The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has donated ₦82 million to support displaced children and farmers affected by violent conflicts in Plateau State.
Out of this amount, ₦26 million will go into children’s education, while ₦56 million will help farmers whose farmlands were destroyed. The announcement was made at the Humanitarian, Development and Peace (HDP) Nexus Workshop in Jos, held as part of Peace Month 2025.
ECOWAS Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Sintiki Tarfa, said the donation was a show of solidarity with Plateau communities.
“Today, ECOWAS comes not as an outsider but as brothers and sisters ready to help rebuild. The ₦26 million will restore education to displaced children, while ₦56 million will enable farmers to start afresh,” she said.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, represented by Bashir Aminu, described the donation as timely and impactful.
“This is more than aid—it is an investment in peace and stability. It supports the government’s efforts to restore dignity and livelihoods in conflict-hit areas,” he said.
Director-General of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PSPBA), Ladan Amos, welcomed the intervention. He noted that conflict has deeply affected children and farmers across Plateau.
“This support shows that humanitarian aid, peacebuilding, and development must go hand in hand if Plateau is to have a secure future,” he said.
A representative of one of the IDP camps, Matthew Malau, expressed gratitude. He said the funds will help children return to school and give hope to displaced families.
“Our children have been out of school, and families are barely surviving. With this support, parents now see light at the end of the tunnel, and children can dream again,” he said.
According to the Plateau Peace Building Agency, over 31,000 households have been displaced in areas such as Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Mangu, and Riyom. Many ancestral lands remain occupied by armed groups, making recovery difficult.
