Abuja IDPs tell inspiring success stories despite displacement woes

The general story of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is usually not a pleasant one. It is not just a story of displacement, but experiences of pain and despair. Thousands of people displaced from the north-east of the country who have taken refuge in Abuja since 2014 and 2015 are faced with this experience. However, some […]

The general story of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is usually not a pleasant one. It is not just a story of displacement, but experiences of pain and despair.

Thousands of people displaced from the north-east of the country who have taken refuge in Abuja since 2014 and 2015 are faced with this experience. However, some are rewriting their stories and Aso Chronicle reporters, who visited them at Kuchingoro and Durumi IDPs’ camps, on the fringes of Abuja, bring forth their inspiring stories.

Solomon Benjamin, who was displaced from Gwoza, Borno State in 2014, has shrugged off the woes of displacement and destitution to make a living in shoe making.

“With help from non-governmental organisations, I and other (IDPs), have acquired skills which have given us sustenance.

“I learnt how to make shoes and ever since, it has become my major source of income and livelihood,” he said.

He said after the training, they were given capital to start up their own businesses which they all embraced.

“Though some people never used the capital, I did and it is helping me today because I can proudly say I am self-reliant,” he said.

He further explained that he started his shoemaking business with N1,500 which he got from the TY Danjuma Foundation.

“I bought the necessary equipment I needed and then started making shoes samples so that people will see and come and patronize my services.

“Being displaced did not make me disabled and because of what I am doing, other persons look up to me as an inspiration because I am able to cater for my basic needs like food and clothing,” he said.

Another displaced person, Miss Maryam James, a tailor said she got a sewing machine as a gift from a good Samaritan and it has saved her from depression as it now provides for her material needs.

“I got this sewing machine as a gift from an individual, and since then it has helped me in curbing idleness and depression. I am no longer depressed, rather, I am engaged, mending one cloth or the other and I get paid for my services,” she said

“Due to our present situation, patronage is low because people don’t sew dresses because they are depressed and some hopeless. But they normally bring clothes, especially the ones given to them by charities, for adjustment and that’s where I get little income from,” she said

“There is ability in every displaced person, so I urge every other displaced person to engage themselves in something even if it means going to the bush to get firewood and sell, this will help provide little income and reduce the level of depression,” she said.

Another displaced person, Mrs Lydia Yusuf, said when she discovered that the assistance she gets from charities were not enough, she thought of what she could do to survive.

“I decided to work hard to make ends meet despite the challenges of living in a squalid camp. And seeing my zeal to eke a living out of nothing, some individuals gave me an grinding machine freely, and since then, I rely on money gotten from this business to take care of myself and my children,” she added.

Despite the success stories, IDPs in Durumi, Area 1, complained of being impoverished as they don’t have capital to start up any business.

Mrs. Layatu Ayuba, the women leader of the camp, said ”though we get empowered with different skills, we have not been given the capital to start up any business, thereby bringing about idleness and depression.”

Also speaking, Fadimatu Buba said “we can’t fend for ourselves, we have acquired skills but they have not given us capital to start up business,” she said.