UNICEF, Borno to Train 1,033 Conflict-Affected Children
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Borno State Government, has launched a vocational training program for 1,033 children affected by the armed conflict in the Northeast. The initiative, launched in Maiduguri, aims to equip the children, including 466 girls, with practical skills to rebuild their lives. They will receive training in tailoring, ICT, car mechanics, shoemaking, and carpentry at centers across the state. A UNICEF representative stated that the prolonged insurgency has denied many children the chance to learn skills or pursue their dreams. The program is designed to restore "hope, dignity, and opportunity" by combining vocational training with life skills and psychosocial support. The Borno State Commissioner for Education commended UNICEF for the initiative, highlighting its importance for children who were previously abducted and forced into roles by insurgents.