NGO sensitises women, youth to preserve FCT indigenous heritage

By Stanley Onyekwere 

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Abuja, with support from the MacArthur Foundation has commenced the sensitisation training of women and youth, aimed at tackling the effect of urbanization on the FCT Original Inhabitants.

In particular, over 500 vulnerable women and youth trainees had the opportunity to be engaged with fundamental information on skills in the production of the traditional attires of the original inhabitant of the FCT, which marks one of the remains of the traditions of the people of FCT before the coming of urbanisation, and also strategies to advocate for for their traditional heritage.

Recall that the Foundation recently signed an agreement with MacArthur Foundation and Resource Centre Human Right Civic Education (CHRICED) on a project targeted at promoting the socio-cultural rights of the Original Inhabitants of FCT.

Speaking during the sensitisation training at the weekend, the President of the Foundation, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu revealed that the partnership with MacArthur and CHRICED, if actualised will pave way in tackling the effect of urbanisation on the Original Inhabitants of FCT which had led to lost of homes, lost of livelihoods, scattered indigenous people in the Territory.

Ahmadu, who was represented by the Project Director of Helpline Foundation, Mr. Arome Onoja explained that the training also supports the organisation’s strategic agenda that will deepen its work with MacArthur Foundation, in order to ameliorate the suffering of original inhabitant of FCT who have been greatly marginalized over the years.

She noted that the conversion of their land to the capital of Nigeria, which led to lost of livelihood and home, as well as scattered indigenous people and  through the urbanizsation processes of FCT.

According to her, “the project is in line with the foundation’s behavioural change objectives aimed at an infusion of the core values of transparency and integrity driven of what Helpline Foundation stands for. 

“Our major focus in this project is to see that the traditional heritage of the people is preserved through empowering local community vulnerable women and marginalized youth on skills necessary to continue the production of the traditional attires.

 “Secondly to advocate for and educate the OIS on government approved procedures of Resettlement and compensation of  those whose ancestral lands has been taken over by urbanisation and thirdly, to create general awareness of the Original Inhabitants of FCT”.

She continues that, “Dear Partners, you who have been undergoing this form of societal relegation resulting from the fading away of your culture, knows best how you can cooperate with us on this venture for the success of the project because you are the one wearing the shoes and knows where is hurts.

“And that is why we crave your indulgence to take this project passionately and personally, so please treat our participants as your children, your brothers and sisters first before any further consideration. 

“That will make you to give the best knowledge transfer skills on the line of the culture so that your culture can be sustained in this fact growing FCT.

“As you sign this agreement today please know that you are contractually bound to transfer the necessary skill for the production of the cultural attire you represents and your participants should come out in flying colours with the ability to reproduce the knowledge in our exhibitions without much supervision.

“That will make us have more confidence in you and believe that you still hold your cultural antiquities transferred to you by your fore fathers intact because that is all you have to prove your existence in this fast growing urbanisation.

“I will like to state clearly that haven done our capacity assessments, we have found that all training centers have proven that the labours of the fore fathers are not in vain we thank you all for availing yourself to be duly assessed and keeping the cultural heritage of your fore fathers intact”.