The Northern Governors’ Wives Forum (NOGWF) has tasked 19 Governors to ‘empower and educate’ Internally Displaced Women and Children (IDWC) in camps and host communities of Northeast. The decade long Boko Haram insurgency in region, has affected Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states with destruction of many lives and property. NOGWF’s Vice Chairperson, Dr. Falmata Babagana Zulum, gave the task; while distributing relief materials on Thursday at Stadium Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, Maiduguri.
“We’re here today to discuss and brainstorm on common problems facing this region and proffer solutions,” she said, disclosing that the solutions are on how best to implement measures address poverty, unemployment and out of school children. She noted that the good people of Borno state would ever remain grateful to forum members, saying that; “This is because you share our grief and provided a sense of belonging; when we need it most, particularly the succour of distributing food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 2015.” She said the most disturbing issues facing the north, are increasing number of children out of school; drugs abuse and addiction; and violence against women. According to her, these have led to insecurity to lives and property and other vices in the region. She said in Borno state alone, there are over two million IDPs in camps and hos communities. Dr. Falmata also noted that with gradual return of IDPs, the state government is gradually returning them for resettlement in earnest. She said that out of the 7.3 million displaced persons, there are over 200, 000 widows with 59,311 children being orphaned by decade long insurgency.
She told the governors’ wives that women IDPs need to be empowered, while children are educated, as they are out of school since July, 2009. She said that the education of children, including the orphaned ones, could provide a solid foundation for their future. Her words:“I want you my sisters to look at how each one of you can key in and support these IDPs with resettlement equipment and empowerment machines and materials. “You could also construct and equip skills acquisition training centres for IDPs. These are to restore their livelihoods to become self-reliant.” She said that the empowerment of women IDPs could be part of forum’s pet projects in each of the 19 member states.
