Kogiflame.com
ActionAid Nigeria has said that they remains resolute in addressing the drivers of violent extremism and we call on relevant stakeholders to jointly ensure that the issue of youth unemployment and social exclusion
in Nigeria, particularly in Kogi and Nasarawa States are reduced to the barest minimum.
ActionAid Nigeria, a social justice non _governmental organisation commences community consultations in twenty-four communities within twelve local government areas of Kogi and
Nasarawa State, in preparation for the flag off of the second phase of the “System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism (SARVE) Project in Kogi and Nasarawa States”.
The project which aims to strengthen community resilience against violent extremism in both States targets to decrease vulnerability of young men and women through socioeconomic empowerment of over 1,500 youths and 1,000 women among other initiatives.
Speaking in Abuja, the Country Director, Mrs Ene Obi said “One of the project implementation
strategy that has stood ActionAid Nigeria out among other International Non-Governmental
Organisations is our community rootedness, which is informed by our resolute to carry communities
along in every of our interventions, hence the community consultations we just began today. By
doing this, we endear the ownership of the project to the people which by extension guarantees
the smooth running of the project and thereafter the sustainability of the results.
ActionAid Nigeria has worked in Kogi and Nasarawa States for 11 and 15 years respectively.
Findings from working closely with key stakeholders in Kogi State within the past three years showed that radicalisation to violent extremism cannot be sufficiently addressed without solving the problem of extreme poverty, unemployment and social exclusion. The success recorded in
Kogi State further informed the extension of the project to Nasarawa State for this second phase.”
On December 18, 2018, during the close-out of the first phase of the project, it was revealed that the first phase of the project which was implemented in Kogi state only, reached 12,935 youths
(4,230 women and 8,705 men) and 8,913 women with livelihood trainings/entrepreneurial skills and
constructed 9 mini-cottage industries that have pulled over 5,000 youths and women out of poverty.
Specifically, the project developed and published a Peace Club Mentors’ Guide, which is now used for peace education in the State’s primary and secondary schools; provided advocacy support for
the passage of the “Kogi Youth Development Commission Bill” into law towards creating an
enabling environment for sustainable youth empowerment in the state; and supported development
of the “Kogi State Action Plan for Peace and Security of Women and Children” to promote
inclusiveness of women in preventing violent extremism and good governance, among others.
