The Support Initiative For Communities In the Lakechad Areas ( SILCA ) with assistance from the Northeast Regional Initiative ( NERI ) has engaged 200 unemployed Youths from Muna and Musari wards of Jere Local government area of Borno state to participate in a historic community clean up activity.

The Executive Director SILCA , Baba Mai Latti, yesterday in Maiduguri said the activity aims at engaging the unemployed youths to participate in a cash for work exercise that will take place over the next few weeks.

Mr Latti added that the selected youths will receive stipends in exchange for their participation in the clean-up and sanitation of selected public areas in their communities.


” This activity was designed to provide idle youths, affected by the insurgency crisis, with an opportunity to earn funds for their personal development and entrepreneurship.

” The weekly community environmental safety exercises will focus on cleaning up refuse and debris around the Local Government Area . The selected youths will be equipped with personal protection equipment (PPE) including rubber boots, hand gloves, face goggles, face masks to ensure their health and safety for the duration of the exercise.


” Through the implementation of this activity, NERI seeks to increase trust and cooperation amongst youths while providing them with financial resources to reject the lure of extremist groups who are known to target vulnerable youth for recruitment,” he said.


He further said that each participant will be paid N3,000 daily for the twenty days with the amount accruing to N60,000 each to enable them pick up small businesses that are peculiar to their areas.

” The North East Regional Initiative will support SILCA by providing technical and procurement assistance during the duration of this activity,” he added.


In appreciation, the Borno state Commissioner of Poverty alleviation and social develpment, Inna Galadima thanked NERI and SILCA for supporting government in making life meaningful for the citizens.


The Commissioner who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry , Aisha Abdulrahman said the excercise apart from teaching the Communities to Clean-up their environments for a healthy living , will equally empower the youths for self sustainance.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/ngo-empowers-200-borno-youths-with.html