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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.
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“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.
