The Humanitarian Times

By Abdulkareem Haruna
The Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development has empowered 240 young men and women previously associated with violent non-state armed groups, including Boko Haram, as part of a major reintegration drive in Bama, Borno State.

The beneficiaries, who completed intensive skill acquisition training, were presented with small business starter kits during a graduation ceremony held in Bama on Tuesday, 15 July 2026.

The project, titled “Support for the Disengagement, Review, Reintegration, and Reconciliation of Persons Formerly Associated with Non-State Armed Groups in Northeast Nigeria,” is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU). The initiative is implemented in collaboration with UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Borno State Government.

Promoting Reintegration and Cohesion
Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, the Executive Director of the Allamin Foundation, explained that the intervention was designed to build resilience and foster long-term stability in communities ravaged by over a decade of insurgency.

Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Ms. Allamin noted that the foundation has engaged nearly 500 beneficiaries in total, with the latest cohort representing a critical step in the reconciliation process.

“Those coming back from the bush are returning with nothing, and our communities have also suffered immense losses,” she said. “It is government wisdom that when you integrate and support one [returnee], you must also support members of the host community. On this basis, 240 people were selected.”

According to Hamza Maigari, the foundation’s Programmes Manager, the cohort consists of 160 community members and 80 individuals who have disengaged from armed groups.

The beneficiaries underwent training in 18 different vocational skills at government-run institutions, including the Designer Gimbba vocational centre. Ms. Allamin emphasized that the empowerment kits were not distributed arbitrarily; instead, each recipient underwent an assessment to ensure the tools provided matched their specific skills and requested trade.

Official Charge
The Chairman of Bama Local Government Area commended the Allamin Foundation and its international partners for the initiative. He issued a stern warning to the beneficiaries, stating that any attempt to sell the provided tools rather than using them for their intended trade would lead to arrest and prosecution.

Representing the Chief Adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum, Dr. Mairo Mandara, Ms. Asmau lauded the collaborative efforts of the UNDP and the foundation. She urged the graduates to utilize the tools effectively to improve their livelihoods, while calling for sustained love and mutual respect among the populace to heal the wounds of the long-standing conflict.

The event was attended by dignitaries including a representative of the Shehu of Bama, Umar Ibn Kyari Elkanemi, who urged the graduates to mentor others in their respective trades.

The ceremony concluded with a vibrant display of Kanuri cultural heritage, featuring a mock durba procession performed by children from the royal household, a gesture the organisers said symbolized the restoration of peace and social cohesion in Bama.