Country Director ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, has flagged off the reintegration of a total of 2400 unaccompanied children separated from their patents as result of death or missing loved ones by Boko Haram conflicts in Borno state into foster homes. The Project was tagged “Back To Home”.
She said the project was aimed to discouraged street begging which has been so worrisome in the society, especially among children of school age.
Obi, who was represented by Head of Programme, Suwaiba Yakubu, said the project was conceived by ActionAid to ensure that mothers in Borno, regardless of their situations, have the necessary income to cater for the children in their care.
“The project will ensure a home environment for 600 orphans/unaccompanied children and support 1,800 vulnerable children and their (host) families in primarily women-headed households.
“A total of 2400 orphans and vulnerable children will benefit from the project. In addition 300 women will be trained on livelihood and helped with start-up kits.
“This is coming as a solution-based approach to a major problem identified in the current crisis in the northeast.
“The number of unaccompanied that have been separated from their parents in recent government led returning scheme is huge. It is imperative to state that the care and welfare of unaccompanied children will create a big challenge if not urgently and technically attended to.”
She reaffirmed that ActionAid was committed to a peaceful and secured environment where the right of every child to access quality and affordable education is possible.
The Project Coordinator, Mr. Charles Durojaye, said orphans would be given psychosocial counseling and be enrolled into schools as well as support the foster homes, which most often are female-headed, by building the income generating skills of the foster mothers.
“In the inception phase the families will receive food allowances which will also benefit the biological children in the homes.
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