UNDP, AHNi Empower 3,000 Community Security Volunteers With Skills, Tools and Cash in Adamawa

YOLA —By Ojoma Yusuf,Yola

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi), has trained and equipped 300 Volunteers of Security Organizations (VSO) drawn from Yola North, Yola South and Madagali Local Government Areas of Adamawa State.

The initiative, implemented under an EU-funded programme supporting the disengagement, reintegration and reconciliation of persons formerly associated with non-state armed groups, provided beneficiaries with vocational skills, starter packs and financial support.

The Adamawa State Ministry for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Humanitarian Services was fully represented at the graduation ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pharmacist Amos Enoch, who represented the Commissioner, described the beneficiaries as a “core pillar of community safety and resilience.” He said the training and empowerment support were investments not just in livelihoods but in long-term peace and stability.

He urged the beneficiaries to apply their new skills toward productive ventures that would enhance both their lives and the wellbeing of their communities. Enoch reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening community recovery efforts, improving local livelihoods and promoting sustainable solutions for displaced persons and host communities.

UNDP Community Engagement Analyst, Ismail Bukar, explained that the programme—implemented across Adamawa, Borno and Yobe by UNDP, IOM, UNICEF and UNODC—marks a shift from crisis response toward building institutional capacity, skills development and economic resilience.

Bukar added that an additional 300 participants would graduate in Borno and Yobe, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 600 across the three states.

In her remarks, AHNi Director of Operations, Mrs. Irene Osaigbovo, highlighted the organisation’s work since its establishment in 2009, including HIV control interventions across multiple regions. She commended the Adamawa State Government for providing an enabling environment and encouraged beneficiaries to mentor others and contribute to the economic growth of their communities.

Some beneficiaries—Tero Austin, Aram Amos, Michael Sati and Agnes Jegede—shared testimonies on the positive impact of the training, expressing gratitude to UNDP and AHNi and promising to use their new skills for community development.

During the ceremony, a cheque of ₦15 million was presented for distribution to the 300 beneficiaries alongside the handover of starter packs. Trainings covered steel-pot production, charcoal briquette making, Plaster of Paris (POP), and poultry farming. The event also featured a traditional dance performance.