100 Victims Of Banditry Get Entrepreneurial Skills

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has provided entrepreneurial and agricultural training for 100 participants to enhance economic empowerment among women and youth affected by banditry in Katsina State.

This initiative targets sustainable income generation and community resilience.

Participants, selected from banditry-affected communities in Batsari, Jibia, Kankara, and Danmusa local government areas, were trained in a range of practical skills, including tailoring, tie and dye, carpentry, agriculture, shoemaking, welding, and fabrication.

The initiative, titled Empowering Communities through Practical Skills: Building Resilience and Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods for Youth and Women in Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia, and Kankara, is part of the CDD’s Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation in North West Nigeria (CMCR) project. Supported by the European Union (EU) and implemented with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Mercy Corps, the project addresses the economic needs of individuals affected by conflict in the region.

During the programme, the CDD’s programme manager for CMCR, Kolawole Ogunbiyi, explained that trainees would receive resources such as sewing machines, salon equipment, irrigation farming tools, livestock, and welding machines to support their journey toward financial independence.

“We identified 100 individuals across Batsari, Jibia, Danmusa, and Kankara who need livelihood support,” Ogunbiyi said. “Through this training, we aim to enhance their skills and creativity, making them self-sufficient and financially independent.”

One of the participants, Yusurat Abubakar, expressed gratitude, stating the training equipped her with essential tailoring skills, helping her become “self-reliant.”