Kebbi, Sokoto and Katsina states will benefit from the Christian Blind Mission’s 4.888 million Euros disability project funded by the German Government, through its Humanitarian Assistance, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Chief Executive Officer of the Mission, Dr Rainer Brockhaus, said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the launch of a five-year project, tagged: “Resilience Strengthening for an Inclusive Life in the Northwest Nigeria.”
NAN reports that the project aims to enhance the resilience of the conflict-affected communities in the three states, starting from November 2024 to December 2028.
NAN also reports that the target of the project is the vulnerable, particularly women and girls, with or without disabilities, who experience sexual, gender-based or disability-related violence.
“The project will bridge immediate assistance with long-term development and addresses the nexus discussion on global agenda.
“For many years now, humanitarian actions in Nigeria often focus on the Northeast because this area, sadly, makes the headlines in the press in so many countries.
“The northwest also faces many challenges that need attention; the region is dealing with insecurity, displacement and the lack of access to basic supports which are very important.
“It is crucial to ensure that aids reach all areas, including the northwest, to address these growing challenges and to build resilience,” he said.
Brockhaus said that the five-year project would foster sustainable and long-lasting change, and strengthen the resilience of individuals and local structures to overcome and end crisis in the zone.
The mission’s Country Director, Samuel Omoi, said the project was beyond a development initiative but a reflection of the shared hope and ambition for a future where communities in the northwest were empowered, with no one left behind.
Mr Omoi thanked Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, National Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Women Affairs and others for paving the way for the project in the zone.
Bright Ekweremadu, the Regional Hub Director for Africa, West and Central, urged the partners of the projects, both public and private, to put the funds to best use and remain open, accessible, transparent and accountable to the funders.
These, he said, were veritable tools useful for future project grants’ application, implementation and execution.
Nike Abimbola, the Head, Development Programmes and Partnership, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), lauded the initiative, saying it would address the plights of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
According to her, the project will also alleviate the poverty and other harmful and discriminatory acts being meted on the PWDs in the zone.
