Boko Haram: VSF to spend N3bn in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe

Boko Haram: VSF to expend N3bn in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe

NAN-DS-2

VSF

Yola, Jan. 30, 2017 (NAN) The Victim Support Fund (VSF) is to spend over N3 billion this year on rehabilitation programmes for Boko Haram victims in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The Executive Director of the fund, Prof. Sunday Ochoche, made this known Monday in Yola, at the opening of a three-day stakeholders forum on the programme.

Ochoche also said that the fund would open operational offices in Yola and Maiduguri for effective service delivery.

“Because of the  increasing responsibility VSF is taking on, I want to say that we are going to open office in Yola and Maiduguri within the first quarter of 2017.

“We cannot effectively deliver from Abuja, so we have to show our presence here with a zonal office in Yola.”

Ochoche said that the three-day workshop with the theme: “Building Effective Synergy for Ownership and Sustainability” was to assess the roles of government, civil societies, traditional and religious institutions  in the implementation of VSF interventions.

He also said that the forum would assess the knowledge of stakeholders on VSF Strategic Areas of support and the effectiveness of the interventions.

“To identify key enablers that might be needed to accelerate effective and efficient delivery of services to targeted beneficiaries.

“To develop indicators for tracking outcomes of projects as well as build feedback mechanism for all VSF interventions at the community level.”

Ochoche lauded the collaboration and support being enjoyed by the fund from the governments of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, adding that the main aim was to promote community ownership of the programme.

In his speech, the Deputy Governor of Adamawa,  Mr Martins Babale, lauded the fund for its various interventions particularly in the areas of education, healthcare and humanitarian services.

Chairman of the fund, Gen. T.Y Danjuma, represented by Amb. John Gana, reiterated the commitment of the fund to the welfare of Boko Haram victims and tasked stakeholders to come up with effective approach to addressing the challenges in the north east.

Malam Mohammed Bukar and Hajiya Hauwa Abubakar, who spoke at the event, lauded the fund for its sustained impact on the lives of Boko Haram victims in the affected state. ( NAN)
YMU/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed