From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Amid the trauma of living in a camp in Durumi, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, 19 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) girls shone bright at a photo exhibition.
The event was organised by the Spanish embassy in Nigeria in partnership with the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, yesterday.
The Spanish Embassador to Nigeria, Juan Sell, explained that the 3rd edition was to encourage the young girls to look beyond their current challenges and envisage a life of possibility.
According to him, the Embassy in partnership with local organisations will set up a gallery and laboratory for them to learn new skills.
Sell said: “I am happy to be part of the photography exhibition. As I said in my introduction, because this is the third edition, we are partnering with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.
“We want them to help us escalate the programme to get more beneficiaries. We are planning to do more things for the girls
“We believe in empowering girls and women. We want to have a small gallery and laboratory for the to continue this process of acquiring new skills.”
On his part, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, said the commission was ready to come up with durable solutions for the IDPs.
“One of the mandates of refugees commission is the issue of durable solution. And wherever we find a place for individuals who are ready to contribute towards providing durable solution for the plights of IDPs we are ready to assist and partner.
“That is why we are here to launch the photographs that have been snapped by the young girls living in IDPs camps in Abuja. I want to appreciate the embassy of Span, for bringing this kind of initiative and effort.
“We want to inform the embassy that the refugee commission is ready at any given time to partner with them.
“However, do not forget the effort of the refugee commission for providing durable solution for our people. One is the provision of houses of IDPs living across the country.
“The Commission has been training and providing workshops for our IDPs all in attempts to ensure that we provide a durable solution.”
He disclosed that the Commission would commence the process of constructing skills acquisition centres across the 6 geopolitical zones.
“Any moment from now, the Commission will use it little resources to construct skills acquisition centres in the 6 geopolitical zones.
“I want to start with Niger, Borno and Katsina, and by the grace of God, these skills acquisition centres would be completed. I want to call on Nigerians to come to our aid.”
The girls are : Abigail Tanko, Aisha Abdullahi, Aisha Abubakar, Aisha Ayuba, Ameena Muhammad Tijani, Elizabeth Nuhu, Deborah Ibrahim, Fatima Muhammad, Fatima Usman, Hafsat Muhammed, Margaret Ibrahim, Maryam Muhammed and Maryamu Ibrahim
Others are Prayer Yakubu, Rhoda Gideon, Tina Victorious, Yashim Favour and Zainab Sunday.