By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
ABUJA — The European Union has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting youth entrepreneurship as a key strategy for tackling violent extremism and fostering lasting peace in Nigeria’s North-West region.
The Team Leader of the Foreign Policy Instruments Regional Team for West Africa at the European Commission, Francesco Carboni, made the commitment on Thursday during a boot camp for participants in Search for Common Ground’s Hustle Reality TV Show, popularly known as Buge Buge, in Abuja.
The EU-funded initiative targets young people from conflict-affected states of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara, combining entrepreneurship training with peacebuilding to equip participants with skills for sustainable livelihoods.
Carboni said the programme was designed to unlock the potential of young people and steer them away from violence by creating economic opportunities.
“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,” he said.
He added that the boot camp would prepare contestants to showcase their abilities during the reality show while inspiring other young people across Nigeria and beyond to pursue their dreams through hard work and innovation.
According to him, participants will receive training, coaching and mentorship to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills and confidence.
Carboni described the contestants as “peace ambassadors,” noting that young people with aspirations and opportunities are less likely to engage in violence.
“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 said.
He stressed that investing in young people was essential to building a more secure and prosperous future.
“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,” Carboni added.
Also speaking, Search for Common Ground’s Country Director for the Lake Chad Basin, Ouattara About Karno, said the organisation was working with governments, communities, women, traditional leaders and youth to prevent conflicts from escalating into violence.
Karno said the initiative seeks to challenge the perception of young people as drivers of insecurity by demonstrating their capacity to become agents of peace and community development.
“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 noted that many participants already operate small businesses but require modern business knowledge and resources to scale their enterprises.
Karno said the programme was particularly relevant to the North-West, where economic hardship and insecurity have left many young people vulnerable to recruitment by violent groups.
“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,” he said.
“Our objective is to provide them with an alternative path through entrepreneurship, skills development and meaningful participation in decisions that affect their lives.”
He expressed hope that the initiative would serve as a model for similar youth empowerment and peacebuilding programmes across the country.
The representative of the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser, Muhammad Awwal Aminu, also underscored the importance of youth empowerment in preventing violent extremism.
Aminu said the centre collaborates with civil society organisations and other stakeholders to strengthen community resilience and reduce the appeal of extremist groups.
“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,” he said.
He added that creating opportunities for young people remains central to Nigeria’s broader efforts to prevent violent extremism and build peaceful communities.
