AOIYEO set up platform to tackle challenges 

By Stanley Onyekwere

Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths Empowerment Organization

AOIYEO with supported by the MacArthur Foundation through the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education has flag off the OIPedia in a bid to identify the challenges facing the Original Inhabitants of the Territory.

The President of the organization Commandant Isaac David, said the move was in line with the global standard of projecting and promoting the rights of indigenous people in a developing country, adding that the main objectives of the project is towards ensuring equitable resilience to address the challenges of FCT inhabitant communities, including legal recognition of their citizenship and statelessness status.

The AOIYEO President who was represented by Project/Programs Manager of the organization, Mr Bitrus Lawrence Garki, during a project briefing and launch of the Abuja OIPedia platform in Abuja yesterday, said the organization had solicited the cooperation of some organisations  to complement its efforts towards improving the living standard of the FCT Natives.

According to him,  “AOIYEO undertook a project to promote the rights of Abuja OIs, supported by the MacArthur Foundation through the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education.

“Plans are on the way to amplify inhabitant community voices in key political decision-making processes through broad-based voter and civic education campaigns to enhance constitutional and electoral participation, accountability in governance processes, and address barriers to participation in key aspects of national life.”