The European Union has said it would spend €1.5 million, approximately (₦2.7billion) to support the livelihoods of vulnerable people through diversification of income-generating and access to vocational inclusive in seven council areas in Borno and Yobe States.

Borno and Yobe states, the worst affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, had its educational and infrastructure system crippled as a result of 15 years of conflicts.

Michael Idah, the Country Program Manager, Christian Blind Mission (CBM), while speaking during the launching of Promoting Inclusive Education and Vocational Training in Nigeria held in Maiduguri, noted that the project targets four council area in Borno including Shani, Biu, Hawul and Kwaya-Kusar, while three in yobe state includes Bade, Nguru Nangere respectively.

Michael said the project aimed at improving access to inclusive education and vocational training for the people from host communities in the northeast, especially women, men and people with disabilities.

He noted that,” So it is also stemmed from different levels of stigmatization, from denial, from discrimination of the persons with disabilities. So as a result of that, having recognized that all of us have a right to health, right to education and right to development services and livelihood interventions, right to employment, CBM feels we need to make an impact.

He noted in Nigeria, polices been developing these different strategies to ensure and promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all development areas which is one of them that they are undertaking in Borno and Yobe states.

He explained, “we look forward to achieving three key things with this project; to ensure that persons with disabilities in Borno and Yobe states have valuable skills to vocational activities and other forms of income generation to be able to make a living and take care of themselves.

He added, “To ensure that the persons with disabilities are developed or have capacity to be able to fight or advocate for the inclusion of their rights in all areas, and to ensure that they have access to assistive devices that can make them move around.” Michael disclosed.

Also speaking, the Country Humanitarian Technical Specialist, Guar Godwill said that CBM would be working with other partners to implement the project in the next five years in Borno and Yobe state.

Guar,” Our primary strategy for implementing this project is going to be partnership. So, partnership and collaboration are our primary strategy for this project implementation. We are going to work with our partners in Borno State, WINN and in Yobe state, Taimako Community Development Initiative, to drive this project, the stakeholders at the Community and Government stakeholders are key in the success of this project.

“So we are going to work collaboratively with our partners the ministries, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women Affairs, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities and community members to be able to achieve the objectives of this project.” he said.

The acting Program Manager, Women in The New Nigeria (WINN) Rejoice John said the project was funded by the German government and CBM International in partnership with Women in the New Nigeria (WINN) and Taimako Community Development Initiative (TCDI).