Thursday, October 9, 2025 - The United Nations Children’s Fund has estimated that Nigeria lost about $10bn to the decade-long conflict in the North-East.
UNICEF Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, disclosed this
in Maiduguri on Wednesday during the formal launch of a socio-economic
reintegration programme for children affected by armed conflict.
Represented by UNICEF Child Protection Manager, Shah
Mohammad Khan, Saeed said the prolonged insurgency had not only shrunk the
national economy but also devastated personal incomes and the earning power of
families and young people in the region.
She said, “According to a 2024 study commissioned by UNICEF,
the economic cost of conflict in North-East Nigeria has cost the country a
staggering $10bn over the last 10 years.
“Conflict has not only weakened the national economy, it has
crippled the income and earning potential of families and young people. For too
long, many children and adolescents in the region—especially girls—have been
denied the opportunity to learn a skill or pursue their dreams.”
She lamented that years of conflict in the region had been
marked by grave violations against children, including abductions and sexual
violence, adding that the loss of livelihood opportunities has had far-reaching
consequences on human capital development.
According to her, the newly launched socio-economic
reintegration programme aims to support children affected by conflict through
vocational skills training and essential child protection services.
“Currently, 1,033 children—567 boys and 466 girls—are
benefitting from vocational skills training in institutions across Maiduguri,
Bama, Biu, Damboa, and Konduga,” she said.
Saeed explained that the children are being equipped with
practical, market-driven skills such as tailoring, ICT, automobile repair,
shoemaking, and carpentry.
“These vocational training centres restore not just
learning, but also hope, dignity, and opportunity for conflict-affected
adolescents and their families,” she noted, adding that the programme also
includes life skills, psychosocial support, and formal certification.
She said that over a thousand children are expected to
benefit from the initiative each year, gaining practical skills that will open
doors to employment and sustainable livelihoods.
“Graduates will not only build brighter futures for
themselves but also contribute to peace, recovery, and resilience in their
communities,” she added.
The Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science and
Technology, Abba Wakilbe, commended UNICEF and its partner agencies—UNDP, IOM,
and UNODC—for jointly supporting the initiative.
“Let me particularly thank UNICEF for coming to our aid in
many of our difficult situations,” Wakilbe said.
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