26th April, 2015
Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Federal Government and the European Union (EU), over the weekend signed a financing agreement for the grant of N325 million for a community-based psychosocial support and protection of children and adolescents in Borno State.
Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman and Head of the EU delegation to Nigeria and the ECOWAS Commission, Michel Arrion performed the signing of the financing agreement
The programme, which is under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) would be implemented by the United Nations Children ‘s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Borno State government.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman, said that the project would complement the on-going 10th EDF Support to Immunisation Governance in Nigeria, especially the eradication of polio and also commended the EU for their various support to Nigeria.
Dr Sulaiman, stated that, the programme would restore confidence and access to health and education to residents by helping to restore the psychological well-being of children and adolescents who have been exposed to traumatic and distressing conditions
The EU Head of delegation in Nigeria, Michel Arrion, in his remark, explained that the programme would provide psychological first aid to 45,000 children affected by insurgency in Borno State, adding that those that require sustained support to recover from trauma would be referred to specialist services.
Accordingly, Arrion stated that the programme which would last for a year, would also be implemented in conjunction with the Borno State Government, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and other non-governmental organizations.
The focus was to strengthen the institutional framework for planning and provision of psychosocial support to 11 local government areas in Borno State, he added.