By Kingsley Madaki
Helpline Foundation for the needy with support from MacArthur Foundation has trained over 300 Original Inhabitants of the FCT in the making of traditional attire in order to preserve the cultural heritage of the Territory.
Speaking at the graduation and exhibition ceremony for Original Inhabitants of FCT in traditional skills transfer and traditional attires the president, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, said this at the skills will also impact on the economic well being of benefactors.
Dr. Ahmadu who was represented by the Project Officer of the Foundation, Mr. Arome Onoja, said the gesture was sponsored by MacArthur Foundation through Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education CHRICED who decided to engage Helpline foundation to engage the original inhabitants within the context of their culture, economic and political rights.
While briefing journalist shortly after the exhibition, the president said, “We have proudly engaged 300 vulnerable and marginalized women and youth in the traditional skill transfer program, part of whom shall be graduating today, the first batch. We are sure that this skill so far gained will not only revamp their cultures but will serve as a veritable means of livelihood”
“As part of the program, there has been exhibition to showcase what our participants have produced this is to
show you how prepared the Ol are to continue to preserve and sustain their culture via the display of their
traditional Identification.
“The CHRICED saw this as a speck in the eye which galvanized their interest and
Ventured into the rescue mission and beamed their research light into the quest for resuscitation and revival of the lives and legacies of the Original inhabitants forefathers and how it can be sustained even in the midst of urban progress”
Tagging the exhibition”Revamping The Culture Through Economic
Empowerment And Cultural Preservation”, Dr. Ahmadu thanked MacArthur foundation for their resounding supports which is termed as the Project of promoting the rights of the Original inhabitants of FCT including 9 other DIOs .
She added that the certificate that will be presented to partisans is a prove of their resilience and determination to preserve their culturein the midst of rapid urban progress and then sustenance of livelihood.
Also speaking, the Programs and Communications Manager , Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education; (CHRICED) ,Armsfree Ajanaku, said the attire exhibited are not just for economic empowerment but also for cultural preservation of the FCT.
He assured that (CHRICED) will push for more support, more funding for projects such as this as there are many organisations willing to invest in artifacts from IOs.
In words:” This project is known as equitable recovery , the MackArthur Foundation looked at the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on livelihoods and economy’s by taking statistics of those who are most affected by COVID-19. The original inhabitants of Abuja as a vulnerable group whose marginalization within the scheme of things were made worse because of COVID-19″
MackArthur Foundation through crisehelp decided to engage Helpline foundation to engage the original inhabitants within the context of their culture, economic and political rights”
Some of the Coordinators while asking for more support in form of start up grants for the benefactors, complained of availability of the fabrics before they wove into the ogodo and other indigenous attires that had before now gone into extinction.
