On youths in Boko Haram-ravaged region

There are quite a number of young people in the Lake Chad region (Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad) affected by the Boko Haram conflict. The March 2016 edition of the monthly situation report by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and International Organization for Migration (IMO) indicates that there are 7 million people in need […]

There are quite a number of young people in the Lake Chad region (Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad) affected by the Boko Haram conflict. The March 2016 edition of the monthly situation report by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and International Organization for Migration (IMO) indicates that there are 7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Nigeria, including 1.9 million displaced by the Boko Haram conflict. 92% of the IDPs are being hosted by low-income host communities, bringing already-stretched services and resources under increased pressure.
The armed conflict has directly affected four states in the North-East of Nigeria: Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Gombe. The current humanitarian response covers all four states, with Borno State being the most-affected and the epicentre of military operations and displacement of civilians. So these areas have the largest number of young people affected by the war. These young people are either forcefully indoctrinated, killed, forced out of schools; kidnapped as sex slaves; their local businesses and farm lands destroyed; separated from family; orphaned or traumatized by war.
Furthermore, the young people in these areas are faced with limited education opportunities, unemployment, violence and many problems. Some reports have shown that Boko Haram’s conscription, abduction or coercion of youths is indirectly facilitated by lack of opportunities, poverty and illiteracy.
But as peace is gradually returning to some of these areas and the government of Nigeria is planning how to smoothly return IDPs to liberated areas, the role of young people is critical in sustaining the fragile peace and long-term stability. Designing projects and programmes for community protection and avoiding future conflict in these communities cannot be successful without involving young people.
Young people in conflict zones cannot play their expected role without getting help and being involved in design and implementation of programmes and projects meant for them and their communities.  These programmes and projects should be carefully designed in such a way that there is a strong synergy between affected states, and the federal government of Nigeria, while also involving donor agencies and NGOs in the areas of funding, monitoring and evaluation. The already existing humanitarian programmes and projects should be redesigned to give young people specific roles. This will help in the development and reorientation of their minds.
Recreational activities and creation of community centres in the liberated areas for young minds to interact and discuss issues are very critical to reintegrating them into normal communal life. They can also discuss issues and events while well-trained counsellors assist them in overcoming trauma. Provision of basic services – healthcare, education, water supply, information on diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and basic agriculture extension services especially on gardening are specifically essential to young people in post-conflict zones in North-East Nigeria.
Young people in Boko Haram-ravaged zones are strategic figures in efforts to reconstruct, rehabilitate and resettle their communities. A well-planned program for them will fast-track the healing. However, collaboration between all the   tiers of government, aid from the international community and the involvement of NGOs both local and international are needed for this.
Muhammad wrote in from Jimeta, Adamawa State.