By Peter Duru, Makurdi

A business and vocational empowerment programme designed to strengthen the economic resilience of women who are survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and host communities in Benue State is already recording remarkable impact, with beneficiaries generating over N250,000 from new enterprises.

The initiative, Healing Through Enterprise: Business Management Training for Women GBV Survivors in IDP and Host Communities, was formally launched in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

In a keynote address, Executive Director of the Centre for Redefining Alternative Civic Engagement for Africa, Evelyn Ugbe, described the project as “a pathway to healing, hope and transformation for vulnerable women.”

She explained that the training aligns with the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, adding that many women in conflict-impacted communities still carry “invisible scars” that hinder their ability to rebuild their lives.

According to Ugbe, the programme has already equipped dozens of women with marketable vocational and business management skills. “We have equipped numerous women with valuable vocational and business management skills, empowering them to take charge of their economic futures,” she said.

She identified the establishment of the TAHAV Women Cooperative Society as one of the project’s biggest achievements. “Several women have successfully launched their enterprises and participated in exhibitions, showcasing their talents and products,” she added.

Ugbe noted that the women had collectively recorded sales exceeding N250,000, which she described as “a testament to their resilience and potential.”

She also urged stronger collaboration with public agencies to improve business conditions for the women. “As we celebrate these achievements, I make a heartfelt appeal for partnership with government agencies. By streamlining processes and offering resources, these women can thrive and contribute meaningfully to rebuilding their communities.”

Ugbe stressed that women in IDP settings remain “critical agents for rebuilding their neighbourhoods and futures,” urging stakeholders to ensure technology becomes “a tool for empowerment, not a weapon that harms women.”

She commended SEMDAN, GERI and other partners for their support, and expressed appreciation to the Embassy of France in Nigeria for funding the programme.
“Healing isn’t just about recovery; it’s about reclaiming hope and rebuilding lives,” she added

Speaking to journalists, Miss Stephanie Tamang, Assistant Executive Director of the Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI), who represented the Executive Director, Mrs. Elizabeth Jeiyol, said the training is part of a broader intervention known as the POWER Project, Promoting Women’s Economic Resilience in Conflict-Affected Communities.

“What is taking place here is a small part of a bigger project. We are empowering 50 IDP women and women from the host community in Daudu,40 from the IDP camps and 10 from the host community, to ensure everyone is well represented,” she said.

Tamang explained that the programme equips women with vocational, economic and financial management skills to ensure long-term sustainability.

“If you give them money, once it finishes, that’s all. But when you empower them, they can use what you’ve given them to grow their businesses and empower others,” she said.

She said the session focused on business skills training, explaining: “We want them to know what it takes to run a business, what it takes to legalize their business. It’s called Healing Through Vocational Training.”

Tamang said GERI conducted an initial needs assessment before selecting participants. “Initially, we wanted to work with 100 women, but due to funding constraints, we scaled down to 50,” she explained.

According to her, priority was given to GBV survivors and female heads of households.
“Many of these women have lost their husbands or fathers. It was important that they were represented,” she said.

She added that GERI collaborated with key institutions, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, traditional rulers, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, and SMEDAN, to ensure a transparent selection process.

During the training, representatives of NAFDAC, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and SMEDAN guided participants on steps to formalize and grow their businesses.

Wange Akange of NAFDAC advised beneficiaries to register their products to ensure quality and compliance, while Simon Ayangeor of the CAC encouraged business name registration to support growth.

A representative of SMEDAN, John Adah also assured the women that their participation in the programme qualifies them for future government support schemes and interventions promising to incorporate the participants in the next batch of interventions from the federal government to enable them scale up their businesses.

Some of the participants expressed gratitude for the life-changing support.

Nguhiden Ugbe from Daudu, who trained in catering and baking, said the programme strengthened her skills and shifted her mindset while Miss Dorcas Shaaho from Daudu IDP Camp 2, said she’s trained as a tailor  and “the way they taught me, I can sew clothes and bags. This December, I will sew children’s clothes and take them to the market to make money” she said.

She added that the income she earns was helping her support her family. “Now I can send money to my younger sister in school and give my mother money to buy food,” she said, thanking the French Embassy and GERI for their support.