By Yusuf A Yusuf, Damaturu
The North East Youths Initiative For Development (NEYIF), in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, has concluded a 19-month humanitarian intervention that provided critical relief to families devastated by protracted conflict in Yobe State’s Yunusari Local Government Area.
Running from September 2024 to March 2026, the project reached 38,726 individuals across five wards surpassing its target of 35,300. Beneficiaries included children, mothers, farmers, and vulnerable households in Ngirabo-Yunusari, Dilala-Kalgi, Kujari/Mozogum, Bukarti-Kafiya,and Zajibiriri.
Speaking at the close-out event in Damaturu, NEYIF Executive Director Dauda Mohammad Gombe said the initiative integrated nutrition, food security, and livelihood support. Over 3,900 children with moderate acute malnutrition were treated using locally produced Tom Brown a fortified food made from millet, soybeans, and other local ingredients. Children with severe conditions were referred to stabilization units.
In the agricultural sector according to Gombe,1,900 farmers received seeds including millet, sorghum, and rice for both wet and dry seasons.
He stated that,the project also established model farms, conducted farmer field days, and provided extension services to improve yields and resilience.
Dauda Mohammad Gombe emphasized that the project prioritized local ownership. "We didn’t label them as recipients; we called them contributors because they participate," said the NEYIF Director.
He added that 70% to 80% of field staff were recruited locally to ensure sustainability beyond the project’s life.
"Protection was also mainstreamed across all activities, ensuring beneficiaries' rights were upheld. The project worked closely with Yobe State agencies including SEMA, the Ministry of Agriculture, ADP, and the PHC Management Board",Dauda Added.
While the project has ended, Gombe noted it is not a final farewell but a transition. "The purpose is for the administration to assume responsibility and proceed independently."
NEYIF Project Coordinator Mohammad A. Maina stressed that protection was integrated not treated as a standalone component across nutrition, agriculture, distributions, and community engagement.
The close-out event concluded with recommendations for sustained action, including strengthening security management, expanding dry-season farming, formalizing referral pathways, and mobilizing additional resources to address remaining needs in the region.
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