EU Backs Youth Entrepreneurship To Fight Extremism In North-West

The European Union has reiterated its commitment to supporting youth entrepreneurship as a strategy for combating violent extremism and promoting peace in Nigeria’s North-West region.

The Team Leader, Foreign Policy Instruments Regional Team for West Africa at the European Commission, Francesco Carboni, said this during a boot camp organised for participants of the Search for Common Ground’s Hustle Reality TV Show, popularly known as Buge Buge, in Abuja on Thursday.

The Hustle Reality TV Show is part of broader efforts by Search for Common Ground and its partners to promote entrepreneurship, social inclusion and peacebuilding among young people in conflict-affected communities across Nigeria’s North-West region.

The programme, funded by the European Union, targets young people from conflict-affected states of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara, with a focus on peacebuilding and entrepreneurship.

Carboni said the initiative was designed to unlock the potential of young people and provide them with opportunities to build productive futures rather than become vulnerable to violence.

“We are very excited and happy with the energy and enthusiasm we have seen so far. We can already tell that there is real talent here.

“The boot camp will be instrumental in helping these young people shine on screen. We are looking forward to the final show and seeing how they perform.”

He noted that the programme sought to demonstrate that young people possess enormous potential and innovative ideas when given the right opportunities.

“Our hope is that this programme will inspire other young people, both across Nigeria and beyond, to pursue their talents and work hard to achieve their dreams,” Carboni said.

According to him, the participants will receive training, coaching and mentorship that will equip them with the skills and confidence required to become successful entrepreneurs.

“I believe they are already peace ambassadors because they are young people who believe there is hope for a better future. They understand that by working hard, they can build a better life for themselves.

“That alone makes them peace ambassadors. When you have dreams to pursue, you are less likely to engage in violence or create problems. Instead, you focus on building a better future,” he added.

The EU official stressed that empowering young people remained critical to securing a better future for Nigeria and the world.

“Because we believe young people are the future of this country and, indeed, the future of the world. If we stop believing in our youth, we stop believing in the future.

“We want a better future than the one we have today, and this is our contribution towards achieving it,”he added

Also speaking, the Country Director for the Lake Chad Basin at Search for Common Ground, Ouattara About Karno, said the organisation was working with governments, communities, women, traditional leaders and young people to address conflicts before they escalate into violence.

Karno said the programme was aimed at changing the perception that young people are merely perpetrators of violence.

“Too often, young people are viewed as perpetrators of violence. We want to demonstrate that, when given the opportunity, young people can become agents of peace and drivers of community development,” he said.

He explained that many of the participants were already engaged in business activities but lacked the knowledge and resources needed to expand their ventures.

“Our goal is to expose them to modern business practices and equip them with the skills and tools they need to succeed,” he stated.

Karno noted that the North-West region faced a unique combination of economic hardship and security challenges, making youth-focused interventions particularly important.

“Without opportunities, many young people become vulnerable to recruitment by violent groups. Our objective is to provide them with an alternative path,” he said.

“In many cases, these young people are not drawn to violence because they believe in extremist ideologies. Rather, they are simply looking for ways to survive and earn a living.

“We want to give them better options through entrepreneurship, skills development and meaningful participation in decisions that affect their lives.”

He added that the initiative was intended to serve as a model for other organisations interested in supporting youth development and peacebuilding efforts across the country.

On his part, the representative of the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser, Muhammad Awwal Aminu, said youth empowerment remained a critical component of efforts to prevent violent extremism.

Aminu said the centre collaborates with civil society organisations and other stakeholders to promote peace and strengthen community resilience against extremist influences.

“What makes this programme particularly important is its emphasis on youth empowerment. Empowering young people helps prevent them from being recruited by insurgent and extremist groups.

“Preventing violent extremism is closely linked to creating opportunities for young people, which is why we actively support and participate in initiatives like this.”