are selected and trained based on their areas of interest, natural skills and talent, hence the trainings are in photography, fashion design, tie and dye among others.
“And we have our database that indicates who is and who wants to do what.
“So, that means they are certified photographers, they have gone through the NABTECH testing, they are certified tie and dye specialist and certified fashion designers.
“This means they can earn a living from photography and others because what we are looking for is sustainability not just durable solution,” she said.
The Commissioner said the Federal Government is committed to the highest form of durable solutions for all persons of concerns.
“We don’t want arms, we want to breed self sufficiency not over – dependence on government,” she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that the core mandate of the Commission is the provision of durable solutions to persons of concerns and it is committed to ensuring that these persons would build their resilience.
“We help them with their coping mechanisms. They can contribute to the society, earn and help the economy of this country.
“So, in the past we have done various trainings, collectively with stakeholders, we have done lots of interventions but because there is no monitoring and evaluation in place, it was not sustainable.
“It’s not just about the trainings, it’s about the sustainability and that’s why we put monitoring mechanisms in place like the certification,” she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said
they were not just trained, they were certified and had certain power while the Commission had some monitoring indicators that will help it to monitor them.
The commissioner said that the beneficiaries were given some starter packs which were in stages and other complimentary services, like helping them to register their businesses, open their bank accounts and to be more accountable to themselves.
“So, going forward they have transited from being IDPs or persons of concerns, to victorious people and now entrepreneurs,” she added.
There is a plan by the Federal Government to exit IDPs camps, hence the reason for the training and empowerment initiative for persons of concerns across board to ensure self-sufficiency.
