SOS Children’s Villages Empowers 500 Graduands With Starter Pack In Borno

By Gbenga Akingbule

SOS Children’s Villages, an International Non-Governmental Organisation, on Tuesday gave out starter packs to 500 graduands as part of its Post-Flood Recovery Program aimed at Restoring Hope from Ruins to young persons in Borno State.

Gatekeepers reports that the SOSCVN NGO is particularly concerned about the need to assist residents following the devastating floods that ravaged Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Council Area in September last year.

At the University of Maiduguri’s Muhammadu Indimi Multipurpose Hall, the SOSCVN brought together 500 young people who had graduated from its Entrepreneurship and Employability Training (EET) Program.

The structured intervention, according to SOSCVN, is aimed at equipping young people with market-relevant skills, business acumen, and the tools necessary to rebuild their livelihoods.

“Over several months, 500 young men and women participated in intensive vocational training, small business management courses, and life skills development, with curricula tailored to the realities of the local economy and post-disaster recovery needs.

“To ensure immediate and sustainable impact, each graduate received a comprehensive starter pack, comprising essential tools, equipment, and materials that enable them to launch microenterprises, secure gainful employment, and contribute to the economic revitalisation of their communities,” The SOSCVN said.

Last year’s flooding, according to experts, was the worst experience in the last 30 years for residents of Maiduguri and Jere, which led to the death of some residents, destroyed communities, farmlands, and small businesses. Livelihoods were swept away, leaving families in acute distress and young people with limited prospects for the future.

“This graduation represents more than the completion of a training program; it stands as a testament to the resilience of affected communities when provided with the right support and resources. It marks a decisive shift from crisis to opportunity, from dependency to self-reliance. For families and communities in Borno State, it signals hope, strengthened capacity, and the promise of a more secure future,” SOSCVN said.

The starter pack distributed includes Clippers, special barbing chairs for barbers, generators, soap making kits, cap making tools, among others.