UNICEF, Borno Govt Empower Conflict-Affected Children with Vocational Skills

By: Aremu Toyeebaht

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Borno State Government, has launched a vocational training programme designed to empower 1,033 children affected by years of armed conflict in the state.

The initiative, unveiled in Maiduguri on Wednesday, aims to equip the beneficiaries with marketable skills in tailoring, information and communications technology (ICT), car mechanics, shoemaking, and carpentry.

UNICEF Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, said the programme was part of efforts to rebuild the lives of children and adolescents robbed of education and opportunities by prolonged conflict in the region.

“Conflict did not just shrink the national economy; it has crippled personal income and the earning power of families and young people,” Saeed said.
Represented by UNICEF Child Protection Manager, Shah Mohammad Khan, she added that the training integrates vocational and life skills, psychosocial support, and formal certification to prepare participants for sustainable livelihoods.

“These vocational training centres restore not just learning, but hope, dignity, and opportunity for conflict-affected adolescents and their families,” she stated.
“Each year, over a thousand children will benefit, gaining practical skills that open doors to employment and livelihoods. Graduates will not only build brighter futures for themselves but also contribute to peace, recovery, and resilience in their communities.”

The Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, commended UNICEF and other UN agencies — including UNDP, IOM, and UNODC — for their consistent support in helping conflict survivors reintegrate into society.

He described the initiative as “life-changing” for children who had endured abduction, forced labour, and recruitment by insurgents.

“Take a look at this boy, Bukar Modu. He was captured at the age of about nine and was forced to handle weapons and even make locally fabricated bombs,” Wakilbe revealed.
“They are examples of children who were forcefully abducted. Therefore, a programme such as this will significantly impact their lives. Let me particularly thank UNICEF for coming to our aid in many of our difficult situations.”

The programme marks another milestone in ongoing recovery efforts to rebuild hope and resilience among conflict-affected youth in Borno State.