Confluence mountaineering project: Empowering people through outdoor adventure

Father’s House Foundation, a charity organisation, has launched a movement tagged New Day Nigeria, which is aimed at empowering youth and women in the hinterlands, the rural communities and local districts, which ordinarily are not exposed to industries or public funds.

The Foundation through this project uses the immediate available resources in such areas, to empower them through outdoor adventure.

Tagged ‘Confluence Mountaineering Project,’ the first edition which is scheduled to hold in Kogi State in December, will feature people across the three senatorial districts of the state, aged between 18 and 45 in a mountain climbing competition.

Speaking with Ecoscope, founder, Father’s House Foundation, Maleek Shehu said “the participants will unite to explore the mountains and discover its treasures to grow their communities.

“Twenty-one winners will be selected across the 21 Local Government Areas in the state, and they will be empowered with various Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) such as portable water factory, fish pond, culinary lounge, district viewing centre, integrated fashion studio, bread/cake bakery, brick and block industry, food farm, beauty salon and poultry, among other,” he said.

Shehu added that the immediate focus of the project is on Kogi Central Senatorial District which comprises of five Local Government Areas, which are Ajaokuta, Okene, Adavi, Ogori-Magongo and Okehi LGA.

“The aim of the project is to absorb a large number from the fast growing population of the unemployed people, reduce antisocial behaviours, as well as increase productivity which will enhance economic justice by enabling individuals to be self sufficient and self dependent,” Shehu said.

He noted that before transferring the industries to the winners, they will undergo management skills acquisition to adequately educate them on management and ethics, adding that this process will be repeated in every state to cover the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.

The Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Adoza Yahaya Bello and wife Hajia Rashidat Bello, are the hosts of the event, while Mrs Olufunso Amosun, wife of the governor of Ogun State and Professor Sunday Ennesi Ododo of the University of Maiduguri are the matron and patron respectively.