02/04/2025
THE CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSION IN NIGERIA VISITED THE CHILDREN AND WOMEN REHABILITATION CENTERS IN THE HAJJ TRANSIT CENTER AND BULUMKUTU INTERIM CARE FACILITIES IN MAIDUGURI BORNO STATE
THE CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSION IN NIGERIA VISITED THE CHILDREN AND WOMEN REHABILITATION CENTERS IN THE HAJJ TRANSIT CENTER AND BULUMKUTU INTERIM CARE FACILITIES IN MAIDUGURI BORNO STATE
Date: February 19, 2025
The delegation was led by Colton Brydges, First Secretary for Political Affairs at the Canadian High Commission, accompanied by Michael Murphy, Counsellor, Political Affairs and UNICEF staff. They were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Aisha Shettima, Director of Social Welfare, on behalf of the Honorable Commissioner for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development of Borno State. In her welcome remarks, Mrs. Shettima expressed gratitude to Mr. Brydges and his team for their visit, noting a previously planned visit in 2024 that had to be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
The Program Manager from TPO provided a brief overview of the center and its rehabilitation initiatives. He explained the objectives of the reintegration program, its historical context, and the government's commitment to it. The discussion included the strategies employed in the program, emphasizing its alignment with the Operation Safe Corridor program and community-based rehabilitation efforts aimed at helping beneficiaries transition into productive lives within their communities.
He highlighted the government handover protocol and the Borno Model Reintegration Program, which primarily targets women and children while also involving adult males in peacebuilding, deradicalization, and skills development for socio-economic reintegration.
The director, along TPO staff, guided the visitors through various units offering multi-sectoral services within the center, including:
1. Screening and Documentation
2. Child Protection Case Management Unit
3. Livelihoods and Transitional Skills Center
4. GBV Safe Space
5. Child-Friendly Space
6. Temporary Learning Spaces
7. Health Center/Clinic and Nutrition Units
Key Tour Highlights:
1. Documentation Office: Officials first visited the documentation office, which houses two units: Health Screening and Child Protection. The Programs Manager explained how these units collaborate to deliver tailored multi-sectoral services to beneficiaries, focusing on women, girls, and boys.
Health Screening: New arrivals, particularly women and children formerly associated with Non-State Armed Groups, undergo health screenings to identify challenges and ensure immediate support. Profiling helps gather relevant information on livelihood skills of interest for women and adolescent boys and girls. Children with protection concerns are referred to the Child Protection Case Management Team for documentation and support.
Child Protection Case Management: Each child with identified protection issues is assigned a caseworker to oversee service delivery and monitor their progress. School-age children are enrolled in Temporary Learning Spaces for educational support.
2. Livelihood Units: Next, officials visited the Livelihood Units where beneficiaries receive training in nine skill sets, including shoe making, perfume production, and tailoring. This program aims to equip participants with marketable skills, fostering resilience and community integration. The displayed products illustrated the positive impact of the training.
3. GBV Unit: Officials then toured the Gender-Based Violence Unit, where they met survivors learning to produce household perfumes and creams. The manager highlighted how GBV services significantly improve the lives of women and girls in the camp.
4. Child-Friendly Space: The team visited the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Child-Friendly Space, witnessing children aged 0-5 engaged in play-based learning. One official inquired about challenges faced in engaging the children, to which the unit lead mentioned initial language barriers. Over time, children adapted, developing a sense of belonging and safety.
5. Temporary Learning Spaces: At the temporary learning spaces, officials observed school-aged children actively participating in classes focused on literacy and numeracy. They noted children being guided to identify items in English, reflecting effective teaching practices.
The Programs Manager then accompanied the officials to Camp B, where the clinic and nutrition services were carried out. The facility manager in charge of the clinic provided a tour of the facility, showcasing various health services, including the General Out-Patient Department and delivery room. Additionally, the Nutrition Unit was highlighted, where children facing nutritional challenges receive support.
This visit underscored the collaborative efforts to enhance the well-being of vulnerable populations in Borno State. The delegation further proceeded to the Bulumkutu interim care center where similar interventions are being carried out but specifically to support the unaccompanied and Separated (UASC) children and women in highly vulnerable circumstances are cared for. The center also houses detainees released from the joint investigation committee (JIC) and Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) program as part of the Hand over protocol.
Mr. Colton Brydges, in his remarks, expressed his profound appreciation to Government, UNICEF and staff for their unconditional support in ensuring that children and women especially who exit armed groups are supported through tailored intervention such as this. Citing the comprehensive nature of the intervention, Mr. Colton highlights the importance of continued support to this intervention and pledges to convey a message of goodwill and appeal for support from their citizens and other donor partners. Reflecting back on their initial visit which failed due to a civil demonstration by beneficiaries at the time in 2024.
The visit was climaxed with profound appreciations from the side of the Government, UNICEF and the envoy from the Canadian High Commission.
