In the wake of one of Borno State’s most devastating floods in recent history, a fresh wave of hope is sweeping through affected communities. Five hundred young men and women have just completed the Entrepreneurship and Employability Training (EET) programme, a flagship recovery initiative by SOS Children’s Villages aimed at equipping them with practical skills and start-up resources to rebuild their lives.
The graduation, held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at the Indimi International Conference Centre, University of Maiduguri, marked a significant step forward for many who had lost their homes, farms, and livelihoods to last year’s destructive floods. What once felt like an impossible path to recovery is now being replaced with opportunity and determination.
Through its Family Strengthening Programme, SOS Children’s Villages rolled out an intensive recovery plan designed not just to offer relief, but to create lasting economic resilience. Over several months, participants received vocational training, small-business management guidance, and life-skills development, all tailored to the realities of Borno’s local economy. The focus was on turning dependence into self-reliance and vulnerability into strength.
To ensure they could put their training into action immediately, every graduate walked away with a complete starter kit — tools, equipment, and materials suited to their chosen trade. With these resources in hand, many are already launching small businesses, finding employment, and contributing to their communities’ economic revival.
This milestone is part of a broader post-flood response by SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria. In communities such as Galadima and Gonidamgari, ₦10,000 cash grants reached 3,000 residents, while ₦60 million in community grants was channelled through Village Savings and Loan Associations to help people restart farming, trading, and other income-generating activities.
The organisation has also invested in restoring essential infrastructure — rehabilitating and constructing boreholes in Alajiri, Galadima, and Gonidamgari, installing three solar-powered water systems, and building five gender-segregated toilet facilities in Galadima, Abba-Ganaram, Muna, and Almeskin II. Hygiene kits were distributed, water committees trained, and psychosocial support provided to help residents recover both physically and emotionally.
Founded in 1949 in Austria by Hermann Gmeiner, SOS Children’s Villages now operates in nearly 130 countries. Its work in Borno stands as a testament to the belief that post-disaster recovery should go beyond survival — it should restore dignity, inspire hope, and create lasting opportunities for affected families.
About The Author
