Abuja: Helpline Social Support Initiative (HSSI), a non-governmental organization, has launched a two-year project aimed at strengthening the cultural rights of the Original Inhabitants (OIs) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This initiative was announced by HSSI Project Manager, Mr. Onoja Arome, during a news conference in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the project is supported by the MacArthur Foundation through the Resource Centre for Human Right and Civic Education (CHRICED). Mr. Arome explained that the project is designed to train 100 vulnerable women and youths in the production of cultural attire. This training aims to enhance cultural identity awareness among the OIs and provide job opportunities through skill acquisition in arts and crafts.
The project also seeks to advocate for the resettlement and proper compensation of OIs whose lands have been encroached upon or taken over by developers without fair compensation. Mr. Arome emphasized the need to raise awareness about the presence of OIs, whose voices are fading.
Mr. Arome highlighted the historical context, citing the 1973 decree that created the FCT, which forced OIs to relinquish their ancestral lands for the development of the capital. This development displaced indigenous people, leading to the loss of economic resources and increased unemployment among the OIs. In 2021, the MacArthur Foundation, through CHRICED, supported HSSI in the initial phase of the project, which successfully trained 200 women and youths to preserve their cultural identity and become entrepreneurs in cultural attire production.
In terms of awareness creation, 39 jingles were produced and aired in local languages, alongside advocacy visits to the department of resettlement and compensation. Mr. Arome reiterated that CHRICED has committed to continuing the project, urging stakeholders to support the initiative and contribute to creating a lasting impact that benefits future generations in the FCT.
