UNHCR, Borno Empower 280 Conflict-Affected Beneficiaries In Banki

The Borno State government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have strengthened efforts to promote economic recovery and self-reliance among conflict-affected communities with the graduation of 280 beneficiaries from a vocational training programme in Banki.

The beneficiaries, comprising refugees, returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable women, graduated on Monday, September 21, 2026, from the Vocational Training Centre (VTC), Banki, after undergoing skills acquisition training aimed at improving their livelihoods.

The programme was implemented by the Borno State government with support from UNHCR as part of ongoing interventions to promote recovery, reintegration and sustainable livelihoods among populations affected by conflict.

Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation and Chairman of the Bama Reconstruction Committee, Lawan Wakilbe, who witnessed the graduation ceremony, commended UNHCR for its continued support to the people of Banki.

Wakilbe particularly appreciated the agency for providing starter packs to the 280 graduates, describing the items as critical tools for enabling the beneficiaries to establish businesses, generate income and become economically self-reliant.

He also commended UNHCR for supporting the remodelling of Taradal Primary School into a vocational training centre, describing the intervention as an important contribution to skills development and livelihood recovery in the community.

The commissioner urged the beneficiaries to put the skills acquired during the training to productive use and cautioned them against selling the starter packs provided to them.

He stressed that the items were intended to help the beneficiaries establish sustainable livelihoods, improve household income and strengthen their resilience.

Head of UNHCR Sub-Office, Maiduguri, Mr. Nicolas Kaburaburyo, commended the partnership between the agency and the Borno State government, particularly the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in supporting recovery and development in conflict-affected communities.

Kaburaburyo urged residents of Banki to take ownership of the interventions provided by UNHCR and ensure their proper utilisation and protection.

He listed some of the interventions in the community to include 450 two-bedroom rural housing units, irrigation facilities and the vocational training centre, noting that they were designed to support recovery, self-reliance and sustainable development.

Vice Chairman of Bama Local Government Council, Babagana Banki, assured the state government and UNHCR that the council would monitor the utilisation of the starter packs by the beneficiaries.

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He also pledged that the local government would continue to support and protect facilities provided through various development interventions for the benefit of residents of the area.

The District Head of Banki, Mohammed Umar, who represented the traditional institution, expressed appreciation to UNHCR and the Borno State government for their interventions in the community.

He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the starter packs and warned against selling the items, stressing that punitive measures would be taken against anyone found disposing of materials provided under the programme.