UN empowers 1,770 women on skills in Borno, Yobe

The training, which is funded by the Government of Japan, is being executed by Search for Common Ground, one of the implementing partners of UN Women, targets two local governments in Borno, comprising Jere and Mafa, while Bade Local Government was selected from Yobe for the programme.The Programme Manager, Search for Common Ground, and Gender Specialist, Mrs Tamwakat Golit, said the programme is aimed at strengthening women’s resilience in post-conflict states of Borno and Yobe, to make them self-reliant economically, and to also equip them to make choices and decisions in politics and conflict management.
 
“These women are being trained on improved parboiling technology of rice paddy, and income generating activities of their choices ranging from sewing, knitting, gardening, cap making, poultry, to groundnut processing etc.“Search has also supported these women by training them on micro enterprise, cooperative management, and climate smart technology. We have established them into cooperatives to enable them build strong networks to support each other, earn and save money and influence decisions in their homes and communities,” Golit explained.

She also added that the women have been provided with start-up kits and supplies like groundnut processing machines, sewing and knitting machines and supplies, soap and cap making materials etc. to enable them sustain their livelihoods and that of their families.

Golit noted that her organisation has quickly keyed into the Nigerian government policy of Made-in-Nigeria products by installing 300kg/h rice milling machine, and a 22KVA standby generator in Bade for the processing of quality home grown rice as a result of the closure of border against the importation of rice and other items.

According to her, the state-of-the-art rice milling machine would be managed by the women within the community, adding that the machines have the capacity to separate chaff, husk, and stones from rice, and polish rice free from stones for easy consumption.As part of its core mandate, she said women will be further trained, and their leadership skills built in conflict management, to enable them advocate change and gender equality in their communities.UN Women was created by the UN General Assembly in 2010, for gender equality and the empowerment of women.