The Kaduna State Peace Commission has reiterated its strong belief that sustainable peace can best be achieved when structural drivers of poverty and youth unemployment are addressed.
It was against this background, the commission in partnership with UNDP, has organised an orientation programme for youth victims of violence from Southern Kaduna, held at Shere Hills Centre for Citizenship and Leadership Training, Jos Plateau State
The orientation programme undertaken by the youth, included carpentry, tailoring, livestock production, welding, hairdressing and woodwork.
The programme is to help youth victims devastated by violence from conflict affected communities to restart their lives through entrepreneurship that would help reduce poverty and unemployment.
The participants were recommended by Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working with community based organisations (CBOs) in their various LGAs following engagement and advocacy programmes.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the programme, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Peace Commission, Barr. Priscilla Ankut said as a mark of the Commission’s commitment, the selection process of the applicants was not only rigorous but meticulous,
This, She emphasised, was done with the full knowledge that only through a meticulous process could serious minded youth could benefit from the programme.
Ankut said it was satisfying to note that the youth have put in their very best in the course of the orientation which has now prepared them for the next phase of the programme which is the actual training in various vocations.
“As such, I would urge you to be even more focused on the next phase of the programme than you have been during the orientation
” The success of the programme will encourage the Peace Commission and our development partners to embark on more of such programmes for other victims of violent conflicts in the future”, she assured.
Ankut expressed appreciation to the partners in ths programme, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), for their support and commitment to the welfare of victims of violence in Kaduna state and generally, peace building and peacemaking activities in the state
